League Preview: Cork City -v- Wexford Youths

CORK CITY

Cork City take on newly-promoted Wexford Youths in Turner’s cross as Cork look to get back on track following what they will see as a disappointing result on their last outing.

A nil all draw at the Showground, versus bottom placed Sligo, was down to being ‘unlucky’ and a bit ‘rusty’ according to Rebels gaffer John Caulfied. The Rebel manager seems wary of considering this as a straight-forward assignment.. Speaking at his club’s press conference he pointed out that they had caused some Premier sides problems already this season:

“The danger is that, because they are new to the Premier Division, that people assume that they are not a strong side, but I would say that Wexford will cause a lot of problems for people this season.

“They were very impressive last season and won the division well and, since they have come up, they have done well. Derry, who are joint top, scored in the 94^th minute to beat them and Dundalk scored in the 88^th minute to beat them.”

“They are a really hard working side; they are big, strong and physical and cause a lot of problems from set pieces.”

Speaking after the Sligo Rovers draw, Gary Buckley reflected on a difficult fixture that was in the balance and looked forward to the comfort of playing at home for the first time since mid-March:

“It was an open enough game on an open pitch, a big pitch, but in this league any away game is tough, anyone can beat anyone. We need to get back to winnings ways.

“Wexford Youths are doing very well so we’ll need to pick up now get back to the training ground and go again for three points.”

Cork currently sit in fourth spot on ten points, but with a game in hand due to their postponed fixture with Shamrock Rovers. They could join the current league leaders, Dundalk and Derry with 13 points should they dispense of Wexford Youths on Friday evening.

The Leesiders will be boosted by the return of Greg Bolger from suspension, while the news from the treatment room is generally positive. Alan Bennett may be available despite missing out on selection for the Sligo Rovers match. John Kavanagh remains sidelined as he recovers from surgery and Michael McSweeney is a major doubt for the game after suffering a knock during the week

WEXFORD YOUTHS

Adjectives like ‘unlucky’, ‘industrious’ and ‘spirited’ have been used to describe Wexford Youths’ first matches in the SSE Airtricity League of Ireland Premier Division. Those games included a loss in Tallaght to Shamrock Rovers (who took an hour to find their feet), a goalkeeping error to gift Dundalk a win and a 94^th minute winner for Derry City. All in all, not a bad showing.

The Youths finally got their first win of the season with a 2-0 win over Bray Wanderers (something it took play-off relegated Limerick until August to do). That win was swiftly followed with a 2-1 Leinster Senior Cup victory over Longford Town, with an entirely new starting XI, to complete their eviction of the midland teams from that competition.

Getting the monkey off their back in the league and will undoubtedly put some wind in their sales ahead of a rare trip southward to face Cork City. They may need it as it will likely be amongst their toughest assignments of the year -an opinion acknowledged by Youths manager Shane Keegan’s, statements to the media this week:

"Games don't get much tougher than Cork City at Turner’s Cross but after getting the first win under our belt, confidence is up and we're really looking forward to the challenge now.

“Obviously we're big outsiders but we've shown already this season that we're capable of taking on anybody when we're at our best so if we perform we could really put it up to them."

Turner’s cross is virgin soil for the Youths as a Premier outfit but they have met six times in the past while Cork City plotted their escape from the First Division. It’s advantage Cork on that front with four wins to Wexford’s two. The Wexford outfit also managed a 2-2 draw in Turner’s cross in what was the last meeting between these two sides.

Youths continue to be without Shane Dunne, Peter Higgins, Aidan Keenan and Johnny Bonner. Chris Kenny will be back in contention for a start having recovered from an injury that saw him start on the bench against Bray.

Referee: Tomas Connolly

MATCH STATS

Danny Furlong’s two league goals from five appearances is double his tally when he played for Cork, for whom he scored once from twelve league appearances.

Wexford Youths have the same points tally form as top side Dundalk over the last three matches.

This is the first meeting of these two sides in the top flight.

BETTING

Cork 1/3 ; Draw 7/2; Wexford 9/1.

PREDICTION

Cork City 3 – 1 Wexford Youths

Cork City

Injured: John Kavanagh.

Doubtful: Michael McSweeney.

Suspended: None.

Wexford Youths

Injured: Shane Dunne, Peter Higgins. Aidan Keenan, Johnny Bonnar.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.