League Preview: Derry City -v- Cork City

Cork City will have to put their European excitement to one side for now as the season resumes with a trip to the Brandywell to face Derry City on Friday night. Kick-off is 7.45pm.

DERRY CITY

The Candystripes are in a precarious place in the Premier Division at the moment. They currently lie in ninth, four points and two places above the relegation play-off place, but with all the sides below them having a game in hand. The mid-season break came at a time when Derry were eight games without a win, with their last match being a 1-1 draw with Drogheda United.

Peter Hutton spoke to derrycityfc.net at his press conference and admitted it “was disappointing not to get all three points” at Drogheda. The Derry boss did look on the bright side, though, adding: “We can take a lot of heart from the fact that the performance level certainly improved. It’s just now trying to recreate that in the Brandywell.”

Speaking about the challenge posed by second-placed Cork, Hutton acknowledged that the southern City are a “very good, very well drilled side, who concede very little,” before adding that they are a “big side too and a threat from set pieces...we just have to make sure that we are physically up to match them.”

Stephen Dooley played forty-five minutes in a friendly against Greencastle and scored his side’s third goal in a 4-0 win. However, he will stay a doubt for the Cork game while Ryan McBride and Seamus Sharkey will miss out through suspension.

CORK CITY

Even though Europa League football is on the horizon, Cork will want to be focused ahead of their match against Derry as they continue to chase Dundalk at the top of the table. In quite a contrast to their opponents, the Rebel Army were on a seven game unbeaten run before the break which goes back to the end of April, when they lost to the champions.

John Caulfield spoke to corkcityfc.ie and was wary of the threat Derry posed at home, saying: ““Derry are rebuilding with a young, local team but you always know that you will be in for a tough game at the Brandywell.” The Cork manager then added that “against the top teams, they have fared reasonably well so we know we will need to play well.”

The City boss felt that the mid-season break came at the right time as “everyone needed to just get away and recharge the batteries.” However, since the squad returned to training, he admitted that he couldn’t wait to get right back into it, saying: “The second half of the season is where the real action starts so we want to go to Derry and get a positive result.”

Caulfield will definitely be without four players for the trip up to Northern Ireland, with John Dunleavy, Kieran Djilali and John Kavanagh all sidelined through injury and Colin Healy suspended after being sent off against Bray Wanderers in Cork's last game before the break.

Defender Michael McSweeney is also a doubt after being ill during the week, but Darren Dennehy comes back into contention following a one-match ban.

Referee: Padraig Sutton.

MATCH STATS

Cork and Derry have only met once so far this season, with Cork running out 3-0 winners thanks to John O’Flynn and a double from Karl Sheppard. O'Flynn has only netted two league goals since rejoining the Rebel Army in July 2014 – both of them have come against Derry.

Out of eight home games this season, Derry have only scored in three, of which only one has resulted in a win (3-0 against Drogheda United in March).

Cork have not lost away from home this season, winning four and drawing four of their eight away games. They’ve also conceded the fewest amount of goals on the road, letting in only four.

BETTING

Derry City 10/3; Draw 11/5; Cork City 9/10.

PREDICTION

Derry City 0-2 Cork City.

Derry City

Injured: None.

Doubtful: Stephen Dooley.

Suspended: Ryan McBride, Seamus Sharkey.

Cork City

Injured: John Dunleavy (knee), Kieran Djilali (knee), John Kavanagh (hamstring).

Doubtful: Michael McSweeney.

Suspended: Colin Healy.