League Preview: St Patrick's Athletic -v- Cork City

ST. PATRICK’S ATHLETIC

There has been a lot of changes around Richmond Park over the course of the off-season with Harry Kenny taking charge on the touchline and nine new additions all vying for a place in the team this evening.

Chris Forrester returns for a second stint with the Saints with Gary Shaw, David Webster, Mikey Drennan, Brandon Miele, George Poynton, Ciaran Kelly, Rhys Gorman and Cian Coleman also being added for the 2019 season.

These two sides both played in the opening fixture last season with Cork City coming away with the three points on a 3-2 score line.

Speaking ahead of the opening fixture for the new season captain Ian Bermingham who enters his tenth year at the club said, "Harry has come in to the club this year and there is a really good feeling about the place as we head into the new season”.

“Some of the new players we have brought in have settled in well and we definitely have one of the strongest groups here that I have been involved in.

"However we know we have a really tough game to start the league season.

“Cork have been competing at the top of the league for a few years now under John Caulfield so we know what to expect from them.

“They are a strong team and very solid at the back and can score goals from anywhere so we need to be at our best.

But it's the opening night and we want to make Richmond a fortress for the whole season so hopefully that starts on Friday night."

CORK CITY

Having won the league so spectacularly in 2017, Cork City will have been disappointed with how the season finished last year.

They finished ten points behind Dundalk and also lost out in the F.A.I Cup Final at the Aviva Stadium.

John Caulfield has had a busy enough transfer window bringing in Dan Casey, Daire O’Connor, Tadgh Ryan, Darragh Rainsford, John Tilley, Gary Boylan and Garry Comerford but has also lost a certain amount of experience as well with Peter Cherrie, Kieran Sadlier, Barry McNamee among those who have departed the club.

“As opening games go, it is a really difficult game.” said John Caulfield.

“Harry Kenny has come in as manager and, as everyone can see, Pats have invested, bringing in the likes of Mikey Drennan, Gary Shaw, Chris Forrester, David Webster, Brandon Miele and Rhys McCabe.

“There is a real buzz around Pat’s this year and they have done very well in pre-season, scoring goals and playing exciting football. We know they will be difficult opponents but we have to prepare well and look after our own game.

“The first half last week against Dundalk was disappointing from us, but in the second half we played very well, and we know that we will have to play well tomorrow. If we play like we did in the second half against Dundalk, then we would be hopeful of giving Pat’s a really good game. We have a lot of new players but we have a lot of talent in our team and our focus will be on trying to start the season well.”

Referee: Neil Doyle

MATCH STATS

Cork City were solid enough on the road last season with ten wins and three draws from eighteen away games.

St. Pats had a very similar home record picking up ten wins and two draws from eighteen home games.

BETTING

St. Pats 13/8; Draw 21/10; Cork City 17/10

PREDICTION

St. Pats 1-1 Cork City

St. Pats

Injured: None

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

Cork City

Injured: Shane Daly- Butz

Doubtful: Karl Sheppard, Gearoid Morrissey

Suspended: None.