Shamrock Rovers -v- Cork City

• John Robert Dunne
• Thu, Apr 09 2009


Shamrock Rovers will be hoping to continue their recent good form as they host Cork City on Friday evening at Tallaght Stadium. The match is a third sell out in a row at their new ground but Rovers will be up against it as Cork have won their last three matches.

The last match at Tallaght resulted in a 2-1 defeat for Rovers against Derry City but they have followed that with two excellent away trips to Co. Louth, drawing 2-2 with Drogheda and beating Dundalk 1-0. Tuesday’s result was all the more impressive since Rovers had to play the entire second half with ten men after Stephen Bradley was sent off. Following a slow start Cork are now third having beaten Drogheda, Bray and most impressively Bohemians away from home.

Rovers’ manager Michael O’Neill will have to plan without Bradley who is suspended while Ian Bermingham (calf), Pat Flynn (hamstring) and Barry Murphy (wrist) are all doubtful. “Barry has a problem with his wrist that occurred during the warm up against Drogheda,” explains O’Neill. “Obviously we could do without these injuries, but we’ll just get on with it and look towards the Cork game and building on Tuesday’s win in Dundalk.”

However O’Neill is wary of a Cork side in form but remains confident of his team’s ability. “Given their last few results Cork City are definitely the form team at the moment. Three straight wins and only one goal conceded. But our players showed a lot of qualities against Dundalk, I know we are a match for any team in the Premier Division, and now we’re looking for back to back wins.”

Cork manager Paul Doolin will have a virtually full squad to choose from aside from Stephen O’Donnell who is recovering from a long term knee injury. Doolin is delighted how his team have recovered from a poor start to their campaign. “I think in the first few games we played quite well yet we got nothing out of those games, whereas in the last three we’ve got the results and that’s been great. On Tuesday, we had to get the three points against Drogheda, and I think in the first half we were excellent, we played some really good football.

Doolin is genuinely happy that one of his many former clubs is finally on an upward curve. “Having had four successful years at Rovers as a player, I’m delighted that they have a home ground of their own again and it looks like a smashing place. They picked up a good win on Tuesday, so it will be a tough game for us, but as I’ve said there are no easy games in the league, so hopefully we can perform well and get another three points.”

Extratime.ie Prediction: Rovers have won one and lost one at the Tallaght stadium and with Bradley suspended and some injury concerns they could struggle against a Cork side enjoying some excellent form. CORK TO WIN.