Salthill Devon boss Long wants Drom turned into a fortress

Date Published: 21-Apr-2011

Keith Kelly

SALTHILL Devon manager Emyln Long is calling on his side to make Drom a more ‘unfriendly’ place for visiting teams ahead of the arrival of high-flying Cork City for today’s First Division clash which has the unusually early kick-off time of 3pm.

The game was originally scheduled for tomorrow, but with the Leesiders in EA Sports Cup action on Monday, Devon agreed with a request to bring the game forward to today, with the clubs agreeing to an afternoon kick-off.

The home side go into the game on the back of a couple of decent performances, but Long admits that the ‘bye’ weekend for his side last week came at the wrong time.

“We drew 2-2 with Derry City in 90 minutes in the EA Sports Cup, lost to two long-range efforts against Waterford, and then took a good point from the visit to Finn Harps, so we were in a good run of form but unfortunately it was our turn for a rest weekend last week.

“At the same time Cork went out and won 5-0, while our momentum was stalled, so they are coming into the game on a high, which means it will be a difficult game, but we are looking to get a result from it.

“We have been playing well, but we need to start picking up points. I want to make Drom a place where teams find it very difficult to get anything from – impressive performances are all well and good, but we have to start picking up points,” says Long.

Devon will be without the suspended duo of Victor Collins and Mike Quirke, while Colm Horgan (groin) joins long-term casualties Robbie Porter (knee) and Wes Charles (groin) on the injury list, while Cian McBrien (ankle) is rated doubtful.

Former Galway United winger Derek O’Brien is Cork City’s biggest injury worry, a thigh strain picked up in training leaving him with only a 50/50 chance of featuring today. Greg O’Halloran is fit despite going off injured against Finn Harps, but Alan Carey remains sidelined with an Achilles tendon problem.

Mervue United make the short trek across the M6 this evening to take on an Athlone Town side that is looking to make it three wins in a row for the first time in a decade (kick-off 7.30pm) that has pushed them to mid-table.

The Midlanders only won for the first time this season last Friday, beating Wexford Youths 1-0, but followed that with a win over Finn Harps by a similar scoreline on Tuesday night and they go into the game looking to make it four wins from seven in league meetings between themselves and Mervue.

That victory on Tuesday saw them leapfrog Mervue in the table, but Johnny’s Glynn’s side have won two of their three away games to-date and will go into the game with confidence, although the manager will have to ensure his side do not have one eye on Monday’s EA Sports Cup second round clash with Derry City in the Brandywell, a game which has a 3pm kick-off.