League Preview: Cabinteely -v- Drogheda United

CABINTEELY

The South Dubliners have found the First Division tough so far with possible ‘second season syndrome’ kicking in. After beating Athlone Town in the first game of the year, they’ve only picked up two points in the following ten league games. Cup runs have also yielded no interim joy as they've suffered a trio of knockouts in the opening rounds.

Sligo Rovers ran out 3-0 winners last weekend to see Cabinteely eliminated in the first round of the FAI Cup, EA Sports and Leinster Senior Cup this season. However, there were positives with so many young players being exposed to first team football

21-year-old Aaron Brilly was their oldest player while Gavin Howard made his debut for the club at 17.

One issue this year has been the goalscoring side of things as they have only seven league goals to their name. Only Cobh Ramblers have less than double that tally, with Limerick have netted just over six times that amount with 46 registered so far this season. Ben Hanrahan leads the way with three of the seven so far.

Kevin Knight is suspended for Sunday’s clash with Drogheda United while Edward McDonagh and Lloyd Cairns are presumably doubts for the match having either missed or been injured in the last league game against Waterford United. Victor Ekanem is a long-term absentee.

DROGHEDA UNITED

Drogheda United are leading the charge for the playoff spots behind a Limerick side that looks quite unstoppable. The Louth side are five points ahead of third place Shelbourne and are undefeated in their last five league games too, picking up 13 points in the process. They even pushed Derry City to a replay in the FAI Cup last weekend.

It was a Joshua Daniels' second-half winner that saw Drogheda United out of the Cup in the replay on Tuesday after Sean Thornton’s penalty cancelled out Rory Patterson’s free kick. They too now have been eliminated in the first round of each of the cups as Bohemians, Bluebell United and Derry saw them off.

Drogs have the second-meanest defence in the league, alongside Shelbourne, having shipped just 14 goals and have kept two clean sheets in their last three league games.

Drogheda had both Colm Deasy and Marc Griffin missing out on the Derry City cup games while Jake Hyland was sent off in their last league game against Shelbourne so will sit out this match.

Referee: John McLoughlin.

MATCH STATS

Drogheda United and Cabinteely have met once so far this season, with the Drogs running out 4-0 winners in the league in April. An Aaron Ashe double added to earlier goals from Sean Brennan and Eoin Kirwan.

Last year saw the sides saw met for the first time in the FAI Cup, with Drogheda United also ending up the victors as they won 3-1 in United Park.

In that match last year, only Lloyd Buckley, Sean Thornton and Sean Brennan remain at the club from the squad of 18 while Cabinteely have eight still on the books from a match day squad of 17.

BETTING

Cabinteely 13/2; Draw 3/1; Drogheda United 2/5.

PREDICTION

Cabinteely 1-3 Drogheda United.

Cabinteely

Injured: Victor Ekanem.

Doubtful: Lloyd Cairns, Edward McDonagh

Suspended: Kevin Knight

Drogheda United

Injured: Marc Griffin.

Doubtful: Colm Deasy.

Suspended: Jake Hyland.