League Preview: Dundalk FC -v- Cork City City

DUNDALK FC

Dundalk’s title hopes could be reignited with a win over bitter rivals Cork City FC at Oriel Park as the reigning champions hope to go into the summer break on a high. (Kick-off 7:30pm live on RTE 2).

For the home team; three points tonight could help reignite a sluggish title defence which has seen the four in a row seeking champions slip to five league defeats this season. Four league games unbeaten adding with last week’s 2-0 defeat of St. Patrick’s Athletic has cemented Stephen Kenny’s side’s return to grace.

Kenny cast aside his team’s mixed start to the season while speaking to the media ahead of the crunch clash, “From our point of view, four clean sheets in recent weeks has been good and I am happy with the level of performance that we have shown in recent weeks. Players have settled in from the start of the season and I am very happy with the level of creativity in the last few games.”

With a fifteen point gap weighing, Kenny kept his words realistic as he tried to play down any talks of reigniting his side’s title hopes with the Lilywhite boss hoping to use the game as an opportunity to solidify European football at Oriel Park.

“It’s our ambition to cement our place in the European spots. There are four or five clubs at the moment challenging for those European places. We have to earn the right to get into European competition like we have before. We have been in good form recently, we have played well and hopefully we can take that into the game tomorrow night against Cork City.”

Dundalk have no suspension problem and will be hoping to test the fitness of injured pair Steven Kinsella and John Mountney.

CORK CITY

In what has been a role reversal of the last three seasons, Cork City FC have been enjoying a dream season with the 2014/15/16 runners up sitting 15 points clear of the reigning champions while also resting in the semi-finals of the EA Sports Cup and the finals of the Munster Senior Cup. The four front assault has left City 23 games unbeaten after last Friday’s 4-1 victory of Shamrock Rovers in Turners Cross.

Speaking ahead of Friday evening’s clash; Cork City FC boss John Caulfield was quick to down play the significance of the top of the table clash.

“Every game is a big game for us these days but we have to keep taking it week by week. Our focus has been really good this week. We all know that Dundalk will be a difficult game and we need to be right for this game.”

With the midseason break imminent, Caulfield was conservative in his title ambitions commenting with the avalanche of summer fixtures imminent.

“Our total focus is to go there and get three points. Fridays result will not define the season. We are only half way through the season. There is a long way to go. There is a serious amount of games to be played in July and August, points will be dropped and there will be lots of twists and turns. All we can do if keep focused on ourselves.”

City will have striker Sean Maguire available tomorrow night and will be waiting on a fitness test for Alan Bennet, Steven Beattie and Gary Buckley.

Referee: Paul McLaughlin

MATCH FACTS

Dundalk come into tonight’s game with the better league record with 10 wins against 8 for the Hoops with both sides sharing 4 draws.

This will be the side’s third meeting of the season where City hold the better record with two wins already this season. The Rebel Army struck three passed the Lilywhites at Turners Cross to lift the 2017 Presidents Cup, while last March a Karl Sheppard double saw Cork City sweep Dundalk aside in a sold out Turners Cross.  

BETTING

Dundalk 6/4; Draw 12/5; Cork City FC 7/4.

PREDICTION

Dundalk 1-1 Cork City FC.  

Cork City

Injured: None.

Doubtful: Steven Beattie, Gary Buckley, and Alan Bennet.

Suspended: None.

Dundalk FC

Injured: Steven Kinsella and John Mountney.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.