W/E 17th April Match Previews

DUNDALK V CORK CITY // FRIDAY 17th APRIL 7.45

On Friday night at 7.45pm Dundalk face Cork City in a crucial game for the home side. The sides haven’t met in any type of fixture since a nil all draw in Turners Cross in February 2002. Dundalk will be looking to bounce back from the 3-0 defeat to Shelbourne in the EA League Cup on Easter Monday and their one all draw with Bray Wanderers on Good Friday in the league. Currently lying in 7th position in the league the Lilywhites will be eager to put in a much improved performance from their last two times out and to get some more points on the board. Cork, on the otherhand, are unbeaten since their 2-1 defeat to Derry City in Series 3 having dispatched Bray, Bohs and Drogs while drawing last week in the league encounter away to Shamrock Rovers. City needed extra-time to defeat neighbours Kerry League 3-1 in the EA League cup as a much changed City side dominated proceedings but failed to make their goal chances count.

As a result of a tough league and league cup schedule in which both sides will have played 4 games in 10 days a threadbare Dundalk go into the contest with some personnel issues. Shaun Kelly is a doubt as he took a knock against Bray and although he stayed in the game he didn’t play against Shelbourne. Dundalk remain without Michael Collins following the registration fiasco while Simon Kelly may be unavailable following his second red card of the season at the Carlisle. Chris Bennion looks likely to continue in goal having recovered from illness at the weekend to face Shelbourne though Ryan Coulter’s solid debut in Bray may give Sean Connor his only selection headache. Other fitness concerns centre around Thomas Heary and Tiernan Mulvenna while both Liam Burns and Declan O’Brien are also doubts following their early substitutions against Shelbourne.

Cork will be able to choose from an almost full compliment of players with only long term absentee Stephen O’Donnell being joined in the treatment room by Davin O’Neill who was substituted in the draw with Rovers with an ankle injury. Latvian defender Robert Mezeckis returned for the game against Kerry League and up-front his compatriot Guntars Silagilis will be a danger man for Dundalk as he tries to add to his league tally of three goals to date. Having entered in the examinership process last season financial concerns have re-surfaced around Turners Cross this season but following a poor start to the season Cork have re-grouped and Paul Doolin’s knack of winning games 1-0 seems to have followed him from the banks of the Boyne. Interestingly in the league to date when Cork have scored it has always been the first goal in a game but Dundalk will be hoping that if that happens Cork will also continue their habit of conceding late equalisers.
League Form:
Dundalk: L L W L W L D
Cork City: D L L W W W D

http://www.dundalkfc.com/news/090416_Cork.asp

Athlone V Harps

League of Ireland Premier Division

Galway United v Shamrock Rovers
Friday 17th April 2009 | Terryland Park | Kickoff: 7.45pm

Galway United winger Derek O'Brien and full back Seamus Conneely both face fitness tests today to see if they will be considered for Friday nights game against Shamrock Rovers at Terryland Park. O'Brien missed out on United's penalty shootout victory over local rivals Salthill Devon through an ankle injury while Seamus Conneely is also recovering from injury having missed out on the win over Drogheda United.

John Russell continues his return to fitness after playing 60 minutes in the EA Sports Cup clash on Tuesday, however, he will not be considered for Friday's game. Shane Fitzgerald remains on the sidelines with an ankle injury.

Referee: Anthony Buttimer

Injuries: Derek O'Brien & Seamus Conneely (doubtful), John Russell, Shane Fitzgearld

Waterford United play host to Monaghan United at the RSC this Saturday afternoon (KO 2.30pm), and will be very much looking to build on their improved home form.

Despite playing well, results were initially not ideal at the RSC, as the Blues took just a point from their opening two home matches, a draw against Sporting Fingal and a narrow defeat to Shelbourne. But following on from a reasonably comfortable, albeit single goal, victory over Longford a fortnight ago, Waterford will now be looking to kick on at home, and turn the RSC into the fortress it was for a large part of last season, where United went unbeaten in their first 16 home games. The Blues have a 100% record on the road this year, of course, and are already halfway to the 6 wins they amassed in all of their travels last year. Manager Stephen Henderson is hoping to combine both aspects into a winning formula this season, and his team will be full of confidence after an impressive victory at Finn Park last Saturday. Having gone behind to an early penalty, the Blues replied instantly, and, as the match progressed, a superb performance was reflected in the final 3-1 scoreline.

Last season Waterford and Monaghan shared the spoils with a win and two draws apiece. However, it’s only fair to point out that the Magic Mons win was in the last game of the season, at KCP, in what was pretty much a dead rubber for the Blues, as the league title had finally slipped from their grasp the previous week. Waterford fans will look more to the 5-0 win earlier in the year as a source of inspiration, and also to the Ulstermen’s ‘goals against’ column which looks a little full this season so far. Monaghan would have been many people’s outside tip to bridge the gap to the fancied teams in the division this year, as it was widely felt they had done some good transfer business pre-season. That may have failed to be converted into points just yet, but though the Magic Mons have only managed two draws so far, they’ve both come on the road, and indicate a team that are hard to beat when they wish to be. Certainly Henderson and his side will not be taking the challenge lightly, saying: “Mick [Cooke] has put a very good squad together and while their league position would suggest they are struggling we here as a group will not be taking this team or any other team for granted.”

The Blues, once again, should have a full squad to choose from, with no suspensions in effect for the game. Paul McCarthy’s on-going hip problem continues, but at present it does not affect his availability to play. Gary Dunphy is the only worry, an ankle knock in the Finn Harps game making him a slight doubt for Saturday’s match.

Henderson Quotes:
On the Harps match:
“That was by far our best performance to date this season.”
“Fair dues to the lads because they mastered the conditions much better than the Finn Harps players.”
“The second goal scored by Gary Dunphy and created by Willie John [Kiely] was one of the best goals seen in this division for a long time.”
“I am delighted for Graham [Cummins] because he is a centre-half really, but now that he has two goals under his belt he might get to like playing up front.”
“Some of our passing and interlink play was superb, despite the bumpy pitch.”
“I feel we can remain right in the hunt because we are getting better with every game.”

Suspensions: none
Injury Update: Gary Dunphy (ankle - slight doubt)

Top Scorers:
4 - Willie John Kiely
2 - Gary Dunphy
Graham Cummins
Form:
League: DWLWW W
All: (WWW)WD WLWWW

Last Match: Finn Harps 1 (Gethins 15 pen) - Waterford United 3 (Cummins 16, 87, Dunphy 73)

Previous Meetings:
15 Nov 08 L Monaghan United v Waterford United 2 - 0
12 Sep 08 L Waterford United v Monaghan United 1 - 1
11 Jul 08 L Monaghan United v Waterford United 0 - 0
02 May 08 L Waterford United v Monaghan United 5 - 0
25 Feb 06 Fr Monaghan United v Waterford United 0 - 0
04 Jan 03 L Waterford United v Monaghan United 2 - 2
20 Oct 02 L Monaghan United v Waterford United 1 - 1

Results This Season:
11 Mar 09 a Finn Harps (LOIFD) 3-1 W
04 Mar 09 h Longford Town (LOIFD) 1-0 W
29 Mar 09 a Athlone Town (LOIFD) 2-1 W
20 Mar 09 h Shelbourne (LOIFD) 0-1 L
13 Mar 09 a Wexford Youths (LOIFD) 1-0 W
07 Mar 09 h Sporting Fingal (LOIFD) 1-1 D
28 Feb 09 h Douglas Hall (MSC) 2-0 W
20 Feb 09 a Mayfield United (Fr) 4-1 W
13 Feb 09 h Junior League XI (Fr) 3-0 W
07 Feb 09 a Cork City (Fr) 1-0 W

Betting:
Waterford: 4/11
Monaghan: 15/2
Draw: 11/4