St Patrick's Athletic -v- Cork City

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC

St Pat’s will be hoping to extend their unbeaten run in the league to eleven games when they take on Cork City at Richmond Park on Friday night.

Liam Buckley doesn’t mind facing Cork as Pats manager, as the last time he did so in April 1999 a Paul Osam header gifted the Inchicore club a 1-0 win and Buckley’s team marched on to win the league title that season.

The Saints boss will be hoping that his side can keep up their good start to the 2012 season against in-form Cork City. Speaking to stpatsfc.com, Buckley said, “We’re missing a few bodies at the moment, but thankfully we’ve lads who are ready to come in as Cork’s form in the last few weeks has been very good and Tommy has them playing well. You expect a difficult game from any Cork City side so they’ll come here full of confidence, but we’ve been playing well lately so hopefully we can keep that form up in Inchicore this Friday.”

A stand out performer for St Pat’s this season has been Kenny Browne, and the big centre half has been keeping a keen eye on Cork’s front men. “I’d know Vinny Sullivan well having played with him at Waterford and he’s scored goals lately for Cork. Davin O’Neill has been amongst the goals too and Tadhg Purcell is back as well and he’s a hard lad to mark so it’ll be a real test.”

Browne added, “Even though Graham Cummins was a loss for Cork this season, the lads have been chipping in with goals so Conor Kenna and I will have to be on our toes at the back. Some of the top sides are playing each other this weekend meaning we’ve a chance to gain some points on them, so three points are vital."

CORK CITY

The Leesiders are on a good run of late, with three wins from their last four games. They came out on top in a fascinating game with Dundalk in Turners Cross last Friday, recording a 3-2 win. Cork boss Tommy Dunne, who participated on the same Pro-License coaching course as Liam Buckley, knows his former colleague’s charges will be very tough opposition.

Speaking to corkcityfc.net, Dunne said, “We are going to Inchicore, which is never an easy venue, and facing the in-form team in the division. They are unbeaten; they have gone to Derry and won, gone to Sligo, and should have won, and they had a great win over Shamrock Rovers as well. I know Liam Buckley from doing the pro-licence course and he is very thorough, well organised and always wants his sides to play good football, which they are doing at the moment, so we are under no illusions as to how difficult it will be.”

Dunne added,  “From our own point of view, it has been a bit of an indifferent start to the season. After a slow start we have picked up a few good results in recent weeks, but we are still not 100% where we want to be. It will be an interesting game for all involved; we are looking forward to it and we would like to think we can be competitive.”

In light of injuries to defenders, John Dunleavy, Dan Murray and Neal Horgan, as well as Gavin Kavanagh missing due to college exams, under 19 central defender Eoghan Murphy has been added to the senior squad. Murphy was part of this year’s U19 double winners.

Referee: Paul McLaughlin.

MATCH STATS

Along with Sligo, St Pats are the only remaining unbeaten side left in the Premier Division.

St Pats have a 75% win rate at home, whilst cork have just a 25 % win rate on the road.

In Giovanni Trappatoni’s EURO 2012 squad, there is one player who has played League of Ireland football for both sides, Kevin Doyle.

BETTING

St Pat’s 8/11; Draw 12/5; Cork 4/1.

PREDICTION

St Pat’s haven began this season brightly, with 10 points from 12 at home. Despite Cork’s recent good form, I will have to say 1-0 St Pats.

St Pats Injury News: James Chambers (knee), Mark Rossiter (knee).

St Pats Suspension News: Greg Bolger, 1 match, (4 yellow cards).

Cork Injury News: Shane O’Connor (foot), Jamie Murphy (ankle), Stephen Mulcahy, Neal Horgan, Kevin Murray (all knee). Doubts - John Dunleavy (knee), Dan Murray (stomach Injury).

Cork Suspension News: None.