Preview

Tomorrow

Cork City v Longford Town

Turner's Cross, 2.0

Longford could do with maintaining their surprisingly strong record against the southerners tomorrow but given the lengthy list of problems that Stphen Kenny takes with him to Turner's Cross, he would doubtless settle for yet another draw.

With Greg O'Halloran ruled out by the terms of his loan deal from City, and Keith O'Connor and Alan Reynolds suspended , Alan Murphy (back injury ), Sean Prunty (food poisoning), Shay Zellor (damaged ankle) and Fergal Coleman (back trouble ) all joining longer term absentees Paul Perth and Sean Riordan on the injury list, Kenny will introduce a few of the club's younger faces to the first- team squad.

"It's an opportunity for us to benefit from the club's investment in its youth policy and it will be another chance for lads like Henry Kenny, John Rogers and Daniel McDermott to show what they can do," he says.

City, meanwhile, have only a couple of problems but both of them are in attack with Pat Morley and James Mulligan ruled out by suspension and an ankle injury respectively.

"I'm not too worried," says Liam Murphy, "because we have another four strikers at the club but I'll have to have a think about the options and have a check on John Caulfield's fitness before I make a final decision about the team."

Caulfield has been concentrating on his coaching role with the club's under-21 side recently and so may not be fully match fit but the vastly experienced 37 year-old is almost certain to play some part tomorrow. The only other chance to City's squad from last week is the addition of Anthony Buckley who returns after a long absence due to an ankle injury that required an operation.

Last two seasons: 00/01: City 0 Longford 0, Longford 2 City 1, City 1 Longford 0; 01/02: Longford 4 City 1.

Leading scorers: City: Cahill (four); Longford: Lavine (four).

League form: City: WWDWL; Longford: LDDDD.

Betting: Home: 8/13, Draw: 11/5, Away: 4/1.

Referee: P Whelan (Dublin).