Injury worries for Waterford as Behan return boosts Cork

Waterford United and Cork City go head-to-head in tonight's eircom League of Ireland Premier Division Munster derby at the RSC, kick-off 7.45pm.

Blues boss Gareth Cronin has injury and suspensions problems ahead of the game as Kenny Browne remains on the injured list, having picked up a foot injury in the first Cup game with Sligo, and John Hayes is out with a groin injury.

Robert Brosnan is suspended, while Cathal Lordan is ineligible under the terms of his loan agreement with Cork City.

However, Dave Mulcahy returns to the side having missed the Cup ties while new signing Alan Kearney could force himself into the reckoning.

"The cup games have been very difficult for the players and the long journey to Sligo in midweek was needed like a hole in the head," said Cronin.

"However, the win has been a great boost for the lads and I hope that this will transfer into Friday’s game.

"Munster derbies are always fantastic occasions and I hope this will be exactly the same."

He added: "The league is our bread and butter and we have to get more points on the board. This is now the business end of the season and we need to get results if we are to get away from the bottom end of the table."

For Cork, Colm Carroll (cruciate) will not be involved as he remains sidelined by injury, although he has now returned to taking an almost full part in training, while Denis Behan (hamstring) has recovered quicker than expected and took a full part in training during the week.

He will be available for selection provided he does not suffer any adverse reaction.

Liam Kearney suffered a knock to his knee in the win over Kilkenny City, but has a good chance of being fit.

But manager Damien Richardson will assess the state of the pitch in the RSC before making a decision about his selection.

"We have been giving away too many goals over the last few weeks," said Richardson.

"We need to get back to basics, and from now until the end of the season I want us to keep as many clean sheets as possible.

"We will always score goals with the likes of John O’Flynn in the team, but we need to concede less."

He added: "We are under no illusions about the challenge facing us, but it is a challenge we will accept, and we are going there with the intention to get the result we need.

"Waterford have improved greatly under Gareth Cronin. They gave us a difficult game at Turner’s Cross not so long ago, and they had a great win up in Sligo during the week which is one of the toughest places to go in this league."