League Preview: Cork City -v- Derry City

CORK CITY

Already relegated Cork City will close out 2020 on Monday evening with a home game against Derry City (kick off 7:30pm).

The Rebel Army’s fate was confirmed two weeks ago when Finn Harps beat Bohemians 2-0 at Dalymount Park, a result which also handed Shamrock Rovers the league title.

Colin Healy’s side will be looking to put behind them the disappointment of that Saturday as they go looking for their first home league win since August on the final night of the season.

There has been good news for the club. In late October a sale of Cork City to Grovemore Limited was voted for by FORAS, the fans group who own and run Cork City. Despite this cushion at the end of the season, interim manager Colin Healy is focused on the football.

“We’ve been concentrating on training and getting ready for the Derry game,” the former Irish international said.

“I like to that that no matter what game you are playing for a contact. You will be looking for good attitude, a good performance, and hopefully we can go and get a win for the last game of the season.”

In the build up to the game, City confirmed that Joseph Olowu and Deshane Dalling, who were on loan from Arsenal and QPR, returned to their parent clubs.

DERRY CITY

The Candystripes will be looking for the three points on Monday evening that will make sure they avoid the promotion/relegation play off.

A loss combined with victories for Finn Harps and Shelbourne would  see Derry slip to ninth place and have to play Longford in a once off game to decide who goes up or who goes down.

This will be their second game in three days after they were beaten 2-0 by champions  Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght Stadium on Saturday evening.

Because of such a quick turnaround, Derry boss Declan Devine announced that they travelled straight to Cork after the defeat in Dublin.

“We travelled on to Cork after the game so at least we were able to have a couple of training sessions which has helped,” the Derry manager reflected on his side’s preparation for Monday.

“I’m also hoping to add to the squad that played at Tallaght ahead of Monday night’s game and that will give us a few more options as well.”

Referee: TBC.

MATCH STATS

This will be the second meeting of the two teams in 2020. They faced each other last August in the Brandywell, on a night which saw a 3-1 win for the home side.

Derry’s last win on Leeside came in June 2019 when a hat-trick by Junior Uzokwe and a tap in from David Parkhouse gave the visitors a 4-1 win.

Cork City’s finish at the foot of the table is their lowest ever league position in their history in the Premier Division.

BETTING

Cork City 7/2 Draw 5/2 Derry 4/6

PREDICTION

Cork City 0 - 2 Derry City

Cork City

Injured: None.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

Derry City

Injured: N/A.

Doubtful: N/A.

Suspended: N/A.