The Derrynane Stand at Turner's Cross this afternoon. Paul Dollery / The42 Paul Dollery / The42 / The42

IT HAS BEEN confirmed that the rescheduled SSE Airtricity League Premier Division game between Cork City and Derry City will be played tomorrow evening at Turner’s Cross.

Despite the substantial damage caused to Cork City’s home ground by Storm Ophelia today, the fixture — which will be televised live by RTÉ — will proceed with a 7.20pm kick-off.

Should Cork City avoid defeat, they’ll be crowned Premier Division champions — with two games to spare — for the first time since 2005. The Derry City players and backroom staff will remain in Cork this evening, having made the journey yesterday.

A large part of the roof on the Derrynane Stand at Turner’s Cross collapsed this afternoon. The damage subsequently required inspection by an engineer and representatives of An Garda Síochána and Cork City Fire Brigade.

In a statement released this evening, the Football Association of Ireland said the game can go ahead with the 1,200-seat Derrynane Stand off limits to spectators. The statement reads:

The SSE Airtricity League Premier Division game between Cork City and Derry City will go ahead on Tuesday, 17 October at Turner’s Cross. Following severe weather conditions, the game was moved from Monday, 16 October to Tuesday, and structural damage did occur at Turner’s Cross, resulting in the Derrynane Stand being closed for the game. An engineer visited the ground on Monday afternoon and while damage was done to a particular section, the rest of the stadium was not affected. The engineer approved the fixture proceeding once the necessary works are completed on Tuesday morning in clearing debris and the Derrynane Stand remaining closed.

Cork City’s Turner’s Cross ground seriously damaged by Storm Ophelia