Leesiders travel to Derry with 13 players

Cork City FORAS Co-op make the long trek to the Brandywell for the opening game of the 2010 League of Ireland season tomorrow night.

Long-serving midfielder Cillian Lordan will captain the Leesiders against Derry City.

With a squad of 13 hastily assembled in just over a week, manager Tommy Dunne admits that preparations have not been ideal ahead of one of the toughest fixtures in domestic football.

Dunne said: "It has been tough to get a squad together in such a short space of time, but I am pleased with the signings we have made. Derry is a very tough place to go, even when you are well-prepared and organised, so with the difficulties we have had it will be a difficult game for us."

Dunne signed seven players yesterday: Italian defender Samuele Emiliano; returning Bosnian Admir Softic; talented forward Davin O’Neill; midfielder Eoin Forde; defender John Dineen; winger Willie Heffernan and Dublin-born Declan Edwards, who is waiting on international clearance having been at Stockport County.

"The First Division will be very strong this year, and Derry will be one of the strongest teams in the division, but we will travel up there determined to give a good account of ourselves and hopefully achieve a positive result."