League of Ireland Preview: Emmet Malonetalks to Cork City striker John O'Flynn, who hopes to be back playing soon

Like most people in football management, Damien Richardson does a neat line in explaining away his team's failings on the basis of uncontrollable external factors when the occasion calls for it. A poor result can be attributed to poor refereeing and a cup exit can be made to seem like the almost inescapable upshot of the badly timed suspension of a key player.

Still, when the Cork City manager expresses the belief the Southerners would have successfully defended their league title last year had it not been for striker John O'Flynn's recurring problems with a groin strain, it's hard to entirely dismiss the idea as fanciful self-delusion.

Despite having lived a little in the shadow of Shelbourne's Jason Byrne over the past few years, O'Flynn has made a tremendous impact since arriving back at Turner's Cross from Peterborough, and the young Cobh man was a key figure in the side that won the club's first championship title in more than a decade.

To help clinch the title, he temporarily shook off a knee injury to start and score in City's final game of the season, against main rivals Derry, but the problem had been shelved not solved and subsequently gave rise to a groin problem that kept him on the sidelines for the bulk of 2006.

Last year O'Flynn played just six league games from beginning to end, started a further seven and came on in one to bring his tally of appearances to 14. In the circumstances his six league goals amounted to a decent achievement, but since he had made it into double figures in each of his previous four seasons, it was nevertheless a major disappointment for a man many feel is equipped to establish himself as the league's best striker.

Indeed, the manner in which City allowed their title to slip away invites the suggestion that O'Flynn's absence was hugely significant.

The Southerners had the league's best defensive record but struggled to score at times, and of the eight 0-0 draws that blighted their progress, O'Flynn featured in just two.

"It's impossible to tell how important it was but from my point of view it's certainly been terribly frustrating," observes O'Flynn as he continues his recovery and sets his sights on a first competitive appearance for City some time before the end of the month.

"It's easy to forget that when I came back from England I had something like a season and a half without missing a game for City," he continues. "In the last year and a half I don't think I've had a run of 10 consecutive games and that's my first target now; if I could get a run like that under my belt then I'd still be confident the goals would come."

In his absence, young team- mate Roy O'Donovan followed Kevin Doyle's lead by making a late-season switch from the wing to the front line and, like the Wexfordman a couple of seasons back, celebrated the redeployment with a flurry of goals.

While O'Donovan proves his worth up front, O'Flynn's established strike partner Neale Fenn moved to Bohemians, and Denis Behan remains the most likely to provide cover from the bench.

"He's a very different player from Neale, who liked to lie a little bit deeper and leave me to get on with things up front, but I'm sure we could play together," says O'Flynn. "Neale was great to play with - he created a lot of chances for me. But for the team having two strikers playing around the box, both capable of scoring goals, should be good. It would scare defences. Hopefully, whoever plays, it will work out for the team."

Before Richardson can give the pair a run-out together, however, O'Flynn has to complete his long and arduous recovery from an injury he had thought was finally behind him.

"I think it's obvious now that I came back too soon a couple of times, but this time I've done everything by the book. Everybody's been very patient and I've had a huge amount of support but I've only just got back kicking a ball and it was important to avoid the mistake of rushing things right at the end so as to be back for the start of the season."

Last week's goalless Setanta Cup draw at Dungannon Swifts underlines just how important it is that he returns to action as swiftly as possible. But those who have watched him most closely at Turner's Cross over the past few years know a fully fit O'Flynn should be well worth the wait.