League Preview: Limerick -v- Cork City

• Dylan O'Connell
• Mon, May 21 2018




LIMERICK

It’s a double derby date for Limerick as they take on Cork City at the Market Fields (kick off 7:45).

After last Friday’s pulsating 6-3 hammering of Waterford, the Shannonsiders are hoping to keep the great escape going as they look to potentially move up to seventh and away from the drop.

Goals from Danny Morrissey, Mark O’Sullivan, Karl O’Sullivan and Billy Dennehy stunned the RSC on Friday night, ending Waterford's unbeaten home record in 2018. .

Limerick will be without a suspended Eoin Wearen, while Danny Morrissey, Barry Maguire, Conor Ellis and Darren Dennehy are sidelined. Killian Brouder will have a late fitness test.

 

CORK CITY

For the second time in two weeks, the green and blue of Munster clash as Cork City FC return the favour and travel to the Markets Field.

After Friday’s 4-0 whitewash of Bray Wanderers, City will be hoping to keep the pressure on league leaders Dundalk, as they go in search for their first win in Limerick since March 2017.

Speaking ahead of the derby date, manager John Caulfield took the history into account as he gave his prognosis on what he assured would be a difficult test for his side.

“Limerick have proven a very difficult team for us,” he told the club's official website.

“We played them a number of weeks ago and Josh got a later winner. We also played them earlier in the season and got a 1-1 draw and we were beaten up there last season so our last two visit to Market’s Field haven’t been good.”

Caulfield was especially wary of the pace of Limerick’s counter and the experience of their front three, which earlier in the month saw Limerick become the first team to score at Turners Cross in eight months.

“Limerick are very dangerous on the counter attack, Mark O’Sullivan is back in the team and we know how dangerous he is as well as Shane Duggan.

“We know they have a lot of quality in their team. We need to ensure, like the other night, that we start well. Generally if we go ahead we tend to win games."

City are carrying doubts over Conor McCormack and Gearóid Morrissey, while Johnny Dunleavy is still sidelined as he works his way back to full fitness.

 

MATCH STATS

The last meeting between the sides came earlier in the month as City came from behind to win 2-1 in front of a packed Turners Cross.

Limerick became the first team to score at Turners Cross since September 2017 when Danny Morrissey scored to make it 1-1.

Limerick have been a thorn in City’s heel in the past, denying City the points in October 2017 in what could have handed them the title, and derailing City’s title charge in August 2015 in a 3-2 snatch and grab win at Turners Cross.

Overall, Cork City boast a better record with a 58.6% winning percentage over their Munster counterparts.

 

BETTING

Limerick 6/1 7/2 Draw 2/5 Cork City.

PREDICTION

Limerick 0-2 Cork City.

 

Limerick:

Injured: Danny Morrissey, Barry Maguire, Conor Ellis and Darren Dennehy

Doubtful: Killian Brouder.

Suspended: Eoin Wearen.

 

Cork City:

Injured: Johnny Dunleavy.

Doubtful: Gearóid Morrissey, Conor McCormack.

Suspended: None.