Injury returns imminent but Clancy rues three-game ban for Coffey 

City midfielder Barry Coffey was given a straight red card late on against UCD last Friday night. 

SEEING RED: Barry Coffey of Cork City leaves the field after receiving a red card. Pic: Michael P Ryan,Sportsfile

Cork City boss Tim Clancy will have to plan without key midfielder Barry Coffey for the next three fixtures following the verdict of his red card dismissal against UCD last Friday night. 

Looking to keep City's one-nil lead intact heading into the final moments of the game, Coffey stopped a Ciarán Behan-led UCD counter-attack. 

Having received a straight red card, it was filed in the category of "violent conduct" rather than "serious foul play", meaning Coffey's absence will include Bray Wanders at home and Treaty United away, on top of Saturday's trip to Longford.

"Listen, Barry has tried to stop a counter-attack and he's tried to just clip the [UCD] player's heel," Clancy told the Irish Examiner prior to the weekend's clash in the Midlands. 

"If you look back on the video, the player takes a half step and then jumps, which results in Barry missing and then landing on the back of his heel."

It's a stomach punch that has been compounded by the lengthier sentence, Clancy feels.

"That was a blow, and the bigger blow now is that he's been charged with violent conduct. I didn't think it was violent conduct, I think, if anything, it was probably reckless. 

"I can totally understand why Chris [Sheehan, referee] has given him the red card but it's disappointing that it went down as violent conduct and he has to serve a three-game ban now.

"It's not ideal. It's just that little bit of inconsistency when it comes to officiating is the frustrating thing... Listen, it's probably serious foul play because he's got him on the Achilles with his studs but the frustrating thing is getting the extra game."

While Tipperary native Coffey will sit out their next three outings, a return for several established academy products is not too far away. 

Darragh Crowley - out of action since suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury last June - could see match action sooner rather than later. 

Crowley - who was enjoying a productive season in City colours until injury struck - will give Clancy another versatile and capable option over the coming weeks. 

Pacy wideman Cian Bargary is expected to follow hot on the heels of Crowley, while Cian Murphy and Malik Dijksteel will further swell the attacking ranks in the not-too-distant future.

"We have a couple of players coming back [into full training]," the City boss added. "Darragh Crowley has been in full training this week. Bagsy [Cian Bargary] is back in this week, and did a full session today. 

"Greg [Bolger] has a week's training behind him after getting minutes last week. Murph [Cian Murphy] is back on the pitch tomorrow, to do some running and Malik should be back on the pitch running next week. 

"We're getting close to a full-strength squad."

Meanwhile, four League of Ireland games which were victims of the weather on March 1st have been rescheduled. Bohemians vs Dundalk will now be played on April 15th. Shamrock Rovers vs Drogheda United is set for April 29th. Bray Wanderers vs Longford Town is slated for March 25th and Wexford vs Cobh Ramblers will be played on May 20th.