League Preview: Cork City -v- Dundalk

There’s a lot of hype around this game. League leaders and current champions, Dundalk, take on second place, Cork City, as these sides meet for the first time since that final-day, title-decider, showdown in Oriel Park last year.

CORK CITY

City manager, John Caulfield, is pleased with his side’s preparation ahead of this game but he knows that the 100% home record his side have earned will face its toughest test yet in the form of the Lilywhites.

Last season, Cork failed in three attempts to take any points of Dundalk. Caulfield thinks that his side have moved on and improved since then and will have to stand up and be counted now. In today’s press conference he said:

“Most people think Dundalk will win the league this year, but it is up to us to see where we are at. I think we are better than we were last year and we have started the season well, so we are all looking forward to it.

“Last year was last year; we were fantastic and the lads did brilliantly. This year we have a new team and a different style of play, and I think you can see that we have been a lot better, both defensively and attacking-wise, we have scored a lot more goals. Overall, our passing and our general play has been much better, and our home form has been excellent.”

Like his counterpart, Stephen Kenny, Caulfield is refusing to commit to how pivotal a game this might be in a title campaign:

“It is still early in the season, either way a result on Friday night is not going to determine the league by any means. We don’t make excuses, we work as hard as we can and play as well as we can, and we are hoping that on Friday night, that will be enough for us. It is going to be a fantastic challenge for us and we are all hoping that we can give a very good performance.

“Last season was last season, we did incredibly well; we qualified for Europe and got to the final day of the season with a chance of winning the league. On the night, we were probably a little unlucky, but we never dwelt on it.”

This game is live on RTÉ2 and it has the potential to be an excellent advertisement for the SSE Airtricity league in one of the league’s finest venues. Caulfield had no doubt that the atmosphere would add to the occasion too.

“I’m sure the crowd will be in early and create that atmosphere; there’s no doubt that it gives the players a lift. I’m hoping that, right from the start, we can give them a performance that will keep them roaring from the rafters.”

On the injury front, Alan Bennett has recovered from a hamstring injury, but Caulfield is sweating over the availability of Karl Sheppard, John O’Flynn and John Dunleavy. The City boss says all three are doubts ahead of the game and are likely to undergo late fitness tests.

DUNDALK FC

Dundalk travel south as champions and league leaders and in that respect manager Stephen Kenny couldn’t ask for much more. The Lilywhites come into this game after a 3-0 dismissal of Premier League new-boys, Galway United. It was a statement that their earlier, controversial, 2-2 draw to Shamrock Rovers hadn’t derailed their momentum.

Cork are nipping at Dundalk’s heels in second place. It’s a familiar scenario for anyone who followed the league last year. Dundalk have a psychological edge in that they beat Cork three times last year but it’s a new fixture list this season.

When asked after the Galway game, if he had anything to say to a football pundit’s prediction that Cork would be on top of the league this season, Stephen Kenny responded with a grin and the very diplomatic and non-committal that “It was a possibility – it’s one of three scenarios”. Stating the obvious maybe but perhaps also trying to remind fans champing at the bit that prizes aren’t handed out in April.

In terms of his approach, he indicated that it was his intention to get three points out of the fixture.

“We don’t ever play defensively, we don’t ever play a direct style. Wherever we go and try to dominate. We’d never set up to try and get a point.”

He spoke with respect for Cork’s record at home thus far this season but was also confident that his players would rise to the occasion in a cauldron-like Turner’s Cross and that the match would be a great advertisement for the league:

“They have a formidable home record. I don’t think they have conceded a goal at home.

“Our players flourish on these occasions. We’re better when a crowd is ‘up’. It’s a great night for Irish football with the top two teams playing each other in front of a big crowd – it has all the makings of a cracking game.”

His stance was reinforced by his midfield ace, Richie Towell, who told the club’s media that the squad was looking forward to this clash:

“Cork City is a massive game. With it being on television it’s going to be a great occasion. It’s going to be a really difficult game, we know how good they are but we are focusing on ourselves. We are looking forward to the game. These are the games you want to play in and we’ll go there in a positive manner and hopefully win the game.”

Squad news is good for the Town, they welcome back goalkeeper Gary Rogers who missed out on Monday evening due to suspension. Brian Gartland was substituted on Monday because of a suspected hamstring strain but will be fit to play, while Stephen O’Donnell is continuing to push for a starting place following his return from knee surgery and successful introductions as a sub in recent games.

Kick-off is at 7:35 PM in Turner’s Cross.

Referee: Robert Rogers

MATCH STATS

In all competitions Dundalk are on a nine match unbeaten run away from home and can extend it to 10 for the first time since last summer.

Dundalk’s Daryl Horgan and Stephen O’Donnell are former Cork players while Cork’s left-back and Louthman Ross Gaynor is an ex-Lilywhite.

Dundalk and Cork City have met on 68 occasions with the Lilywhites having the upper hand – P68 W 30 D 18 L20. In league competition there have been 57 meetings with Dundalk also holding a slight edge – P58 W25 D15 L18.

BETTING

Cork City 2/1; Draw 23/10; Away 29/20 .

PREDICTION

Cork City 1- 1 Dundalk FC

Home Team

Injured: None.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

Away Team

Injured: None.

Doubtful: Karl Sheppard, John O’Flynn and John Dunleavey.

Suspended: None.