League Preview: Cork City -v- Dundalk

In a dress rehearsal for this year’s FAI Cup Final, Cork City will take on Dundalk in Turner’s Cross on Friday evening, 364 days since the Lilywhites beat John Caulfield’s men to the league title in Oriel Park. With Dundalk having the league wrapped up and Cork having Europe secured for next season neither side have really much to play for.

CORK CITY

Cork City come into this game without beating Dundalk in any of their two previous encounters already this season, with Dundalk winning 2-1 in front of a packed Turner's Cross in April, and drawing in Oriel Park 1-1 in July, five days after Stephen Kenny’s men were knocked out of the Champions League by BATE.

The Rebel Army have had a pretty mixed last three games, drawing 1-1 against Drogheda United in United Park, losing 3-2 to Longford Town at home, and beating fellow European rivals St. Pats 2-1 away from home this last Monday.

John Caulfield welcomes back Dan Murray into the squad after he was suspended for Monday night’s game, he would have also had former Irish international, Liam Miller back as well, but the Ovens man is injured.

Danny Morrissey, John Kavanagh, Gavan Holohan, Colin Healy, Garry Buckley and Alan Bennett will all also miss the game through injury, which will give some of the fringe players a chance to impress their manager just before the Cup Final.

DUNDALK

The Lilywhites come into this game just hoping not to pick up any knocks for both the FAI Cup Final and the Leinster Senior Cup final against Shamrock Rovers on Monday evening.

Dundalk have hit a bit of a slump by their standards as they have only won one of their last three games, and that was to knock Longford Town out of the FAI Cup at the semi-final stage. Their previous two games ended in draws, the first against Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght to wrap up the league and the second in Oriel Park against relegation threatened Galway United.

Stephen Kenny will be looking to rest his main men like he did in their last game against Galway, Darren Meenan is defiantly out of tomorrow’s game, after he accumulated five yellow cards, and Brian Gartland is rated as doubtful, after he spent the last month out actions thanks to a quad injury. They do welcome back Richie Towell into the frame who was out with a bout of pleurisy.

Referee: Paul Tuite

MATCH STATS

Mark O’Sullivan’s goal against the Lilywhites in Oriel Park was the first time Cork had scored in the Carrick Road ground under John Caulfield. Before that they had lost 4-0 and 2-0 respectively.

In the last ten league meetings between the two, the hosts have only beaten the Lilywhites on one occasion and that was in 2012 when Tommy Dunne’s side ran out 3-0 winners. Dundalk have won six of those ten, with the other three ending in draws.

Dundalk haven’t lost away from home since September of 2014, when Christy Fagan’s goal was enough for Pats to beat Stephen Kenny’s side 1-0.

BETTING

Cork City 15/8; Draw 23/10; Dundalk 11/8

PREDICTION

Cork City 0-0 Dundalk

Cork City

Injured: Danny Morrissey, John Kavanagh, Gavan Holohan, Colin Healy, Garry Buckley, Alan Bennett, Liam Miller

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

Dundalk

Injured: None

Doubtful: Brain Gartland

Suspended: Darren Meenan