MICK McCARTHY'S World Cup preparations received a setback last night when Norwich striker Keith O'Neill was ruled out of action for six weeks.
The 20-year-old Dubliner injured ankle ligaments after falling awkwardly in the final minute of Norwich's 2-1 English League Division One win at Stoke on Wednesday night.
As a result O'Neill, who has scored four goals in a highly promising start to his Republic career, will miss the World Cup warm-up against Wales in Cardiff on February 11th. McCarthy will name his squad for this game in Dublin next Tuesday.
At home, meanwhile, Finn Harps have confirmed that their home tie with Shelbourne, originally scheduled for December 28th will be played on Sunday, March 23rd, starting at 3.15 p.m. The game between Athlone and Cobh, which was abandoned last month due to fog, will now take place at St Mel's Park on February 9th.
The long-running dispute between the National League and some of its referees has been resolved, with Mick Tomney and Tony Carroll being restored to the league's panel of officials.
. Derry City are believed to be on the verge of signing Celtic reserve Declan Boyle.
The 23-year-old Killybegs man, who was also involved with the Donegal Gaelic football team, previously had National League spells with Finn Harps and Sligo Rovers. Although Boyle has been a regular fixture with Celtic's reserves, he has never featured in the first team.
