Preview: Cork City vs Drogheda United

Cork City’s recent good run will face a stern test tomorrow evening at Turner’s Cross as league champions Drogheda United make their second visit of the season to Leeside. The sides drew nil all at the ‘Cross some weeks ago in the Setanta Sports Cup, but City go into the game knowing that a win would put them six points ahead of the Louth side. Cork have won their last four games and look stronger than many expected this season.

Speaking to CorkCityFC.ie, Rebel Army manager Alan Mathews said: “Before the start of the season I said that to have a successful year, you need to finish ahead of Drogheda, and I would not, for one minute, write this Drogheda side off. They are obviously the league champions, and they come to Turner’s Cross with a top class squad.”

“We come into this game on the back of some good results, and more importantly some good performances, and obviously we will be keen to continue this.”

Alan Mathews has a near fully fit squad with only Dave Mulchahy (groin) and Gareth Farrelly (calf) the only doubts.

Drogheda United will be looking to get back to winning ways when they visit Turner's Cross having lost last Sunday to a strong Bohemians side, and Paul Doolin believes his team will have their work cut out in Turner's Cross.

“Cork is a hard place to get a result” Doolin said. “Coming on the back of Sunday's game though, we'll need to push for the win. I thought we were unlucky against Bohs; maybe a draw would have been a fair result. But we have to go for the win. We're already 8 points behind the leaders, and we don't want to fall further behind.” Doolin also acknowledged his side's good away form in Turner's Cross in recent years saying “We've a good record there, so there's no reason why we can't get a result.”

Doolin is missing Ibrahima Iyane-Thiam and Stuart Byrne through suspension, and both Guy Bates and Shaun Maher remain out with hip and knee injuries respectively. Brian Shelley is also a doubt after he picked up a knock.

With Pats already eight points clear of a Drogheda side still struggling to recapture the form of last season, an away victory here will be key but with Cork performing so well at both ends of the pitch already, it seems like a tall ask for the Louth side.

7.45 Kick Off