Cork face defensive headache for Setanta Cup game

Cork City travel to Sligo tomorrow for a Setanta Sports Cup group match, with manager Paul Doolin facing a defensive headache.

Kevin Long (calf), Dan Murray (calf) and Neal Horgan (knee) are all ruled out through injury, while Cillian Lordan is a doubt having missed training due to a chest infection.

Midfielder Joe Gamble is also a doubt, as he is struggling with a knee injury.

Doolin told CorkCityFC.ie that the injuries will make it a difficult game for his side.

Doolin said: "We are struggling with injuries. Neither Dan or Kevin have trained since the Dundalk game, while Neal Horgan is continuing with rehab on his knee and should be back next week.

"The league is our main concern at the moment, so much as we would like to claim three points in the fixture, our main focus has to be on the league."

The two sides have faced each other on five occasions already this season, with City having the upper hand with two wins to Sligo’s one, while the other two meetings have ended in draws.

Speaking after training today, Doolin said: "We’ve done quite well against Sligo this season, with the exception of the cup game at Turner’s Cross, and even saying that, we did well in the first half of that game.

"The main thing for us in the game is not to pick up any more injuries and hopefully we can pick up a result from the game and maintain our good position in the group."