ARTHUR DUFFY reports

Indeed, the powers that be at the local club were astounded to receive the news after Delaney served what they expected to be a one match ban against Bohemians the following week.

The towering defender, who had already been shown a yellow card earlier in the game, was shown a ‘straight red’ by the referee who suggested that the Dubliner had been the last Derry defender following the tackle which saw Bray win a penalty and, indeed, the game on April 18th.

Commenting on his club’s decision before departing for Dublin yesterday and tonight’s game against Shamrock Rovers at Tolka Park, team boss, Stephen Kenny (right), said he was shocked to learn of the two match ban imposed by the FAI’s Disciplinary Committee.

“We’ve appealed the decision on the basis that we feel that a two match ban is unprecedented for a ‘last man’ or ‘professional’ foul,” he said.

“Clive was shown a straight red for being the last defender, which we felt was controversial, but I’ve never known a player to receive a two match ban for such an offence. Usually such bans are meted out of a bad tackle or violent conduct, not a ‘last man, professional foul’ offence,” he added.

Having already served a one match ban against Bohemians, Delaney is now due to sit out next Friday’s home game against Cobh Ramblers unless the ‘Candy Stripes’ overturn the Disciplinary Committee’s decision on appeal.

Achilles Heel

Meanwhile, hot on the heels of Monday night’s comfortable League Cup victory over neighbours, Finn Harps, Kenny still has injury difficulties with the news that both Paddy McCourt (back) and Ciaran Martyn (groin) were not on the team coach which left for Dublin yesterday afternoon.

McCourt continues to struggle with a back problem while Martyn has been playing through the pain barrier since the start of the season and both players were left behind for rest and treatment over the weekend.

“We think Paddy needs more time to recover from his back problem and the same situation applies to Ciaran who has been playing with a groin problem for quite a few weeks now. They can’t give 100 per cent so we’ve given them time to sort their injuries out,” confirmed the Brandywell boss.

And having rested defenders Peter Hutton, Stephen Gray and Delaney for last Monday night’s game, all three will be involved against Pat Scully’s Rovers while the returned Kevin Deery and Mark McChrystal also travelled in a squad of 17.

Commenting on the Harps result and the fact that his side has starting scoring goals again, Kenny was delighted but he refused to go overboard in relation to the Harps’ victory.

“It was a good win for us and it was also great to score three goals as we had been struggling in the front line.