Derry City vs Cork City

Derry City look to overtake at the top as they welcome Cork City to the Brandywell on Friday night.

The Candystripes are looking to build on a pulsating 3-2 win in Hunky Dorys Park last Friday. Rory Patterson (who else?) grabbed the winner for Declan Devine's side. But they were put through their paces in the League Cup midweek. Finn Harps proved a great test for the Foylesiders, who scraped through on penalties, to advance to the quarter finals of the cup.

Patterson picked up a red card in that Cup game, but will not be ruled out of the game on Friday, much to the relief of the Derry fans. Back in the squad for this encounter are Barry Molloy and Ryan McBride who missed out the  shootout win because of suspension.
Paddy Kavanagh, Ruaidhri Higgins and Thomas Crawley all miss out through injury however.

Speaking to derrycityfc.net before the game, manager Devine had this to say:
“This game will bring to an end a tough week for us as a squad, three games in a week is never easy but having said that we have to be looking forward to our next challenge and that comes in the form of Cork City.
“Games between both sides have always been very tight affairs and very physical battles which have provided great entertainment for the fans who come to watch.
“I’m really looking forward to getting back to the Brandywell and putting on a performance that will show the fans that turned up for our last game (home loss to UCD) that the performance on that night was a one-off and that we can be a match for any team in this league.”


It was a mixed week for Cork City. They make the longest trip in the Premier Division on the back of a 3-1 loss to Bray Wanderers at home in the league last Friday, but a comfortable 4-0 victory over Wexford Youths in the EA Sports Cup on Monday sees them head to the Brandywell with a slight bit of confidence.

Speaking to corkcityfc.ie before the game, Tommy Dunne weighed up the task ahead of his team : ''We’ve gone to the Brandywell in worse circumstances as we all know but it is a tough place to go. Derry is always a tough place to go, they are playing really, really well at the moment and we know that we have a bit to do to get a result there. I have to say that we need to get a result because when you lose home games like we have, then you need to pick points up on the road. Derry is a difficult place to do that, but I have no doubt that if there’s one team that can get a result in the Brandywell, then it’s us.”

The Rebel Army are without Kevin Murray who had a recurrence of his groin injury on Monday night, along with his namesake Dan, who has work commitments. Denis Behan will also be missing, and Danny Furlong, who scored twice in the 4-0 win, is a doubt. Long term absentee Brian Lenihan has been passed fit however, and will be in the squad. Neal Horgan returns from a knee injury, and Darren Dennehy will slot into centre back, having served his suspension.

Stats:

Derry and Cork City have played some important games through the years. Derry beat Cork in the 1989 FAI Cup Final 1-0 (Felix Healy) to secure the treble for that year

·         City returned the favour in 2005, when on the final game of the season goals by John O’Flynn and Liam Kearney secured the league title for City in front of a packed Turners Cross. Derry then beat City 1-0 in the 2011 League Cup final, also at Turners Cross.

Rory Patterson is the league's top scorer with 11 goals

City’s biggest league defeat came at the hands of Derry 7-2 in the Brandywell on the 27^th August 1987

Barry McNamee and Daryl Horgan are both training with the Irish U21 Squad