League Preview: Dundalk -v- Cork City

DUNDALK

The Lilywhites will be looking for a positive result to keep their unbeaten run going as they welcome struggling Cork City this Friday evening to Oriel Park (kick-off 7.45pm).

Dundalk are on a three-game winning streak with victories against Drogheda United, UCD and Sligo Rovers. This change in form was much needed after going the six games before that without picking up a win.

Keith Ward’s winning goal was the difference between the two teams in their game against Sligo Rovers. Stephen O’Donnell’s men also kept the league’s top goal scorer Max Mata quiet at the other end, recording their fifth clean sheet of the league this season.

Since the first meeting between the two teams on Easter Monday, Dundalk have not lost a match. This impressive run of form has seen the Louth team jump up to fourth in the league.

Stephen O’Donnell will be eyeing this fixture as a chance to pick up three points and also make up some ground on third-placed Derry City who travelling to top-of-the-table Bohemians.

Good news for Dundalk fans as Cameron Elliot and Daniel Kelly have participated fully in training ahead of this game, even though there are still a number of long-term absentees from the squad.

CORK CITY

The Leesiders have not made the trip up to Oriel Park for a league game in three years and are coming off a deflating result against St. Patrick’s Athletic in their last game at Turner’s Cross.

The 3-2 defeat at the hands of the men from Inchicore would have been a bitter pill to swallow, especially after erasing an early Conor Carty goal with strikes from Babatunde Owolabi and Joe O’Brien Whitmarsh. Jake Mulraney’s equaliser and Adam Murphy’s winner were gut punches to a Cork City team desperately trying to get some points on the board.

Cork City, led by interim boss Liam Buckley, would have seen a home game against another managerless club as an opportunity to get some much-needed points on the board.

There are positives for the men from Munster as they did win the last fixture between these two teams at Turner’s Cross on Easter weekend, courtesy of a Cian Murphy winner.

Assistant coach Richie Holland spoke to the media ahead of the trip to Dundalk and acknowledged the test waiting for Cork City in the form of Dundalk.

“Dundalk are a very good side,” he said. “They’ve got really good, experienced players within that squad. I think they’ll get stronger as the season goes on. Stevie has a good way of playing, and he wants them to be on the front foot as well. It will be a good game on Friday.”

Club captain Cian Coleman also noted that the team needed to be resilient as there are plenty of points to be won for the rest of the season.

“We need to learn to see out games – we were 2-1 up at half-time. We can’t be letting teams back into the game. We just have to keep going.

“It’s a long season, and we know we can turn it around. It’s going to be tough, but we have to go into the game on Friday, give it a right crack, and hopefully come back with three points.”

Referee: Damien MacGraith

MATCH STATS

Expect to see a goal on Friday because Cork City has not been involved in a scoreless draw this season, while Dundalk have only played in one.

The last league game between these two teams at Oriel Park took place in March of 2020 before the global pandemic shutdown, with the home team easing to a 3-0 victory.

Since the meeting between these two teams in Cork in April, the Rebel men have not picked up a point, which included handing bottom-of-the-table UCD their only win of the season.

BETTING

Dundalk 3/4; Draw 5/2; Cork City 3/1

PREDICTION

Dundalk 3-1 Cork City

Dundalk

Injured: John Mountney, Gregory Sloggett, Andy Boyle, Louie Annesley, Robbie Benson

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

Cork City

Injured: Cian Bargary, Albin Winbo

Doubtful: Jonas Häkkinen

Suspended: Andy Gilchrist

League Preview: UCD -v- Shamrock Rovers https://t.co/LPJIZEiFOYpic.twitter.com/pWsMRqOClu

— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) May 11, 2023