15.30 24 Mar 2013 -
Referee: Paul Tuite
Cork City -v- Derry City
- Simon O'Gorman
- Sun, Mar 24 2013
CORK CITY
Tommy Dunne will be pleased with Cork City’s results so far this season with the Rebels having gathered four points from their two league games to date. City opened their 2013 campaign with a creditable draw away to newly promoted Limerick at Thomond Park and followed that up with a 2-1 win over Bohemians at Turner’s Cross.
City’s game away to Bray Wanderers fell foul of the weather last Tuesday night but the Leesiders have had plenty of competitive match practice courtesy of a Setanta Cup run that has seen them past Cliftonville and Crusaders to reach the semi-finals of that competition.
With the bulk of City’s goals having come in Cup competition, manager Dunne will be pleased to see that eight different players have found the net so far this season. He will also be aware that his defence, marshalled by new club captain Kevin Murray, is looking significantly more solid than at the same stage last season. With former skipper Dan Murray looking in fine form and evergreen full backs Danny Murphy and Neal Horgan patrolling the flanks, City’s back four is possibly the most experienced in the league.
Up front City are showing signs that their new personnel are beginning to gel with former Wexford striker Danny Furlong adding to his Setanta Cup goal against Cliftonville with his first league strike against Bohemians last weekend. Daryl Kavanagh, signed over the winter, has also netted twice, both times in the Setanta Cup.
Dunne will definitely be without Brian Lenihan and also has injury doubts hovering over the two Horgans, Neal and Daryl.
DERRY CITY
Derry have had a little bit of everything this season, starting out with a home defeat to the League champions Sligo Rovers, following that up with a 6-0 thrashing of UCD and then, last Tuesday night, drawing with Drogheda United at the Brandywell.
Derry have also played a two legged Setanta Cup tie against Drogheda, again drawing 1-1 at home, while losing the away leg 2-1 at Hunky Dorys Park. So, apart from a tight three game tryst with Drogheda, they arrive at Turner’s Cross on Sunday afternoon without having established any real pattern to their season.
Derry City haven’t beaten Cork in a league game at Turner’s Cross for twelve years, although they came close last season, going 2-0 up thanks to a brace from Rory Patterson before Cork came back to snatch a 2-2 draw. City fans will also have fond memories of the 2011 League Cup final which the Candystripes won 1-0 at Turner’s Cross courtesy of an Eamon Zayed penalty.
Manager Declan Devine will be without the injured duo Dermot McCaffrey and Paddy Kavanagh and he also has doubts over the fitness of two other players. Kevin Deery is aiming to recover from a knee injury in time for kick-off and Barry McNamee is struggling to shake off a foot injury.
Referee: Paul Tuite.
MATCH STATS
Last season’s league meetings between these sides ended up with honours even. Derry won the first encounter 2-0 at the Brandywell in March, the teams then drew 2-2 at Turner’s Cross, before Cork won 1-0 in Derry in September.
The last time Derry won at Turner’s Cross was in September 2011 when they lifted the EA Sports Cup by beating City 1-0 in the final.
Cork City have lost just one of their last six home league games (2-1 v Shamrock Rovers in August 2012) while Derry have won three and lost three of their last six league games away from home.
BETTING
Cork 6/5; Draw 11/5; Derry 11/5.
PREDICTION
Two evenly matched teams to draw, 1-1.
Cork City
Injured: Brian Lenihan.
Doubtful: Neal Horgan, Daryl Horgan.
Suspended: None.
Derry City
Injured: Dermot McCaffrey, Paddy Kavanagh.
Doubtful: Kevin Deery, Barry McNamee.
Suspended: None.
About Simon O'Gorman
Simon O'Gorman began reporting for Extratime in 2010. He remembers Milltown and Flower Lodge and, back in the mists of time, saw Diego Maradona play at Lansdowne Road. He now lives in Co Kildare and …