League Preview: Cork City -v- Dundalk

• Brendan Graham
• Fri, Sep 21 2018




CORK CITY

Friday evening’s fixture at home to Dundalk is one of the biggest games of the season for Cork City as no less than three points will do if they are to maintain their interest in being crowned league champions again in a few weeks.

Back to back defeats in their last two league games to Bohemians and Sligo as well as a home draw with St. Patricks Athletic has allowed Dundalk to open up a six point lead at the top of the table prior to this showdown between the league’s top two. As well as the six point gap, Dundalk also hold the luxury of a game in hand so anything less than three points for the current champions will leave them really struggling to hold onto their crown.

“Obviously, guys were disappointed after last Friday.” reflected John Caulfield after last Friday’s defeat to Bohemians.

“We were really poor and made a lot of mistakes. The most important thing is that you have to bounce back and, all week, we have been working on that and giving a proper performance.”

“The most important thing is the next game. We have the team that has been up there with us for the last four or five years coming to Turner’s Cross. The games are always hectic, big crowd, great atmosphere and we need to put a huge performance in. We just have to concentrate on putting a performance in and getting the three points.”

“We must go and give a performance in front of our own supporters. Our supporters have been fantastic over the last four or five years and have given fantastic support to the team and, likewise, the team have given the supporters fantastic value as well. They expect a committed, passionate City performance, because that is what we are all about, and that is what I think we will do on Friday.”

 

DUNDALK

With the way results have unfolded in the last number of weeks, a win for Dundalk on Friday evening would all but secure this year’s league title and would put them nine points clear of Cork City with a game in hand against Derry to come next Tuesday, 25^th September.

The Lilywhites have been in impressive form in recent weeks winning nine of their last ten league games including a vital 2-1 win at home to Cork at the end of June.

They are also still fighting in the F.A.I Cup where they will face U.C.D at home in the semi-final next weekend.

“We’ve had a lot of time to prepare for this game so everybody is raring to go.” said Sean Hoare as he spoke to the club website ahead of the game.

 “Turners Cross is always a tough place to go with a big home support but it’s usually a nice surface down there which suits us. They’re always tight battles and we expect the same on Friday.

“We’re very happy with our defensive displays this season, that’s our job as defenders at the end of the day. With the attacking strength we have going forward, keeping clean sheets gives us a good foundation to build on.”

Also speaking ahead of the game was manager Stephen Kenny who said “The players have shown a real high level of consistency over the past few months. They have performed very well and the challenge is to take that into the game tomorrow night with Cork City.

“We are well prepared for the game and our ambition is to take our current form to Turner’s Cross.”

Referee: Neil Doyle

 

MATCH FACTS

Dundalk striker Patrick Hoban leads the league goal-scoring charts with 24 goals in 30 league games. Cork City striker Graham Cummins is closest to him in second with 14 goals in 31 games.

These sides have met on four occasions so far this year, three league ties and the season curtain raiser with the Presidents Cup. Cork lifted the Presidents Cup and in the league won their league encounter in April. In the other two league games this season Dundalk have come away with the three points.

Cork City’s last league game saw them lose 4-2 to an in form Bohemians side at Dalymount Park. Dundalk’s last league saw them narrowly defeat Limerick at the Markets Field.

 

BETTING

Cork City 11/4; Draw 5/2; Dundalk 5/6

 

PREDICTION

Cork 1-2 Dundalk

 

Cork City

Injured: Colm Horgan, Johnny Dunleavy, Barry McNamee

Doubtful: Alan Bennett, Karl Sheppard, Josh O’Hanlon

Suspended: None

 

Dundalk

Injured: Stephen O’Donnell, Karolis Chvedukas

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None