Salthill Devon -v- Cork City

• Simon O'Gorman
• Sat, Oct 08 2011




Cork City continue their push for promotion when they visit bottom of the table Salthill Devon on Saturday night. (Kick-off, 7pm)

 

Cork's 3-1 win over promotion rivals Monaghan United at Turner's Cross last Tuesday left them just two points shy of leaders Shelbourne, and two points clear of Monaghan in third, albeit that both sides have a game in hand on the 'Rebels'.

 

In practical terms it means that Tommy Dunne's men must win all three of their remaining games and hope that either Monaghan or Shels drop points elsewhere during the run in. Beating a Salthill side that have only won once in their last 16 league games is an absolute must for a Cork team that have often beaten top sides only to slip up against the lesser lights.

 

The Leesiders will not need to be reminded that at the same stage last season they beat Monaghan 1-0 only to go on and lose all of three of their remaining games, one of which was against Salthill Devon. However, few expect City to be so meek this time around. They haven't lost any of their last eleven league games ceding only two draws in that time, to Limerick and Wexford, and it has been the manner of their victories as much as the results themselves that have inspired such genuine hope in the hearts of the City faithful.

 

The 4-1 dismissal of Shelbourne was an undoubted highlight while Athlone Town were hit for seven last month and Finn Harps were rolled aside in a 5-2 win last Friday. In fact, Cork have scored at least three in all of their last five league outings. Salthill's ambitions are necessarily less lofty but Paul McGee's side measure their progress on a different scale to their visitors. Not finishing bottom of the First Division table would be a genuine achievement as the Galway club conclude their second season of league football and with four games remaining they lie just a single point behind tenth placed Wexford Youths.

 

Salthill have earned just one point from their last six games but a 1-1 draw against Limerick at Jackman Park hints at the potential of a Devon side that have seen a swathe of influential players depart the club during the season. Goals have been hard to come by with just 14 being scored in their 26 league games to date. This shortfall is exacerbated by the fact that neither of their joint top scorers, Victor Collins and Ciprian Straut, are still at the club.

 

On the final day of the season most eyes will be on Tolka Park where Shelbourne and Cork will meet in a game that looks likely to be a promotion, and possibly a title, decider. But it is also a day that will see Salthill travel to Wexford for their own judgement day. It?s all about perspective.

 

Salthill Devon

Injured: Unavailable.

Doubtful: Unavailable.

Suspended: Paul Smith.

 

Cork City

Injured: Davin O'Neill, Derek O'Brien, Stephen Mulcahy, Greg O'Halloran.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

 

Referee: James McKell.

Paddy Power Odds: Salthill 16/1; Draw 11/2; Cork 1/8.

Extratime prediction: Cork will not be swayed from their course at Drom - City to win 3-0