City travel to Stangmore
Cork City play their first competitive game of the 2008 season tonight as they travel to Stangmore Park to take on Dungannon Swifts in the Setanta Sports Cup, kick-off 7.45pm.
The Swifts will be looking to maintain their recent good home form having beaten Ballymena United and Cliftonville in their last two home games.
Mark McAllister will be looking to build on his two-goal haul at the weekend as the home side attempt to start the new campaign on a high note.
Swifts boss Harry Fay has a strong squad to choose from for tonight's opener.
The Rebel Army rounded off their pre-season programme with a 1-0 win away to Wexford Youths on Saturday and City boss Alan Mathews is anticipating a tough encounter at a venue where City drew 0-0 last season.
Mathews said: "It’s our first competitive game of the season, so obviously we’re looking forward to it."
"We know it’s a difficult assignment for us and we will need to work hard to get a result."
Mathews goes into the game with a number of players missing through injury.
Defenders Neal Horgan (groin) and Sean Kelly (groin) will miss out, as will Colin O’Brien (groin), Colin Healy (knee)
