Reading trio to appear at O'Brien testimonial

Colin O’Brien has been granted a testimonial by Cork City after 13 years with the club.

The Reading trio of Kevin Doyle, Alan Bennett and Shane Long — all of whom played for Ireland on their recent US tour, have pledged their support and will be in Cork on Monday night, June 25.

O’Brien first joined the City ranks as a raw 18-year-old in 1993 and, apart from a brief loan spell with Waterford United, has spent all his senior career with the club.

His testimonial will feature Cork City’s first team against a Colin O’Brien Select XI, made up primarily of players O’Brien played with in his career who now play in England and Scotland.

Apart from the Reading trio, O’Brien is also hoping to bring former Cork City players Danny Murphy, Brian Barry Murphy and Hull’s Damien Delaney to the Cross for the game.

The match is certain to be competitive as it comes sandwiched in between Cork’s opening two legs of this year’s Intertoto Cup against Valur of Iceland.

“I’m delighted that the club have rowed in behind the idea of a testimonial,” said O’Brien.

“It’s a huge honour and privilege for me and my family and is a reward for 13 years of service with the club.

“I joined Cork as a youths player and worked my way through the ranks and I have really enjoyed the last 13 years.

“This is my club and it is fantastic that they have honoured me in this way.”

O’Brien, who made his debut for Cork in 1995, is currently putting together a list of potential individuals to play in the match, which comes two days after Cork’s opening Intertoto Cup outing.

“We get back from Iceland straight after the opening leg on the Saturday night and the plan is for the testimonial to go ahead of the Monday evening.

“We are in the process of sorting out the opposition and once that’s done it’ll be all systems go.

“Cork have been fantastic with everything and I am really looking forward to the day and the game now,” he added.

The official launch will be held at Beamish & Crawford next week when the City squad return from their week’s break.

Article courtesy of the Evening Echo newspaper.