Cork City -v- Longford Town
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Cork City boss Tommy Dunne has declared tomorrow night’s home game against Longford Town as a must win if the Leesiders are to stand any chance of making the play-offs (kick-off 7.45pm).
After three wins on the bounce, Cork will be hoping they can continue their decent spell against a Longford outfit that are 16 points behind them, lying fourth from bottom after a mixed season at Flancare Park.
The home side are five points off the play-offs at the moment but the general consensus on the banks of the Lee is that City will need to win every game to stand a chance: continuing with tomorrow night.
Still, the Town will be looking to take a scalp at Turner’s Cross tomorrow night, particularly after last week’s draw at home to Derry City.
Only a goal separated the sides back April when City took the spoils at home, while the return in Flancare finished even. Going on the trends this season, expect more of the same tomorrow night.
“We need to be beating Longford Town, no disrespect to them, at home if we have any aspirations of getting into that play-off spot and we pretty much need to win every game between now and the end of the season as well,” Dunne says ahead of the game.
“They played well against Shels and only got done by two late goals. They’ve also drawn with Derry and I watched them against Limerick recently and for the first 20 or 25 minutes, they were the better team. They have proven they can be strong so we have a tough match ahead of us.
“We need to be well focused. Hopefully, we can play like we have done in recent matches and take our chances when they come, which is hugely important.”
Cork got the better of local rivals Limerick 3-1 thanks to a magnificent early blitz last Friday and another start like that should see the home side take the points tomorrow night, justifying their heave favourites tag.
“The results are the most important thing at this time of the season but you need to perform to get those results as well. It’s nice to perform well, play football and play the way we want the team to play. When we do that we create chances and more often than not, we’ve won the match.
“Limerick were well up for the game last weekend but our first-half performance was very good. I thought we were comfortable against them at the back and we looked like we might score every time we attacked, so that was the really pleasing aspect,” added Dunne, who will be without Neal Horgan due to his GAA commitments.
“We had a great chance to make it four just after half-time, which would have made things more comfortable, so it’s important that we become more ruthless when we’re finishing off teams.”
Stephen Mulcahy and Cathal Lordan remain out, while there are doubts over Greg O’Halloran and the resurgent Davin O’Neill. Both will be given late fitness tests.
Town, meanwhile, have Mark Salmon suspended, though Chris Deans will be back in the frame after his ban as Niall O’Reilly remains sidelined.
Paddypower.com odds: Cork 8/15, Draw 12/5, Longford 5/1.
Cork City:
Suspended: none
Injured: Stephen Mulcahy (groin), Cathal Lordan (knee), Greg O’Halloran (ankle), Davin O’Neill (groin)
Absent: Neal Horgan (GAA commitments)
Longford Town:
Suspended: Mark Salmon
Injured: Niall O’Reilly
Referee: S Grant
Extratime.ie Prediction: 2-0 to Cork, for the simple reason that they’ve a lot more to play for.
After three wins on the bounce, Cork will be hoping they can continue their decent spell against a Longford outfit that are 16 points behind them, lying fourth from bottom after a mixed season at Flancare Park.
The home side are five points off the play-offs at the moment but the general consensus on the banks of the Lee is that City will need to win every game to stand a chance: continuing with tomorrow night.
Still, the Town will be looking to take a scalp at Turner’s Cross tomorrow night, particularly after last week’s draw at home to Derry City.
Only a goal separated the sides back April when City took the spoils at home, while the return in Flancare finished even. Going on the trends this season, expect more of the same tomorrow night.
“We need to be beating Longford Town, no disrespect to them, at home if we have any aspirations of getting into that play-off spot and we pretty much need to win every game between now and the end of the season as well,” Dunne says ahead of the game.
“They played well against Shels and only got done by two late goals. They’ve also drawn with Derry and I watched them against Limerick recently and for the first 20 or 25 minutes, they were the better team. They have proven they can be strong so we have a tough match ahead of us.
“We need to be well focused. Hopefully, we can play like we have done in recent matches and take our chances when they come, which is hugely important.”
Cork got the better of local rivals Limerick 3-1 thanks to a magnificent early blitz last Friday and another start like that should see the home side take the points tomorrow night, justifying their heave favourites tag.
“The results are the most important thing at this time of the season but you need to perform to get those results as well. It’s nice to perform well, play football and play the way we want the team to play. When we do that we create chances and more often than not, we’ve won the match.
“Limerick were well up for the game last weekend but our first-half performance was very good. I thought we were comfortable against them at the back and we looked like we might score every time we attacked, so that was the really pleasing aspect,” added Dunne, who will be without Neal Horgan due to his GAA commitments.
“We had a great chance to make it four just after half-time, which would have made things more comfortable, so it’s important that we become more ruthless when we’re finishing off teams.”
Stephen Mulcahy and Cathal Lordan remain out, while there are doubts over Greg O’Halloran and the resurgent Davin O’Neill. Both will be given late fitness tests.
Town, meanwhile, have Mark Salmon suspended, though Chris Deans will be back in the frame after his ban as Niall O’Reilly remains sidelined.
Paddypower.com odds: Cork 8/15, Draw 12/5, Longford 5/1.
Cork City:
Suspended: none
Injured: Stephen Mulcahy (groin), Cathal Lordan (knee), Greg O’Halloran (ankle), Davin O’Neill (groin)
Absent: Neal Horgan (GAA commitments)
Longford Town:
Suspended: Mark Salmon
Injured: Niall O’Reilly
Referee: S Grant
Extratime.ie Prediction: 2-0 to Cork, for the simple reason that they’ve a lot more to play for.
About Alan Smith
Alan Smith works as a sub-editor for the Guardian newspaper in London. Originally from Cork, he freelances for several other newspapers and websites. Follow him on twitter @alansmith90. View Full Profile