LEAGUE OF IRELAND:CORK CITY manager Paul Doolin wants his side's 2-0 win over Galway United at Terryland Park on Friday to be the catalyst for the return to the form which had them top of the table back in May.
Cork host St Patrick’s Athletic tonight in a match moved forward to facility the Dublin side’s Europa League involvement, with Doolin urging his players to greater consistency in their quest for tangible rewards this season.
“We want to win the league, and we won’t stop in our pursuit of the league title,” said Doolin, whose side had taken just one point from their previous four games. “But the main thing for us at the moment is to keep clean sheets and try to build another run like we had earlier in the season.”
Doolin welcomes midfielder Shane Duggan back from suspension but remains without injured defender Robert Mezeckis (Achilles) and winger Billy Dennehy (hamstring). Striker Denis Behan faces a fitness test on an ankle injury picked up against Galway.
“I don’t think any other team has put a run like that together, so there is obviously talent and ability in this side,” added Doolin of their 10-match unbeaten run in the spring.
Consistency has been a stranger to St Pat’s who have been plagued by injuries all season and they go into the game on the back of three defeats in four outings. “I’d like to,” said manager Jeff Kenna in regard to strengthening his squad in the July transfer window. “Unfortunately, I’ve been told there is no money to bring anybody in without players leaving.”
Defender Jamie Harris (neck) and winger Bobby Ryan (groin) were injured in Saturday’s defeat to Shamrock Rovers and are unlikely to be involved tonight.
Mark Leech and Gary Dempsey continue their rehab following broken legs, while topscorer Mark Quigley is a month away from playing again following his broken jaw in Drogheda over a fortnight ago. Defender Dave Partridge returns from suspension tonight, but midfielder John Lester serves a second match. Kenna is hoping that midfielders Darragh Ryan and Damian Lynch will be over injuries to return to the squad.
