Cork City -v- Monaghan United

After an impressive victory from his side in Tolka Park and some very strong words from the man himself, Roddy Collins brings his Monaghan United side to Turner's Cross on Tuesday evening in search of three points that will really look to secure their promotion challenge. (Kick-off 7.45)

Cork themselves have been picking up some very good results as of late, despite their collapse at the final hurdle of the EA Sports Cup. City have won their last three league games, scoring fifteen goals in the process. Since their 3-3 draw with Limerick last month, Tommy Dunne’s men have secured wins over Athlone, Waterford and Finn Harps to maintain their healthy position of third in the First Division.

Being granted points for another teams mistake is one thing, but constant late winners is almost too much joy for the small group of supporters that base themselves in Gortakeegan. Another fine example of this was two weeks ago at home to Longford Town. Deep into stoppage time, Ryan Brennan struck to sink all those waiting for a slip-up in Limerick, Cork and Drumcondra. The Mons have made winning a habit in this division lately, collecting three points in every one of their last seven encounters.

The sides have played twice already this season. In this fixture, back in April, the sides drew 2-2 thanks to a late equaliser from Davin O’Neill. In the reverse fixture, a tightly contested tie finished 1-1 in Gortakeegan, seeing City finish with ten men following the dismissal of Gavin Kavanagh.

Roddy Collins had a brief spell in charge of Cork City at the beginning of last year, before eventually leaving his post before the first whistle was blown on the 2010 season. Following his sides win in Tolka Park on Friday night, Collins controversially slated Shelbourne in a post match interview. He said:  “I feel great, I expected before we came down that we’d beat them, there is a weakness in them that I’ve seen, there is a mental weakness there that I knew we could put it right up to them. I thought we could beat them on their own patch. They didn’t have the mettle to come back. When we got the first goal there was a row on the touchline, you won’t see that with our players. If it goes against us they will accept it, we will get on it and we will get back to where we started and take it from there. When you see that(the row on the touchline) that’s  a mental weakness, and you see fella’s huddling in the middle of the park before the game that’s a joke, that’s Celtic’s gig, leave it to them.”

The Monaghan manager was also giving his thoughts on this fixture. “We are going to Cork on Tuesday night and we’re going down there to win, that’s what we are going to Cork for. So if you win your games you’re looking with two games to go we could be a point off Shels, if they keep winning their games, it’s all game on then, that’s the most important thing. You start off to try and win a league, whatever comes after that is a bonus.”

With characters like Tommy Dunne and Roddy Collins on the touchline, with players on the pitch with the quality of the Brennans, Graham Cummins, Daryl Horgan, Danny Murphy and Gearoid Morrissey, with the atmosphere from the Cork City fans and with the sense of occasion that will surround the tie, Tuesday’s encounter will be one not to be missed.

Cork City:

Injured: Derek O’Brien, Stephen Mulcahy, Neal Horgan, Davin O’Neill, Greg O’Halloran, Gavin Kavanagh.

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

Monaghan United:

Injured: Conor McMahon

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

Referee: Conor Fitzgerald

Paddypower.com Odds: Cork City (evens) Draw (11/5) Monaghan (5/2)

Extratime.ie Prediction: Cork City 1-2 Monaghan United