League Preview: Cork City -v- Dundalk

• John O'Shea
• Fri, Aug 01 2014




CORK CITY  

In what could  be one of the games of the season, second placed Cork City host the league leaders Dundalk at Turner’s Cross on Friday night. Cork, who could move level on points with Dundalk, know what a win could do for their title aspirations.

 

City lost last time out in a 2-0 away defeat to Bohemians and they will be looking to bounce back instantly. The Leesiders have won their last four games at Turners Cross and are unbeaten at home all season.

 

Manager John Caulfield is adamant that if he side are at their best, they can beat anyone in the country.

 

“We have done brilliantly all year”, he said, “and it is a good opportunity for us. We have worked hard at training all week, we are in front of our own crowd and it is up to us to give it our best shot. We will give Dundalk as tough a game as we possibly can; it is important for us to give a high quality performance. I’m hoping that we will play well and put it up to them. If we play well and they are better than us, that’s fine, but I have a feeling that if we play well, then we can get a result.”

 

“Stephen Kenny has done a fantastic job at Dundalk. He’s been building a squad there for a couple of years, he has won trophies at a number of clubs and he is a very experienced manager.  Dundalk may be odds-on favourites for the league, but they are coming to Cork, so we need to see if we can put in a good performance and I am hoping we will. We’ve been written off, no-one has given us a chance; it’s incredible that when you lose one game, people write you off, so it is an opportunity for us to step up to the mark and put it up to Dundalk.”

 

New signing Ross Gaynor will be available for City, having signed from Sligo Rovers during the week, while Iarfhlaith Davoren and Jason Forde have departed. Long-term injury victims Michael Rafter and Darren Murphy remain sidelined, while Rob Lehane will also miss out with an ankle injury. Garry Buckley returns from suspension, while Caulfield is hopeful that Gearóid Morrissey may be available after missing a number of games with an ankle injury.

 

DUNDALK

Dundalk head to Cork for what is possibly their biggest game of the season on Friday night. Victory will move Dundalk six points clear at the top of the table.

 

Stephen Kenny’s league leaders head to Turners Cross on the back of an 11 game unbeaten run and they are many people’s favourites to win the league title.

 

Kenny has shaped his side into a team who are strong in all areas of the pitch and they are the best counter attacking side in Ireland.

 

Dundalk sent out a clear statement of intent when they put five past Bray Wanderers last weekend. They will also be boosted by the 2-1 away Europa League win over Croatia’s Hajduk Split, when they lost 3-2 on aggregate.

 

Speaking ahead of the game, manager Kenny knows that there will be plenty at stake and that both sides will be more than fired up for the game.

 

“We’re in terrific form at the moment. We’re really flying. The players have been excellent and playing with great confidence. Goals are coming from all over the pitch which is great that we aren’t relying on any one individual which helps us out a lot and has got us to where we are.

 

“We’re in good form but so are Cork and they are really playing well and getting results. We are expecting a battle down there, a really tough battle. We know it’s a difficult game but the players have no fear. We have prepared well and we are ready for the match.”

 

Dundalk will be without their long-term injured captain Stephen O’Donnell who remains out due to a knee injury while Keith Ward is nearing a return to action as he has recovered fully from hairline fracture of the back bone. David McMillan is available for selection following his three match domestic ban and made his return to action on Sunday evening. Daryl Horgan has shrugged off the hamstring strain which kept him out of the match in Split while Chris Shields also returns after he served his one match domestic ban.

 

Referee:   Padraigh Sutton

 

 

MATCH STATS  

Cork City and Dundalk are the only two teams who are unbeaten at home in the league this season

 

Dundalk have impressive away form as well this season. While Cork City currently occupy second place, the Louth club have already travelled to and beaten third place (4-1 vs St Pats in Inchicore), fourth place (1-0 vs Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght) and fifth place 1-0 vs Sligo in the Showgrounds).

 

The 1990-91 season went down to the wire with Dundalk travelling to Turner’s Cross on the last day of the season. Both teams entered the game on 50 points and with 17 minutes remaining Tom McNulty scored what would turn out to be the match winner. While McNulty’s goal inflicted a first home defeat on Cork City for the season, it crucially also handed the title to Dundalk. With the sides playing in Oriel Park on the final day of the season this year, could history repeat itself in 2014?

 

 

BETTING   

Cork City 12/5; Draw 12/5; Dundalk 21/20

 

PREDICTION     

Cork City 2-1 Dundalk

 

 

Cork City:

Injured: Michael Rafter, Darren Murphy,Rob Lehane
Doubtful: Gearóid Morrissey
Suspended: None

 

Dundalk

Injured: Stephen O’Donnell
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None