City youth to miss Drogheda trip

Cork City will be missing young star Craig Duggan for their Premier Division clash with Drogheda United in Louth on Friday night (7.45pm).

The City youngster is in Bulgaria’s seaside resort of Varna on the Black Sea all week as Cork City compete in the UEFA Futsal European Championships against teams from the host nation as well as Moldova and Turkey.

Duggan would have been in Paul Doolin’s squad for his return to former club Drogheda this weekend but now City will have the bare minimum on duty.

However, there was better news for Doolin overnight when Dan Connor, currently on trial and training with Exeter City, said that he will be back in time for Friday’s clash with Alan Mathews’ side and expects to face his old team-mates.

“There’s no news of a deal for me here as yet and I will be back in time to play for Cork at the weekend,” said Connor.

Cork have no suspensions but Joe Gamble’s knee injury remains a concern.

Drogheda have Shane Barrett and Robbie Martin available after a 2-0 away win at Galway — a first win in five outings — thanks to goals from Conor Kenna and Jamie Duffy.

Drogheda, like Cork, are out of the FAI Cup having lost 3-0 to Shamrock Rovers but they need all the league points they can get to avoid relegation.

Paul Crowley and Owen Osborne remain long-term injury doubts for Mathews’ third from bottom side.

Article courtesy of The Evening Echo newspaper.