Preview: Drogheda United vs Cork City

Drogheda United take on Cork City in the Quarter final of the League Cup on Tuesday night in United Park hoping to continue their unbeaten record this season against the Rebel Army. The teams have met twice this season resulting in a draw in Turners Cross in the Setanta Cup and a win for the Drogs in the league in United Park.

Paul Doolin will be without last year’s Player of the Year Brian Shelley, who suffered a medial ligament injury last Friday in Galway and could be out for up to 5 weeks. Shelley joins a long list of players either out or on the verge of returning from injury.

Manager Paul Doolin insists it will be tough, as his side continue their search for silverware on four fronts. "We have a few players coming back from injury, but they probably won't be available until Friday. We don't really have the luxury of chopping and changing too much."

While United have won more lucrative titles in recent years, Doolin insists his side won't be lacking in determination to progress to the semi-finals. "It's a cup quarter-final. I know we've become used to the latter stages of tournaments in recent years, but we're going to be looking for the win against Cork. They're a good side, and we know they will make it tough for us, but we have to be confident. We're playing well and I'm happy that we can get the result."

Cork City go into the game on the back of four straight wins, and while the League Cup may not be regarded in some quarters as the most glamorous of competitions, City boss Alan Mathews says it is a competition he is taking seriously. He told CorkCityFC.ie: “The League Cup has been much maligned in some quarters but I don’t see it like that. It is one of three trophies in the domestic game, and we will do our best to get ourselves through to the next round.”

With no injuries to report following training this morning, Mathews should have a full strength squad to choose from for the clash. With a semi final place on offer for the winners, the City manager says his side will travel looking to get the right result: “Any game against the league champions is always going to be tough. We will approach the game in a positive manner and we will look to play to our strengths.”

Drogheda are the bookies favourites going into this clash with a price of 6-5 for the win, whilst Cork City are currently 2-1. The draw is slightly longer odds at 21-10. The extratime.ie prediction is a 0-1 win for the Rebel Army.

The match kicks off at 19:45 on Tuesday 1st July.