21 March 2019
By Bryan Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
Cork City will seek to retain the Munster Senior Cup this Friday, as they face Midleton at Turner’s Cross.
City have won the competition in each of the last two years, and they face the East Cork side in the decider, having defeated Fermoy in the quarter-finals and Cobh Ramblers in the semi-finals. Midleton booked their place in the final thanks to a semi-final victory over Mayfield United, while they defeated Carrigaline United in the quarter-finals.
City secured their first home win of the season last Friday, defeating Bohemians 2-0 thanks to goals from Conor McCarthy and Dan Casey. The last competitive meeting between the sides was in the FAI Cup in 2011, when Tommy Dunne’s side secured a 2-0 win at Knockgriffin Park thanks to goals from Graham Cummins and Vinny Sullivan.
Speaking to CorkCityFC.ie ahead of the game, City boss John Caulfield said: “We have won the competition for the last two years and we want to do so again. We know a lot about Midleton; they have two former City players in their ranks, with Danny Morrissey up front and Kevin Murray in defence. They did really well in the FAI Intermediate Cup this year, only losing out narrowly to Avondale, and they are doing very well in the league this year, having won it last year. They are a young team and a fit team, and it is a great occasion for them, but it is also a great occasion for us because it is a cup final and a game we want to win.”
“It is an opportunity for us to make changes; a lot of players have been on the bench over the last number of weeks and it gives them a chance to get some game time as well. We have also had a number of lads who have been out injured, like Alan Bennett, Seán McLoughlin and Gary Boylan, so they will all come back in to play. Tadhg Ryan also needs some game time, and you have the lads who have been coming off the bench in recent weeks, like James Tilley, Liam Nash, Dan Smith, Kevin O’Connor, Garry Comerford, Ronan Hurley… We will make a number of changes, but we know that it will be a very tough game.”
Caulfield hopes to welcome back Bennett and McLoughlin from injury, while Boylan is in line to make his first appearance for the club following his close-season move from Sligo Rovers. Dáire O’Connor is ruled out after suffering a shoulder injury against Bohemians.
Referee: TBC
Injury News: Matty Gillam, Dáire O’Connor
Last game: City 2-0 Bohemians
Last meeting: Midleton 0-2 City
League Form (League, most recent game first): W W D W L
