19.45 18 Apr 2014 -
Referee: Tomas Connolly
League Preview: Cork City -v- Drogheda United
- John O'Shea
- Thu, Apr 17 2014
CORK CITY
Cork City will look to get back to winning ways on Friday night, as they welcome Drogheda United to Turner’s Cross. The 1-1 draw with Sligo Rovers last time out brought an end to a run of four successive league wins. John Caulfield’s side are also the only team in the division still unbeaten, with four wins and two draws from their opening six games. City occupy second place in the table and also have a game in hand.
Speaking ahead of Friday night’s game, City manager John Caulfield said “It will be a very difficult game. Drogheda will probably be a bit more defensive, in the sense that they will try to play on the counter-attack, which is very dangerous from our point of view.”
“Drogheda are a real underdog team in this league. Their record in the last few years has been phenomenal; they’ve been in several cup finals, winning the EA Sports Cup a couple of years ago, as well as finishing second in the league and no-one ever gives them credit. In Declan O’Brien they have probably the top striker in the league, and he probably doesn’t get the credit he deserves either.
“There is a big opportunity for us, because if we work hard, we will cause most teams problems. To date, apart from Dundalk, we have played all the other top sides and we have acquitted ourselves very well. If we can keep focussed and keep ourselves grounded, which I believe we will do, then I think we can hang in there.”
Despite being taken off after colliding with Sligo goalkeeper Gary Rogers last Friday, Garry Buckley looks set to be available for selection .
There was a further boost for John Caulfield on the injury front, as Anthony Elding this week returned to full training, with the striker expected to be available for the game, pending a fitness test. Colin Healy is rated as a major doubt for Friday’s game. Darren Dennehy has a 50-50 chance of played while Danny Morrissey and Michael Rafter are still a number of weeks away from returning.
DROGHEDA UNITED
Drogheda United have also enjoyed a good start to the season and sit in fourth place, two points behind City. They started the season with three wins and three draws, but suffered their first defeat in a two nil defeat at home to Bray Wanderers last time out.
Declan ‘Fabio’ O’Brian and Gary O Neill, who was named the SSE Airtricty League player of the month for March, have been in good goal scoring form and Drogheda supporters will be hoping they can keep their good form up.
Drogheda will be eager to get their good start to the season back on track as they make the trip down to Leeside.
Michael Schlingermann remains Drogheda’s only absentee for their trip to Cork City on Friday. The goalkeeper is a couple of weeks away from a return to action while Paul Crowley will be on the bench as he continues to build match fitness.
Drogheda manager Robbie Horgan said the following ahead of his side’s trip to Cork
“We won’t make excuses but I think fatigue played a part in last Friday’s defeat to Bray. We were missing that extra energy in midfield. The Sligo game on the Monday before was a real battle and took a lot out of us. I don’t want to take anything away from Bray, they were excellent on the night and it was a case of who scored first was always going to win. The players were very disappointed last week but we are fresh and hungry for the trip to Cork tomorrow.
“We have three games in seven days so there may be a couple of changes from game to game. I don’t intend on making wholesale changes, as we have been fantastic so far this season but some new impetus in the side will give us all a lift.
“John Caulfield and I did the Pro license together so we know each other well from that and our playing days. Cork have had great crowds this year so we will be aiming to silence the fans early on. Their impressive start doesn’t surprise me with the talent that they have in their squad but unbeaten runs are made to be broken as we found out last week."
Referee: Tomas Connolly
MATCH STATS
The 2006 Setanta Sports Cup final was contested by Cork City and Drogheda United in Tolka Park. A Mark Leech goal in the 102nd minute prevented the game from going to a penalty shootout and saw Drogheda win their first Setanta Sports Cup.
Drogheda United have only kept one clean sheet in their last ten league matches with Cork City – a 0-0 draw in Turner’s Cross in September 2009.
Danny Morrissey is the only player still at the club who scored a goal (one) or assisted a goal (one) of the five scored against Drogheda United in the league last season.
BETTING
Cork City 8/11; Draw 23/10; Drogheda United 4/1.
PREDICTION
Cork City 2-1 Drogheda United
Cork City
Injury News: Danny Morrissey, Michael Rafter, Colin Healy, Darren Dennehy, Anthony Elding
Suspension News: None
Drogheda United
Injury News: Michael Schlingermann , Paul Crowley
Suspension News: None
About John O'Shea
John is a Cork based reporter, mainly covering Cork City and Cobh Ramblers. John also reports regularly on Munster Senior League and Cork Youths League football for the Evening Echo. John has also freelanced for …