Caulfield's praise for Hurley

WHILE Ronan Hurley’s Cork City senior debut was truncated due to injury, the Schull teenager came in for praise from City manager John Caulfield after Monday’s EA Sports Cup loss to Waterford.

City exited the competition on penalties after the game at the RSC finished 1-1 after extra time. Having played for the club’s U19s in Saturday’swin over Bray Wanderers, Hurley (pictured) got the call-up at left-back, though he had to be brought off around the half-hour mark, suffering the after-effects of an early clash of heads.

Nevertheless, he made an impression on Caulfield.

‘Ronan Hurley, a lad from Schull in West Cork, he makes his debut, he was unlucky, he got a knock on the head and had to go off after starting quite well,’ he said.

City’s attentions now turn to Friday night’s clash with Dundalk at Turner’s Cross (7.15pm). The sides go into the game level at the top of the table, with City having won away to Bohemians last Friday night while Dundalk were drawing 2-2 at home to Derry City.

It’s the sides’ third meeting of the season already, with City having won 4-2 in the President’s Cup at Oriel Park in February while the Lilywhites earned a 1-0 win at the same venue in March.