25 September 2017
By Bryan T. Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
Cork City welcome Dundalk to Leeside on Monday night, with another large crowd expected at Turner’s Cross.
Supporters are reminded that the game will kick-off at the earlier time of 7.20 pm, and are asked to purchase their tickets in advance and arrive early.
City suffered a 2-1 defeat away to Limerick on Friday night, while their last home game was a 7-0 FAI Cup win over Athlone Town. The visitors’ last outing was a 3-0 win at home to Drogheda United on Friday night.
The sides have met three times this season, with City having the upper hand thus far. In the President’s Cup, City recorded a 3-0 win at Turner’s Cross, followed by league wins at the same venue (2-1) and at Oriel Park (3-0).
Speaking ahead of the game, City boss John Caulfield said: “Obviously, we were disappointed with Friday night, particularly the goals we conceded. Every team is raising their game when they play against us and we have to manage that and get over the line. Tomorrow night is a different type of game, because we play our nearest challenger and we are at home. No matter what has gone on before, tomorrow is an opportunity for the guys to go back out in front of our supporters and give a fantastic performance, and that is what we need to do.”
“It doesn’t just happen, you have to earn the right to win things and you win nothing easy. From my point of view, I want our lads to go out and give a performance. I want our supporters, the Rebel Army, to come out in their numbers, get into the ground early and get right behind the lads right the way through the game. I want to see can we give the kind of performance that we have been giving all season and, if we do that, I think we will be fine. When the lads cross the white line tomorrow night, they need to leave everything on the pitch and that’s it really.”
“It is brilliant place to play and a brilliant club to play with. The support is phenomenal, both home and away. We need to eliminate the mistakes we made the other night and go and play like we can play and like we have in previous games against Dundalk. You are nothing in any club without your supporters. We need everyone tomorrow night, in the ground early, right behind the lads. We need that positive vibe, the hostile atmosphere that we get when we are away from home. It is our patch and I am urging everyone to get in and drive the team on.”
Johnny Dunleavy and Alec Byrne remain sidelined through injury, but Caulfield is hopeful that a few knocks and niggles from Friday’s game against Limerick will have cleared up and that he will have a full squad to choose from.
Injury News: Johnny Dunleavy, Alec Byrne
Suspensions: None
Last meeting: Dundalk 0-3 Cork City
Last game: Limerick 2-1 Cork City
League Form (most recent game first): L W L W L W