National League previews: Michael Devine's run of consecutive league games for Cork City will come to an end tomorrow when the goalkeeper misses what would have been his 115th appearance in succession, at Drogheda, owing to a shoulder injury picked up this week in Lithuania.
Phil Harrington, the club's former regular goalkeeper who signed for the club a couple of weeks ago from Munster Senior League side Avondale, is likely to start after coming on for Devine early in the win over Ekranes but City manager Damien Richardson said yesterday that, with Harrington now 41 and the club's other goalkeeper, Mark McNulty, out for at least another two weeks, he may have to make a short-term signing to cover the position.
The visitors are unbeaten in the league since losing to Paul Doolin's side at Turner's Cross in April and will travel with confidence. A hectic week of travelling could take its toll, however, although the United boss insists he expects them to arrive at the top of their game.
"They've had a great win in Europe and they've been flying in the league so I think they'll be in great form. They've a different side to the one we beat down there but I think we're a bit better too so it'll be interesting."
Doolin is short a couple of players. Shane Robinson is still out with a stress fracture in an ankle that looks set to keep him on the sidelines for another month, while David Sullivan misses out with a groin strain.
"Last week (when United lost 1-0 to Shamrock Rovers) was a setback but we didn't play all that badly, we just conceded a very bad goal," says Doolin. "Overall we're five points behind Shelbourne with a game in hand which, with a lot of games still to play, is all right. We have some big ones coming up and this is very important to us."
Bohemians, meanwhile, expect to be without defender Dessie Byrne for this evening's game at Finn Harps as he is struggling with a groin strain.
"Seán Cooney has been registered so we have a few options," says Gareth Farrelly, whose side were on quite a run until they lost at Cork City last week.
"It might have been a great match for the neutrals (Brian Kerr reportedly described the 2-1 City win as the best Eircom League game he had ever seen) but it was a bitterly disappointing one to be involved in. But we've got to pick ourselves up now and look forward. Finn Harps will be very tough for us but we know what we have to do."
