Gavin no respecter of reputations

Drogheda Utd v Cork City: Having had your nose broken by former England captain Alan Shearer on your Premiership debut may leave you a little less in awe of reputations.

And so Drogheda United central defender Jason Gavin, a Uefa Under-18 Championship winner under Brian Kerr in 1998, plays in his first senior cup final against Cork City at Tolka Park tonight fearing nobody, least of all the Leesiders' talisman George O'Callaghan.

O'Callaghan, who seems to raise the ire of opposing players like no other in the domestic game, has been a major doubt for the game as he struggles to shake off a niggling ankle injury and manager Damien Richardson will leave it until the last minute to make a decision on whether his playmaker plays or not.

It's a decision that Gavin won't lose any sleep over, however. "It doesn't bother me if he plays or not," said Gavin dismissively. "George thinks he's a better player than anybody. I don't think he's better than anybody, but he is a good player.

"He speaks too much and is that kind of player: he thinks he's a great player. He is a good player, but he's not that good," added Gavin.

Certainly not in the same league as Shearer and Duncan Ferguson against whom Gavin made his Middlesbrough debut as a callow 19-year-old almost seven years ago.

"I played against Thierry Henry, but Shearer was the best player I've played against," said Gavin who made 19 appearances for Boro before an eventual move to Bradford City and home to his native Dublin to join Shamrock Rovers.

"His bullying of people . . . I got a hard time against him. I got a black eye and a broken nose. I knew I was in a game," revealed Gavin.

"Henry is a different type of player. He'd be 10 yards behind you and then he's 10 yards in front of you."

Gavin is especially keen to do well against Cork tonight having had to sit out December's FAI Cup success over the same opposition as he was cup-tied having played with Shamrock Rovers in an earlier round.

"It was very frustrating," recalled Gavin. "I knew the situation when I joined so I could do nothing about it.

"There wasn't the same buzz after the game for me because I wasn't involved, but I still celebrated and hopefully there will be the same buzz as the lads had if we win it (tonight).

"It was weird. I stayed in the hotel with them for two days knowing I wasn't playing. I even trained with them the day before at Lansdowne Road."

Gavin has been the mainstay of league leaders Drogheda's bolt-tight defence which has seen them rack up seven 1-0 wins from their 13 games this season.

Ironically, Cork are the only team that has beaten Paul Doolin's side, having won both Setanta Cup group games 2-0.

"I don't know what the secret is. It's just hard work," said Gavin. "We've conceded no goals in the league but have done so in the Setanta Cup, so they obviously know they can score against us. Obviously, we're hoping to put that right."

Fully-fit midfielder Keith Fahey is vying for a starting place having missed four weeks with a knee injury, leaving striker Shane Barrett (ankle) as Drogheda's only absentee.

Cork have winger Roy O'Donovan available following a three-match suspension while winger Billy Woods and goalkeeper Michael Devine have been declared fit.

This leaves Richardson with a big decision to make between the latter and Mark McNulty, who has been exceptional in his stead over the last three games.

Striker John O'Flynn should be fit following a hamstring strain, leaving O'Callaghan, who will have a late fitness test, the main doubt.