Caulfield to give young players their chance to shine in Limerick clash

CORK City manager John Caulfield is again likely to give younger players their chance for tonight’s SSE Airtricity League Premier Division clash with Limerick at Turner’s Cross (7.45pm).

With second place assured and the FAI Cup final to look forward to, City can afford to mix their deck for the remaining three league games, but Caulfield hopes that the players who do feature will make use of the opportunity.

“The injury update is that Alan Bennett won’t play tomorrow,” he said, “Karl Sheppard has a knock, Gearóid Morrissey also is sick and has a bit of a knock. Steven Beattie will be out for another week or ten days.

“We’ll have a combination of a lot of lads who played against Shamrock Rovers last week. Young Ronan Hurley did very well, he’ll play tomorrow, Pierce Phillips, Shane Daly-Bütz, Cian Murphy will be involved as well. It’s a great opportunity for our supporters to come and see some of those lads as well.

“Any of the lads who were on the bench, they’ll all play too. We’re at home, we’re second in the table, the league is gone but we have our own goals to go for between now and the end of the season.

“Being at home, we need to play well and the guys coming in want to stake their claim for the final.” 

John Dunleavy won’t be available, with Caulfield saying that the defender is touch and go to make the final league of the season against Bray Wanderers.

Another who won’t be featuring is striker Josh O’Hanlon, amid rumours that the Dubliner and the club have parted ways.

“Josh is on leave, that’s the way it has been for a number of weeks,” Caulfield said.

“He won’t be involved tomorrow.” Republic of Ireland U21 commitments will keep defender Seán McLoughlin out, with Cauflield delighted with him receiving recognition.

“It’s great for Seán, great to get called up,” he said.

“Seán was called up late for the last game, he hadn’t played the previous five games.

“Hopefully he’ll get some game-time, he’s a good lad and he has worked hard and he deserves that opportunity.”