League Preview: St Patrick's Athletic -v- Cork City

ST. PATRICK’S ATHLETIC

Inchicore will see a battle between fifth and eighth as St. Patrick’s Athletic play Cork City at Richmond Park (kick-off 7.45 p.m.) in the latest round of SSE Airtricity League Premier Division fixtures.

With Shamrock Rovers match in Waterford postponed because of international call-ups, the live television cameras will instead be taking in the action in Inchicore.

That said, the St. Pat’s 2019 campaign has boasted more positives than that of their southern rivals and Harry Kenny’s men will be confident of continuing that trend on Friday night.

Kenny was in Dalymount Park to scout the opposition on Monday when the Leesiders exited the EA Sports Cup at the hands of a youthful Bohemians eleven.

In advance of Friday night’s tie with Cork City, Kenny bemoaned his side’s ill luck last week against top of the table Dundalk. "I thought we played really well on the night in Oriel Park. We were solid throughout the game and in the first half we had a few chances that we were unlucky with. The goal at the end was that bit of luck that went Dundalk's way and went against us, so we just have to pick ourselves up and go again," Kenny told stpatsfc.com.

"Cork have picked up a few wins lately and will be tough opponents, but we are just looking to build on last week's display and if we can do that, hopefully we will pick up the points."

Pat’s match winner on the last occasion Cork City were in Inchicore, Mikey Drennan also commented to stpatsfc.com. "I am looking forward to Friday as it is a game we are going into trying to win. We are full of belief that we can pick up the points against Cork and personally, it is a game I'm hoping to get a goal in as I am a few games without a goal now," Drennan admitted. 

"Be it Cork, or any other team, I know that I believe we can beat any team in the league on our day so we are targeting another win against Cork just like the opening night of the season. Training has gone well in the run-up to the game so we are hopeful of putting on a performance in front of our fans, the television cameras and get a win that will keep us up there competing with the teams ahead of us."

Jamie Lennon won’t be involved as he is on Ireland Under 21 duty.

CORK CITY

Quirks in the fixture scheduling see Cork City in Dublin for a fourth time inside two weeks and the visits to the capital haven’t been hugely fruitful.

A 1-0 win in Belfield has been followed by two sobering reverses – comfortably turned over by high-flying Shamrock Rovers in the league at Tallaght and a 2-0 defeat at Bohs in the EA Sports Cup.

City turned-in a listless performance on Monday and Bohs were full value for their 2-0 win in which they missed one of two penalties although City could point to a couple of Daragh Rainsford chances that might have gone in on another night.

Speaking to CorkCityfc.ie at City’s training complex in Bishopstown before the trip to Inchicore, interim City manager John Cotter said: “Pats are a good side, they were 1 up against Derry and they hung on, defended well in the second half. We know it’ll be a tough game up there; we’ll have to be at our best and play well. We’ll be concentrating on ourselves, but it’ll be a very tough game up there.

“In our (previous) game up there, they scored from a penalty. It was a soft penalty from our side but in fairness they dug in and held on to get a good three points on the opening day. In the game down here, we played well in the first half. We created chances and Brendan Clarke made an unbelievable save from Garry Comerford which would have put us 2 up at half-time. In that period, we were conceding soft goals late in games, and that was another one. It was coming towards the 90th minute and they came away with a point.”

Cork City have a number of injury concerns although only Cian Murphy is definitely out. Dan Casey played against his old club in the EA Sports Cup but will be assessed after missing the previous three matches. Conor McCarthy suffered a cut to his head at Dalymount, but Cotter hopes he will be fit to play against Pats while the Leesiders hope to welcome back the experienced pair of Conor McCormack and Karl Sheppard.

Sheppard has been leading the line as well as wearing the captain’s armband but goals have been in short supply for the ex-Shamrock Rovers man.

Referee: Ben Connolly

MATCH STATS
A Mikey Drennan penalty settled the last encounter in the home side’s favour at Richmond Park on the opening night of the season.

A penalty also appeared to have settled the return match at Turner’s Cross in April but Graham Cummins successful spot-kick for the Rebels was cancelled out late on by Dean Clarke for a Pat’s side that lost Dave Webster to a first-half red card.

Cork City’s last win in Richmond Park came a year ago when the Leesiders won 3-1 with a wonder clincher from Kieran Sadlier (now of Doncaster) who scored form inside his own half.

BETTING

St. Patrick’s Athletic 11/10; Draw 9/4; Cork City 5/2.

PREDICTION

St. Patrick’s Athletic 1 – 1 Cork City

St. Patrick’s Athletic

Injured: Lee Desmond, Conor Clifford.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: Rhys McCabe.

Cork City

Injured: Cian Murphy.

Doubtful: Karl Sheppard, Conor McCormack, Dan Casey, Conor McCarthy.

Suspended: None.