2 May 2016
By Bryan T. Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
When: Today 7.45pm
Where: Turners Cross Stadium
Cork City boss John Caulfield says he is likely to make several changes to his side, as they battle Derry City for a place in the EA Sports Cup semi-finals.
City go into the game on the back of four consecutive home games, and they have recorded wins in all of them, booking a place in this quarter final and also moving into second place in the league table along the way. The last round saw Caulfield’s men turn in a superb second half display to record a 7-0 win over Waterford United.
The visitors have enjoyed an excellent start to the season and are just a point behind City in the table in third place. They suffered only their second defeat of the season on Friday night, as Sligo Rovers claimed the three points at The Brandywell. Ironically, it was Sligo who Derry defeated in the last round of this competition, also at The Brandywell and also by a 2-0 scoreline.
The sides have met once already this season, with Derry recording a 1-0 win at The Brandywell, City’s only defeat of the season so far. In a closely-fought game on the second day of the season, the home side made the breakthrough on the hour mark thanks to a goal from Ronan Curtis.
Speaking at the club press conference ahead of the game, Cork City manager John Caulfield said: “We have had a really, really intense couple of weeks, going back to the EA Sports Cup game against Waterford. We are going to make at least ten changes, but the good thing is that Conor McCarthy, Chiedozie Ogbene, Cian Coleman and Craig Donnellan all come into play, as well as the lads who would have been on the bench. The good thing is that we have a very strong bench and it is important for them all to get a run.”
“I would prefer not to make as many changes, but we have no choice with the volume of games we have had. However, I am still confident with the players we have coming in, because they are all guys who have been in the first team, so we will still be very strong and I am expecting us to win the match.”
“It is a chance for the supporters to see some of our Under 19 players who have done really well. It exposes them to this level of football and the pressure of this level, and it will be a good test to see how they stand up to that because we have a lot of faith in a lot of them coming through.”
“We’re in the quarter final and we have a home draw. It is a game we feel we can win and the lads are bursting to get going, so I am expecting a big performance from them.”
Kenny Browne will miss out through suspension, having been given an additional two game ban after his sending off against Finn Harps, meaning he will also miss the next league game, against Bray Wanderers.
Injury News: John Kavanagh
Suspensions: Kenny Browne
Last Game: Cork City 1-0 St. Pat’s
Last Meeting: Derry City 1-0 Cork City
Last Meeting at Turner’s Cross: Cork City 0-0 Derry City
League Form (most recent game first): W W W D D D W W L W
