Cork City -v- St Patrick's Athletic

CORK CITY

The men from the Rebel County come into Friday evening’s clash with St. Patrick’s Athletic in good spirits, fresh after turning the dreaded late goal phase on its head in Bray last Monday night.

City’s season has so far been punctuated with the late concession of goals, an infuriating habit to say the least. In the Carlisle Grounds at the beginning of the week, however, they scored twice in the final six minutes to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. They will now be hoping that the victory can prove to be a bit of momentum in what has so far been a pretty uninspiring league campaign, starting with the difficult task of hosting a side third in the table and in good form.

Speaking at training on Thursday morning to CorkCityFC.ie, manager Tommy Dunne illustrated just how much his side need to build on that result.

“It will be a tough match. Pat’s are a decent side, they have a good shape and they play some decent football. In saying that, we are at home so we need to have a good go at them and we will do that. We need to pick it up a little from last week, get going again, and I think the second half display against Bray was a huge improvement. If we can push on from that, then I think it will give us a good opportunity. We need to be at our best because Pat’s are as good a team as any in the league.”

Dunne could be missing two key members of the first team for the match, however. Striker Daryl Kavanagh is suffering with a tight hamstring and could miss out, while club captain Kevin Murray is definitely going to be side-lined with injury.

Talented youngster Brian Lenihan is another certain absentee as he is fending off a long-term groin problem, but aside from that Cork have a full complement of players to choose from.

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC

St. Pat’s make the trip down south with bags of confidence, and rightfully so. While their counterparts from Cork are celebrating the fact that they’ve managed to rack up a win to end a disappointing run of games, the visitors are unbeaten in six going into this one.

The Saints will be hoping to get three points on the board after drawing their last two with Derry City and Bohemians. As well as a good league campaign thus far in 2013, they also have recent history on their side – not since 2007 have they lost to the Rebels in Turner’s Cross.

Supremo Liam Buckley is also boosted by the return of Killian Brennan and Greg Bolger to the side from injury and suspension respectively, as he revealed to stpatsfc.com in a chat before Friday’s game.

“Turner’s Cross is always a really tough place to go to, but at the same time it is still one of the best places to play in the league. Cork will be in good form after a good win against Bray the other night and have a good squad so we know it’ll be a challenge down there.”

Midfielder Conan Byrne also took the time out to chat to the club’s website before kick-off, and revealed that his team are looking to put pressure on the top two sides in the league with victory down south.

“We were very disappointed not to claim more points in our last two games. From a personal point of view, it’s being going well for me in front of goal lately so I wasn’t happy to have seen one or two chances not find the back of the net against Bohs.”

“This game down in Cork is going to be a very tough one.  But we’re focused on the task ahead and know we’re capable of getting a result down there so fingers crossed we do that.”

Referee: Rob Rogers.

MATCH STATS

St. Pat’s have the joint third tightest defensive record in the Premier Division with just seven goals shipped so far in 2013, while City have the joint third worst goal scoring tally in the league having found the net just nine times.

These two sides last met on the final day of the 2012 season at Richmond Park, with the hosts eventually winning the game 1-0.

This is the fourth time a club from Dublin has travelled down to Cork in a competitive fixture this season, and the Rebel Army are yet to lose to opposition from the capital – two wins and two draws from four games.

BETTING

Cork City 12/5, Draw 11/5, St Patrick’s Athletic 11/10.

PREDICTION

Cork City 1-1 St. Patrick’s Athletic.

Buoyed by the late revival by the sea side on Monday evening City will put up a fight, but will lack the quality and tenacity to send their visitors back to the capital empty handed.

Cork City 

Injured: Brian Lenihan, Kevin Murray.
Doubtful: Daryl Kavanagh.
Suspended: None.

St. Patrick’s Athletic

Injured: None.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.