League Preview: Cork City -v- Waterford

CORK CITY

Cork City’s preparations for their first home game of the season have been disturbed somewhat by the suspension of returning Rebel Army favourite Graham Cummins.

Cummins assisted and scored in the opening 11 minutes of the season against St. Patrick’s Athletic before being sent off after a collision with Kevin Toner only 15 minutes later. The good news for City is that Cummins will only face a one game ban and will return for Monday’s game away to Sligo.

A longer term absentee is back up striker Josh O’Hanlon who will likely be out for at least another week. This leaves City manager John Caulfield with a decision to make as to who will lead the line in their opening home game of the season. While Karl Sheppard fulfilled that role last season after the departure of Seanie Maguire his best performances for City have undoubtedly come from a wider forward position. 

Another option is Preston North End loanee Michael Howard. The 18 year old comes into the squad having just signed his first professional contact for Preston and will be eager to impress between now and the summer.

At the other end of the pitch City have been un-characteristically porous at the back. It wasn’t until September last season that they conceded two goals in a game but they have already managed that in both their competitive games this season. With the ongoing absence of Johnny Dunleavy City will again look to Alan Bennett to use his experience and class to guide his younger and less experienced defensive partners through the game. 

Speaking to corkcityfc.ie City manager John Caulfield was looking forward to playing in front of the home fans for the first time this season.

“After being away for the President’s Cup and the first league game, it is great to be back home at Turner’s Cross. Our last home game was against Bray back in October, so it is great to be looking forward to playing there again. We hope to have a full house and we need a massive atmosphere because, looking at Waterford’s win last Friday, they will be tough opponents. We are there to be knocked and we will need to be on top of our game, playing at high intensity.”

WATERFORD

Waterford enjoyed a dream start to their first season in the top flight in a decade, by triumphing over Derry City on opening night. Blues fans will be especially encouraged by some of the quality on display especially given the tough conditions in the RSC last Friday night.

Dean O’ Halloran’s winner in particular would stand out on any night but when you consider that supporters had to be called on to make the pitch playable before the game it is all the more impressive from The Blues. Blues fans will be excited to renew their rivalry with City and will be expected to travel in large numbers to Turner’s Cross for what should be an entertaining and open game.

With Cummins missing for City and top players like Akinade, O’ Halloran, Holohan and Hery in their team they will feel that they can cause an upset on Leeside. Holohan is one of three players to return to Cork from City’s FAI Cup winning team in 2016, along with the other two Kenny Bowne and Matt Connor he will be hoping to create further happy memories on Leeside.

Alan Reynolds was looking forward to facing the champions when he spoke to waterfordfc.ie after their opening fixture against Derry “It’s nice to have a Munster derby again to look forward to although we’ll treat Cork like every other team. They are the champions, good luck to them, but that means nothing to us.”

Referee: Ben Connolly.

MATCH  STATS

This fixture is a repeat of Cork City’s first home game under fan ownership in 2010. Waterford won that game 2-0.

Waterford’s last league title was in 1973, a full 11 years before Cork City was founded.

That title was Waterford’s 6^th, Cork City currently have 3 after last year’s victory

BETTING

Cork City 2/5; Draw 7/2; Waterford 6/1.

PREDICTION

Cork City 2 – 2 Waterford

Cork City

Injured: Josh O’Hanlon, Garry Buckley, Johnny Dunleavy

Doubtful: None

Suspended: Graham Cummins

Waterford

Injured: Paul Keegan, John Martin

Doubtful: None

Suspended:  None