Sligo Rovers FC -v- Cork City FC

• Alan Smith
• Thu, Mar 05 2009


Sligo Rovers welcome Paul Doolin and Cork City to the Showgrounds on Saturday night (kick-off 8pm) in what will certainly be a lively opening weekend encounter.

Europe bound
Paul Cook, after resigning but abruptly returning to the job in the close season, will lead his charges into Europe this year after beating Saturday night’s opponents Cork at the post last term. While playing on the continental stage will undoubtedly be great for the north-west club, a steady performance in the league will once again be the priority for the Bit O'Red.

New boys night
The Liverpudlian will have a full squad to choose from as he welcomes a heavily-armed Cork side to the north-west. New signings Owen Morrison, Alan Keane, and Shaun Holmes are expected to make their competitive debuts. Stephen Parkhouse, also lining out for Sligo for the first time, will probably accompany Romauld Boco up front. Doolin, too, is likely to hand competitive Cork City debuts to Dan Connor, Robert Mezeckis, and Faz Kuduzovic, who is sure to receive a warm welcome after his stint at Sligo two years ago.

Doolin unhappy
Cork have only played three warm-up games and the last of those was over two weeks ago, something which has upset Doolin. “I’ve been trying to arrange a game but it’s been impossible," Doolin told extratime.ie. "That's simply because there’s been nowhere to play and that sums it up. I think it’s a big stumbling block when we are a full-time club and we can only get three games. We were due to play Wexford Youths last week and we couldn’t find a place to play.”

No excuses
It won’t be a valid excuse come 10pm on Saturday night, though, as Sligo have also played just three games. The most recent was against Finn Harps last Friday night, a game which ended scoreless at the Showgrounds. Last season, Sligo finished ahead of Cork, however, that was due to the ten-point deduction that the Leesiders suffered as a result of going into examinership. Cork came away with seven out of nine points from these sides' meetings in 2008, winning 1-0 early in the season before defeating Sligo at the Showgrounds by the same scoreline in August. The final game ended scoreless in Turners’ Cross.

Defensive shuffle
Cook will be without Mauro Almeida and Chris Butler for the game, both of whom are injured. This means that Sligo’s defence will be very unfamiliar, particularly after the departure of Seamus Coleman. The Donegal native moved to English Premier League side Everton in Janurary and Sligo may struggle to replace the influential right-back.

Duggan dismissal
Cork, on the other hand, will be at full strength, with the exception of Shane Duggan, who was sent off in the Munster Senior Cup last weekend. Incidentally, Sligo are 6/4 to kick-off the new campaign with a win, the draw is 2/1, while Cork are 8/5 to take the points.