Martyn set to quit Derry

Derry City midfielder Ciaran Martyn looks increasingly as though he has played his last game for the club after it emerged yesterday that he is unlikely to be involved in this evening's game against Shelbourne in Tolka Park.

The former UCD player, who was one of City's more consistent performers last season, has indicated that he wishes to move back closer to Dublin in order to further his accountancy career and a number of clubs including Longford Town, who had an offer rejected earlier this week, have expressed interest.

Martyn was substituted in last week's game against Longford before half-time after initially being selected to play out of his usual position, out wide on the right of midfield. City manager Kevin Mahon subsequently said that he wanted Martyn to see out his contract but that is now considered highly unlikely.

Mahon, who discovered this week that Alan Gough will be out for five months with an Achilles injury, is hoping to give a debut this evening to 18 year-old central defender Mark McChrystal who signed this week after returning home to Derry from Wolves but it is not yet clear whether his international clearance will come through in time.

Peter Hutton, meanwhile, is expected to come in at right back after missing out last week due to suspension but Gary Beckett is banned this time, meaning a possible start for Liam Coyle.

Tony McCarthy and Wes Hoolahan are both in contention to start for the Dubliners.

In the evening's other game, meanwhile, Cork City have George O'Callaghan back from suspension leaving Pat Dolan to choose between him and Kevin Doyle as John O'Flynn's partner in attack while Colin Pat O'Brien may come in for Alan Carey in midfield.

There was bad news for Paul Doolin this week with Alan Mahon rupturing his Achilles tendon in training and undergoing surgery on Wednesday. The defender is now expected to be sidelined for up to six months.