League Preview: Dundalk -v- Derry City
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DUNDALK
Dundalk lost their first game since April 25th after a 1-0 defeat to champions St. Patrick’s Athletic on Friday night. An early Christy Fagan’s goal proved to be the difference between the sides. They will be hoping to bounce back against a Derry side which has been inconsistent all season.
The result means that Dundalk remain top of the SSE Airtricity League on 60 points but now are three points clear of nearest challengers Cork City who took full advantage of the leaders defeat with a win. St. Pat’s are now eight points adrift of the lead and Shamrock Rovers are now 13 points behind, but they do have a game in hand on the top three.
This will be the fourth meeting of the sides this season with Dundalk winning the first two – 3-0 at Oriel Park in the league, 2-1 in the quarter-finals of the EA Sports Cup at the Brandywell back in May while the sides played out a highly entertaining 2-2 draw in Derry just after the midseason break in which Byrne gave Dundalk the lead before goals either side of half-time from Barry McNamee and the outstanding Michael Duffy gave Derry the lead however when it looked like the all was lost, Richie Towell grabbed a priceless last gasp equaliser in injury-time.
For the match itself, Dundalk will be without injured captain Stephen O’Donnell however the skipper has taken a huge step in his recovery and is now back in training following the injury in April. Simon Kelly is ruled out with a calf strain but despite Brian Gartland and Donal McDermott picking up their fourth booking on Friday evening, they won’t come into effect until next week at the earliest so there are no suspension worries for the manager as he will again have a strong squad to choose from, as he has all season.
DERRY CITY
Derry boss Peter Hutton admits that the FAI Cup quarter-final with Drogheda United will be his priority as the Candystripes go into their clash with league leaders Dundalk at Oriel Park on Monday night. (Kick-off 7.45 p.m.)
The Derry boss had this to say to the Derry Journal, “To be honest I couldn`t care about Dundalk,” said Hutton. “It`s about us and making sure we`re competitive on Monday night with one eye on Friday`s game.
“It`s like the walking wounded and Michael Hegarty (club physio) is going to be busy over the weekend. We just have to assess everyone at training,” he added. “It’s a bit of a casualty list we have at the moment, everyone seems to be carrying a bag of ice. We’ll just see how everyone is at training over the weekend and see whose fighting fit for Dundalk.”
Referee: Tomas Connolly
MATCH STATS
Dundalk’s overall record against Derry City reads as P67, W26, D17, L24 and at Oriel Park it reads P34 W14 D8 L12.
A win will see Dundalk beat the Candystripes four straight times at Oriel Park for the first time ever.
There has only been one scoreless draw between the sides in the last 22 years and that came at the Brandywell in July 2011.
BETTING
Dundalk 8/15; Draw 11/4 ; Derry City 5-1
PREDICTION
Dundalk 2-0 Derry City
Dundalk
Injured: Stephen O’Donnell (knee) and Simon Kelly (calf).
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.
Derry City
Injured: Michael Duffy (International call up U21`s)
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: Dean Jarvis.
