Dundalk threaten legal proceedings

The saga over the three points deducted from Kilkenny City earlier in the season following Fran Carter's controversial debut for the club against Limerick looked set to rumble on last night when officials from Dundalk confirmed that they would take legal action if any attempt to replay the game was made.

The club's chairman, Des Denning, said in a statement that the board of the club was "most unhappy" at the decision by Milo Corcoran to allow the game to be played on Tuesday night and so give City the opportunity to regain three points which could play a huge part in deciding which clubs are promoted.

Bray Wanderers can wrap up their own place in the top flight tonight at Oriel Park by beating Dundalk but anything short of a win for the home team would be an enormous blow to Terry Eviston's side.

The threat by Dundalk to issue legal proceedings on Monday morning is the latest in a succession of difficulties to have dogged the league authorities during the past couple of months and has the potential to delay the play-offs and even the preparations for next season.

Meanwhile Republic of Ireland Youth's manager Brian Kerr has agreed to allow goalkeeper Joe Murphy to play for Tranmere Rovers in today's league match against Swindon. John Aldridge is without his two other goalkeepers at present because of injury and suspension and so Kerr has agreed to exempt the teenager from the five-day rule although he is insisting that he travel to Dublin for next week's UEFA Championships play-off second leg against France before the club's game against Port Vale which is scheduled for Tuesday evening.