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City favourites - 09 September 2002
Cork City will start hot favourites to join Bohemians, Derry City and Shamrock Rovers in the FAI Carlsberg Cup semi-finals when they play host to Finn Harps in Tuesday's quarter-final replay before another bumper crowd at Turners Cross (kick-off 7:45).
City boss Liam Murphy will field an unchanged side from that which forced a replay in Saturday's 1-1 draw between the sides at Finn Park, Ballybofey. That means that striker James Mulligan again has to be satisfied with a place on the substitutes' bench.
Michael Mulconry continues in the left back role as Neal Horgan has entered hospital for a knee operation. Murphy has warned Cork fans that Harps will not lie down easily and that his team must be totally focussed for the 90 minutes.
"Harps have some very experienced players and were unlucky to be relegated from the Premier Duvision a couple of years ago and then just miss out on promotion last season.
"In that first game up in Donegal we created a lot of chances and hit the woodwork twice as well as having a couple of chances cleared off the line. Then Harps keeper Alan Young pulled off an unbelievable save to deny George O'Callaghan a second goal late in the game," said Murphy.
First Division Harps, who face an arduous 700 miles round trip by road, will be without key midfielder Donal O'Brien because of work commitments. Player-manager Jonathan Speak will have to make several changes as fellow midfielder Tom Mohan is almost certainly ruled out with a back injury. Striker Kevin McHugh, a late substitute in the Ballybofey clash, is likely to partner Speak in attack with Neil Lloyd moved back to the centre of midfield to partner Paddy McGrenaghan. Niall Bonner is the likely candidate for the vacant left wing spot.
Harps boss Speak believes that if midfielder Jonathan Minnock had scored a 59th minute penalty, his team were certain of a semi-final place as they led 1-0 at that stage after Minnock had scored with a free kick eight minutes earlier.
"We were a bit disappointed not to have done it and while Cork will be fancied, we are not going down to Turners Cross just to make up the numbers.That penalty was the turning point - if we had gone 2-0 up , it would have been very difficult for Cork to come back," said Speak
Should the sides be level at the end of 90 minutes, a total of 30 minutes extra time will be played - and then - if necessary, a penalty shoot-out will decide the outcome.
Odds: Paddypower (90mins)
Cork City 4/9
Draw 13/5
Finn Harps 11/2
I can't believe he's putting Mucky at left-back again. He did his best, fair play to him, but the guy is not a defender. We have Lordan and Andrews- 2 defenders- on the bench, who could easily move to the back and allow Gaz go to left-full. Greg would also be another option. That could be our undoing.
10/09/02:
Having wasted the chance to put themselves 2-0 up in the first game at Finn Park on Saturday night when Jonathan Minnock, who had earlier given them the lead, missed a penalty, it's hard to disagree with the consensus that first division Harps have blown their hopes of making the semi-final.
Cork's home form so far this season has been little short of scintillating as they've scored 24 goals in six wins out of six at Turner's Cross.
However, with that form comes expectation and pressure, according to Harps' midfielder Donal O'Brien, who scored a replay winner to put Cork out of the competition on Harps' way to the 1999 final.
"We'll get it tough down at Turner's Cross, we know that," says O'Brien, who is unavailable to travel to the game tonight due to work commitments. "But they now know we will give them a battle. Remember, the pressure is now on them. We know we face a big challenge, but we will rise to it."
Prolific striker Kevin McHugh is set to return after resting a foot injury. That's good news for player/manager Speak as, along with O'Brien, fellow midfielder Tom Mohan is very doubtful with a back strain. Niall Bonner should come into the side on the left of midfield with Paddy McGrenaghan likely to move into the centre.
With goalkeeper Michael Devine showing no adverse reaction to the back injury that had him doubtful for the first game, and defender Gareth Cronin fit to play despite a head cut, Cork are likely to be unchanged.
Left-back Neal Horgan is due to have key-hole surgery on a knee injury today while James Mulligan may again have to content himself with a seat on the bench, such is the form of City's new-found strike force of John O'Flynn and George O'Callaghan.
Referee: D McKeon (Dublin).
Betting: Home: 4/9; Draw: 13/5; Away: 11/2.
That doesn't sound too good....looks like he be missing a few days so?Originally posted by oddboy
Left-back Neal Horgan is due to have key-hole surgery on a knee injury today...
Shows how much we need a big squad.Originally posted by pete
That doesn't sound too good....looks like he be missing a few days so?
Napier, O'Grady, Horgan, Daly out, Warren, Billy, J O'F, Mickey D, Andrews all carrying one kind of knock or another. And they are just the people who would be in contention for starting places....
McHugh being fit is hardly good news either
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