FAI Cup Preview: Cork City -v- Longford Town

CORK CITY

Premier Division basement battlers Cork City welcome Longford Town to Turners Cross on Tuesday evening in the first-round of the FAI Cup (kick-off is at 7.45pm).

The Leesiders come into the game against their First Division opponents having picked up one point from their opening two league games of the restart.

Neale Fenn’s side picked up a point in their most recent league outing away to Munster rivals Waterford on Saturday afternoon with a scoreless draw.

The tie will see Fenn face his former side for the first time in a competitive setting – and he is wary of the challenge that his former club pose to his Cork side.

“Obviously, I know the club well, I know the team well, and everybody associated with it, but we'll put those friendships aside when the game kicks off, it'll be all business,” he told his club’s media team.

“It would be disrespectful to Longford to assume that, because they're a First Division team, we should go and fill our boots with goals.

“That won't be the case. It will be a difficult game against a good First Division team that will be probably be in the play-offs or getting promoted.”

On the injury front, Fenn is hopeful that Gearóid Morrissey will feature, but will be without long-term absentees Rory Doyle and Conor Davis.

Daire O'Connor and Cory Galvin picked up knocks in the first half against Waterford on Saturday and are both unlikely to feature.

LONGFORD TOWN

After getting back to winning ways on Saturday evening with a win at home against Athlone Town – Longford Town make the trip to face Cork City in the first-round of the FAI Cup.

De Town earned a solid win over their Midlands counterparts on Saturday evening, with a Sam Verdon brace enough to see off Adrian Carberry’s emerging side.

They broke the deadlock on 41 minutes when Lido Lotefa found Sam Verdon who shot low into the net.

Minutes later Verdon was on the scoresheet again to double Town’s advantage when he finished Rob Manley’s pass to the net.

Town rarely looked in danger following their quickfire double – and they will be hopeful of landing a cup win in Cork on Tuesday night.

Of course, Longford have poor recent form in this fixture – losing their most recent game against the Leesiders in the FAI Cup by seven goals to nil.

However, fortunes have changed for Cork since then – and Daire Doyle’s charges know that they do have pedigree in this competition in recent years.

They have defeated Sligo Rovers twice in the previous three years, while last season they brought Keith Long’s Bohemians to a penalty shootout at Dalymount Park.

In terms of team news for the Red and Black, both Thomas McLaughlin and Dean Byrne remain out.

However, it is expected that Daire Doyle will ring the changes to his starting eleven ahead of Friday evening’s visit to Eamonn Deacy Park.

Referee: Ray Matthews.

MATCH STATS

Longford Town have conceded 29 goals in their previous six competitive games against Cork City.

Longford Town’s last win over Cork City was in October 2015, when they defeated the Leesiders 3-2 at Turners Cross.

Cork City have not lost a FAI Cup tie at home since 2011, when they were defeated by St Patrick’s Athletic by one goal to nil.

BETTING

Cork City 10/11; Draw 23/10; Longford Town 13/5.

PREDICTION

Cork City 0 - 1 Longford Town

Cork City

Injured: Conor Davis, Rory Doyle.

Doubtful: Daire O’Connor, Gearoid Morrisey, Cory Galvin.

Suspended: Deshane Dalling.

Longford Town

Injured: Dean Byrne, Thomas McLaughlin

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.