Cork City v Drogheda United

• Alan Smith
• Fri, Oct 17 2008




While the home side emerge from Examinership, their opponents tonight enter it. With Drogheda facing a ten point penalty Cork, if they can put together a string of results before the end of the season, could still grab a European spot against all the odds.

A fourth place for the Rebel Army looks likely once Drogheda are deducted the mandatory 10 points for going into Examinership. This would mean that if Derry City win the FAI Cup, Cork would then play in next seasons Uefa Cup. An outside chance but a chance nonetheless.

The two sides have played 5 times so far this season and Drogheda are yet to defeat tonight’s home side. Cork have won 3, twice in the league and also in the league cup. The two draws have come in the Setanta Cup group stages.

Both teams have big injury worries going into the game but the home side must surely be the more confident after the past 3 days in which they qualified for a Setanta Cup Final next month and have been declared debt-free.

Speaking ahead of the game, City boss Alan Matthews warned that it will be a tight game at Turners Cross tonight, “Games between ourselves and Drogheda have been extremely tight all season. They have beaten us at Turner’s Cross, while we have won at United Park. It has been a difficult week for Drogheda United, on and off the pitch, something which we know all too much about.”

The home side will be without the long-term injured Colin Healy, striker Denis Behan is still injured as is defender Cillian Lordan. City’s form has been a mixed bag recently with 6 draws in the last ten games but last year's champions have also been in poor enough form. The County Louth side have only won 3 in their last ten games.

Paul Doolin’s side will be down to the bare bones for this one with eight players out. "We've a fair few injuries, and the squad is looking thin now. We'll be bringing in a couple of the younger lads." said Doolin.

Dan Connor, Guy Bates, Shane Barrett, Richie Baker, Brian Shelley and Shaun Maher are all ruled out thanks to injury. Joe Kendrick and Adam Hughes will miss the game due to suspension, while Faz Kudozvic is only rated 50/50 for the game after picking up a knock in training during the week.

Doolin is expected to partner Declan O’Brien up front with Eamonn Zayed but with Dan Murray and Pat Sullivan’s partnership getting better and better at the back for Cork. Cork are still short of firepower and it looks like Timmy Kiely could play again, particularly after the 20-year-old scored the winner at the Brandywell last Tuesday.

ExtraTime.ie Prediction: Cork will certainly be much more confident going into this tie while Drogheda are now in the same position the Leesiders were in back in August. It won’t be a big win but Cork should get the better of Drogheda tonight. 2-0