O'Flynn sits out visit of Derry

Cork City striker John O'Flynn will miss his chance to impress the talents scouts as he sits out the Leesiders’ eircom League clash with Premier Division strugglers Derry City tonight (7.45pm).

Irish Under-21 international O’Flynn, the subject of interest from Notts County last week, was to have been watched by Northampton Town, Division Three promotion favourites for next season.

The Cobblers’ director of football John Deehan is reported to be in Ireland this weekend to scout players for manager Colin Calderwood’s promotion push in 2004-05, with O’Flynn high on the shopping list.

But the former Peterborough striker has succumbed to a thigh injury and will miss tonight’s game, as will Kevin Doyle.

This means manager Pat Dolan is set to either start Denis Behan up front alongside Neale Fenn or push George O’Callaghan forward from midfield.

Whoever plays in Cork's attack they will be optimistic of scoring as Derry has leaked 16 goals in 15 matches this season, scoring only seven.

The visitors’ caretaker player-manager Peter Hutton will have been buoyed though by a 2-1 midweek win over relegation rivals Dublin City, bringing an end to a league goal drought lasting seven games.

Davy Byrne is struggling with a hamstring problem and may not be fit to play but fellow midfielder Gerry Gill is definitely out as he is on exam leave.