News: John O'Flynn could return for Cork City tonight at Turner's Cross when the Eircom League champions take on Waterford United with the aim of maintaining their challenge to Drogheda United at the top of the Premier Division table.
City's leading scorer last year, O'Flynn has been struggling with a hamstring injury for several weeks, but manager Damien Richardson was cautiously optimistic after yesterday afternoon's training session that the 23-year-old will be fit to start.
"He did well today," said the City boss, "he managed things that he hadn't been able to for a while, and while we won't rush him if he doesn't feel absolutely right tomorrow, we'd be hopeful enough that he'll make it."
The champions will take on a Waterford side still looking for their first win of the campaign, and Richardson recognises that Turner's Cross may look a tough place for them to get it.
But he observed: "They are a young side, several of whom will be playing in their first Munster derby game. They can enjoy themselves knowing that the pressure is really on us rather than them, and sometimes teams can do well in those circumstances, so we'll pay them plenty of respect and work hard for the win."
Derry City are still without Gareth McGlynn, Clive Delaney and Mark Farren for the visit of the top flight's other slowest starters, Bray Wanderers, but Stephen Kenny was more than satisfied with the way his side came from behind at the RSC last week and is optimistic City can maintain their strong home form.
"We showed a bit of character down there," said Kenny of the performance in Waterford, "and scored a couple of very good goals. This is probably the best squad Bray have had in the last few years and it's strange to see the results go so poorly for them, but they managed draws with Cork and Shelbourne so we certainly won't be taking anything for granted.
"Still, we've won our three home games so far and if we make it four out of four we'd have 18 points on the board, which would represent a pretty decent start."
Bray will be without Stephen Gifford and suspended goalkeeper Terry Masterson, but Chris O'Connor is fit, having recovered from a shoulder injury, so the 20-year-old will take over in goal.
Dublin City will be without defender Ben Whelehan for the game against St Patrick's Athletic at Dalymount Park, while Ger McCarthy is also a doubt for a match in which the hosts will be looking for their first back-to-back wins of the campaign and the visitors to build on good victories over Bray and Cork.
Seán McCaffrey, meanwhile, has named his squad for the European Youth Championship elite phase tournament in Slovakia, in which Ireland's Under-19s will be looking to qualify for this summer's finals in Poland.
The Irish manager has named a travelling party of 18, but he is without Darren Stapleton, Darren Gibson and Mark Keane due to injuries. Gibson, a highly rated midfielder, will be a particular loss, and McCaffrey admits he could have requested that the player postpone a hernia operation he is due to have next week but, he said, the teenager is expected to start for Manchester United against Charlton on Sunday, after which his club is keen that he has the operation in order that he be fit for the start of next year's campaign.
Shane Supple and Owen Garvan of Ipswich Town come into the squad for the first time, while Burnley's Chris McCann, Stephen Gleeson of Wolves and Stoke City striker Adam Rooney are all also included.
"With Rooney, Shane Long and Billy Clarke all in there we have plenty of attacking options," says McCaffrey. "The trick will be to find the right balance for the team overall ahead of what will be a fairly tough week.
"Slovakia are a good, solid, counter-attacking side, while Turkey will be fancied, particularly after beating Germany 5-1 at this level a few weeks ago (Georgia complete the tournament's line up).
"But we've a decent side too and if we play well we'll be very hard for any of them to beat."
Don Givens, meanwhile, has added Rene Gilmartin (Walsall), Keith Keane (Luton Town) and Richard Keogh (Bristol City) to his Under-21 squad for next week's European championship play-off against Azerbaijan after losing Paul McShane, Colin Doyle and Stephen Ireland to injury.
IRELAND UNDER-19 SQUAD: Randolph (Charlton Ath), Supple (Ipswich Town), Madden (Leeds Utd), S Kelly (Arsenal), Nolan (Blackburn Rovers), O'Dea (Celtic), McCann (Burnley), Spillane (Norwich City), O'Brien (Celtic), JP Kelly (Bohemians), Morris (Leeds Utd), Gleeson (Wolves), Garvan (Ipswich Town), Hayes (Reading), Clarke (Ipswich Town), Long (Reading), Rooney (Stoke City), Stokes (Arsenal).
