Cork City -v- Drogheda United

CORK CITY

Cork City were dragged right back into the lower part of the table by a spirited UCD side on Friday night. The Leesiders came away from the campus on the wrong side of a 3-1 scoreline.

The result is Cork’s second on the bounce and only once this season have they lost three on the bounce. Speaking to extratime.ie after Friday night’s 3-1 defeat Tommy “To go 1-0 down to a basic thing like failing to mark a fella from a set-piece isn’t good enough. We got ourselves back into it only to again go behind to another set-piece. It was a disgrace.”

John Dunleavy suffered an ankle ligament injury in the defeat to UCD, and early signs are that the defender will be sidelined for 3-4 weeks. Both Colin Healy (thigh strain) and Neal Horgan (knee) will be assessed at training on Sunday, with Dunne hopeful that one or both may be available for Monday. Graham McCarthy (ankle), Cathal Lordan (knee), Eoghan Murphy (ankle) and Kevin Burns (ankle) are all still sidelined.

The Cork manager is well aware of the task that he faces on Monday night, ““It’ll be difficult regardless (of Drogheda losing to Shamrock Rovers on Friday), we need to make sure we apply ourselves. Tonight (losing to UCD) wasn’t good enough, we were outplayed in the middle of the park. They controlled the game,” he added.

DROGHEDA UNITED

The Boynesiders travel to Cork City in the hope of bouncing back from a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Shamrock Rovers on Friday night.

Drogheda are still in second but with the Tallaght side’s change in fortune they are in danger of slipping back into third. But one thing they have shown this season is resilience. Having lost to Shamrock Rovers earlier in the season Mick Cooke’s side went on a nine game unbeaten run before being turned over by Sligo Rovers.

Cooke spoke of this resilience ahead of the game, “I was disappointed not to get anything from the Shamrock Rovers game, but the last time we lost to Rovers we went nine games unbeaten so hopefully we can start that again.” 

“We have shown that we can bounce back from defeat and we are now getting into the final third of the season and the pressure is building, but we are still in second place and all we can do is focus on the next game,” he concluded.  

Cooke will be without the suspended Prendergast while Cathal Brady is a doubt after picking up a knock on Friday night. Philip Hand will undergo a late fitness test.

Referee: Derek Tomney

MATCH STATS

Drogheda’s Declan O’Brien is looking for his 101^st goal in league football.

Cork City have drawn the most games this season with 10 while Drogheda have the joint most away wins this season.

The two meetings between the sides so far have seen the sides draw once and Drogheda win once.

BETTING

Cork City 7/5, Draw 21/10, Drogheda United 21/10

PREDICTION

Drogheda United to nick it with a 2-1 win.

Cork City Injury News: John Dunleavy, Colin Healy (doubt), Neal Horgan (doubt), Graham McCarthy, Cathal Lordan, Kevin Burns, Eoghan Murphy

Cork City Suspension News: None

Drogheda United Injury News: Cathal Brady (doubt), Philip Hand (doubt)

Drogheda United Suspension News: Derek Prendergast