League Preview: Cabinteely -v- Drogheda United

• Andrew Dempsey
• Mon, Oct 26 2020




CABINTEELY

Cabinteely will be looking to secure a playoff spot tomorrow evening at Stradbrook when they welcome Drogheda United to South Dublin (kick-off is at 7.45pm).

A win for the Green and Whites may open the door for their local rivals Bray Wanderers who are in the midst of a titanic title battle with Drogheda.

As it stands, the South Dubliners may finish as high as 3^rd with a win, but they may also finish as low as 7^th with a defeat.

If they were to draw, due to their goal difference, they will be hoping that neither Cobh Ramblers nor Galway United win. If either do, Cabo will miss out.

In effect, they just need to equal or better Galway and Cobh’s results to secure their spot in the playoffs.

Cabo – who have not been outside of the playoff spots all season – will be hoping that they can stay there come to end of play on Tuesday night

“In many ways – it’s been a wonderful season. But in other ways, it has been difficult with the Covid situation,” their manager Pat Devlin told his club’s media team.

“We’ re playing to get into the play-offs. We will give it our best shot. I am sure the lads will give everything they can to get the result we need.

“Equally, Drogheda will too give it everything with the league title at stake. So, it’s all to play for.”

Christian Lotefa is suspended and will miss out.

DROGHEDA UNITED

Drogheda will win the First Division title should they equal or better Bray Wanderers’ result away to Athlone Town.

However, they do have to face a playoff chasing Cabinteely, so their task is by no means a formality.

Drogheda have dominated much of the recent meetings against Cabo – but their defender Derek Prendergast is not getting carried away.

“They (the games) come around fairly quick,” he told his club’s media team.

“Since lockdown lifted the first time, we’ve played a number of games in a short period of time so it’s another to be ticked off on Tuesday.

“All it is at the end of the day is another 90 minutes.”

He added: “I haven’t been anywhere near goals this year. It was a good run, Hughie (Douglas) knocked the ball back across goal and thankfully it just fell for me (against Wexford).

“If I could get one or two more on Tuesday, I’d be delighted with that!”

Jordan Adeyemo is Wexford’s only absentee ahead of tomorrow’s clash at Stradbrook.

 

Referee: Alan Patchell.

 

MATCH STATS

Drogheda United have put five goals past Cabinteely in three of their previous five encounters – with Cabo drawing the other two games.

The Boynesiders have won four of their previous five league games, with their sole defeat coming at home to Athlone Town.

Cabinteely have only won twice at home to Drogheda United since their first encounter as League of Ireland club’s in 2016.

BETTING

Cabinteely 9/2; Draw 7/2; Drogheda United 2/5.

PREDICTION

Cabinteely 2 - 2 Drogheda United

 

Cabinteely

Injured: N/A.

Doubtful: N/A.

Suspended: Christian Lotefa.

 

Drogheda United

Injured: Jordan Adeyemo.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.