Shelbourne -v- Cork City

SHELBOURNE

Cork City are the visitors to Tolka Park this Friday night (8pm kick off), as Johnny McDonnell’s men look to build on their impressive performance in Hunky Dory’s Park last weekend.

On paper a draw may seem like a credible result, away to last season’s runners up, but Shels could have won the game when a Lee Murtagh strike was wrongly ruled out for offside. The decision denied Murtagh a dream debut, but there will have been plenty of positives for the Dublin side as they look to Friday’s game against Cork City.

There is real cause for hope on the banks of the Tolka of late, as the managerial change seems to have had the desired effect. Indeed McDonnell has already put his mark on the team by shipping out talismanic goalscorer Philly Hughes to St Patrick’s Athletic on loan, while goalkeeper Ger Hanley has left the club after both parties agreed to terminate his contract.

The departure of Hughes and Hanley have made space for Lee Murphy (Sheriff YC), Derek Doyle (Crumlin United) and Lee Murtagh (Firhouse Clover) to come in.

Shelbourne don’t play a top five team in the next four games, and as last Sunday’s draw saw them close the gap on Bohemians to just four points, the hope is that Shels can kick on – starting with the game against the Leesiders.

If they are to win, they will have to do so without the services of Paul Crowley and Dean Kelly. Robert Bayly and Gareth O’Connor are doubts, but they will be assessed closer kick off to give them as much chance as possible of making it.

CORK CITY

Last week saw Cork City’s flailing league campaign get a much needed shot to the arm as they overcame Sligo Rovers 3-1 in Turner’s Cross.

What will have been particularly pleasing for the Leeside faithful was loan signing Ciaran Kilduff marking his Cork City debut with a goal. Before the man from Kilcock netted in the 84th minute, Cork City’s previous three goals had all come from the boot of Daryl Horgan, and Cork City manager Tommy Dunne will be pleased that the new arrival has already started chipping in with goals.

It is however a depleted Rebel Army that make the trip to Dublin, as Dunne looks to build on last week’s win. Danny Murphy and Darren Dennehy are both suspended, although the latter was an injury doubt in any case.

Also definitely out are club captain Kevin Murray, Colin Healy, Brian Lenihan and Danny Morrissey. Gearoid Morrissey is a doubt after suffering a knock to his angle in last Sunday’s friendly against West Ham, while Danny Furlong is suffering from tonsillitis.

Speaking to CorkCityFC.ie, Dunne emphasised the importance of a strong start:

“Against Sligo, we performed really well, more so in the second half. We defended well and when we got our opportunity we took it, which is something we haven’t been doing. In many games this season we have either not been right defensively early on, or when the opportunities arose we didn’t take them.

“I know Shels will be up and at the game, they started the better team against Drogheda, so we have to make sure we start strongly and keep ourselves in a situation where we give ourselves opportunities to go and win the game.”

“We are going up against a team who recently had a great result in Drogheda, their new management is only just settling in and I know that Johnny (McDonnell) and Mick Byrne, with their experience, will have done their homework on us.”

Looking further ahead, Dunne is under no doubt as to what he wants to achieve in Tolka Park tomorrow night:

“If we can pick up three points, it keeps us on the tails of Limerick and we have to win as many games as we can between now and the end of the season. We know that if we don’t perform and don’t play to our potential tomorrow night, then we have no right to pick up the three points.

“When you are missing as many players as we are, it puts a strain on the group but we have to be positive and try to go out to win the game.”

Referee: Derek Tomney

MATCH STATS

Last Friday’s league win was the first time the Sligo Rovers defence had been breached more than twice in 92 league games. It was the first time Cork City scored more than twice in 20 league games. Unexpected.

Cork City have not registered back to back wins in the league since last September when they beat Derry 1-0 in the Brandywell and Bray Wanderers 2-0 in Turner’s Cross. Inconsistent.

Since Johnny McDonnell was named Shelbourne manager on May 24^th, Shels have played five games, picking up four points (0.8 points per game). In the fourteen games before that, they only picked up six points (0.43 points per game). Impact.

Despite being bottom of the table, Shelbourne have kept a clean sheet in over a quarter of their games this season (five from 19). Shutout.

BETTING

Shelbourne 3/1; Draw 9/4; Cork 10/11.

PREDICTION

A draw.

Shelbourne

Injured: Paul Crowley, Dean Kelly, Robert Bayly (doubt), Garreth O’Connor (doubt)

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

Cork City

Injured: Kevin Murray, Darren Dennehy, Colin Healy, Brian Lenihan, Danny Morrissey, Danny Furlong (doubt), Gearóid Morrissey (doubt).

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: Darren Dennehy, Danny Murphy.