League Preview: Wexford -v- Cork City
Jadon Umeh in action for Cork City against Athlone Town on Friday, 29 March 2024. Credit: David Ribeiro (ETPhotos)
WEXFORD
Wexford (along with Longford Town) have the least number of games played across both the Premier and First Divisions and they will be looking to use only their second home game of the season to improve on their current mid table position when they host Cork City at Ferrycarrig Park on Monday April 1, kick off 3pm.
The adverse weather conditions put paid to two of their scheduled home fixtures which means they have only played five games to date, with only one of those at their home venue.
The home game against Finn Harps on the St Patrick’s Day weekend did not go well for them as they lost 2-1 to the current second placed team.
They might however have expected to follow up their excellent 4-3 away win over Bray Wanderers with another three points against lowly Kerry FC last Friday night, but in fact they were somewhat lucky to come away with a single point after a 1-1 draw.
They went a goal down to a 12th minute Sean O’Connell strike and it was not until the 50th minute before they managed to draw level. Aaron Dobbs rose highest to meet a cross from Reece Webb and divert the ball past Kerry keeper Antonio Tuta to salvage a point for James Keddy’s side.
They picked up four yellow cards in that match, and one of those was for Ben Lynch who also picked up a second yellow in the 93rd minute which saw him leave the field early on a red card.
Wexford currently sit in fifth place on seven points, with two wins, two losses and one draw on their scoresheet.
CORK CITY
Cork City’s fine start to the season continued on Friday night when a 1-0 home win against Athlone Town set them up nicely for Monday’s trip to the sunny south east and then the big Cork derby with Cobh Ramblers next Friday night.
They are unbeaten so far this season, winning five and drawing two matches and currently lead the table on 17 points, three ahead of second placed Finn Harps.
They had only conceded one goal in their seven outings, Success Edogun’s goal for Finn Harps when these sides met in Ballybofey at the end of February.
They don’t score too many goals however, and five other teams in the league have equalled or bettered their nine-goal haul of goals at this stage of the season.
The game against Athlone Town very much followed their year-to-date form, not really dominating the opposition, being very frugal at the back and nicking a goal to claim all three points.
It took defender Charlie Lyons’s second half header to separate the sides at the Cross on Friday but manager Tim Clancy is unlikely to be too worried if their methods continue to allow them set the pace at the top of the table as it has done thus far.
Referee: Daryl Carolan
MATCH STATS
The only recent meeting between these two sides was an FAI Cup match back in September 2023 in Turners Cross.
Wexford took a 1-0 lead on the stroke of half time through an Aaron Dobbs goal but City responded well to that setback and went on to win the game by 2-1.
Mikel Dijksteel equalised in the 70th minute and Ruairi Keating sealed City’s passage to the next round with a late 90th minute winner.
BETTING
Wexford 12/5; Draw 12/5; Cork City 10/11
PREDICTION
Wexford 0-2 Cork City
Wexford
Injured: None
Doubtful: None
Suspended: Ben Lynch
Cork City
Injured: None
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
