Cork City vs Dundalk

Dundalk travel to Turner's Cross knowing a win will see them go second in the table, but they will come up against a Cork side looking for 3 home wins on the spin, live on Setanta Sports

Cork City
Having gone 5 in a row at home without winning, The Rebel Army have toppled Drogheda United and Sligo Rovers in their past two league games at Turner's Cross. Last week , however, they were controversially beaten by Shelbourne in Tolka Park. Daryl Kavanagh had a clear penalty overturned by the linesman, leaving Tommy Dunne furious.

Speaking to the club's official website, Dunne knows that his side are in a battle tonight:

''Dundalk are probably the in-form team in the league right now, so we know it will be a difficult game. We need to get a bit of consistency and stop conceding goals, and that will give us a chance to get a result. We had chances last week against Shelbourne, and there were decisions that went against us, but we have to try to ensure that outside influences do not dictate what happens; we have to try and pick up the three points through our own good play and good defensive work.”

City's injury list has shortened slightly, but they are still missing Kevin Murray, Darren Dennehy and Colin Healy. Danny Morrissey is a doubt, and influential midfielder Shane Duggan is suspended. But the Leesiders will be boosted by the return of two experienced defenders in Dan Murray and Danny Murphy, while Gearóid Morrissey has recovered from an ankle injury.

Dundalk
With Sligo Rovers and Derry City not playing this weekend, Stephen Kenny's men have the chance to cut the gap at the top of the table to a single point. They will be high on confidence after dominating Bohemians last Friday, Pat Hoban's hat-trick saw off the Gypsies, and put Hoban on top of the scoring charts.

Despite having the best away record in the country, Stephen Kenny isn't overlooking the home side tonight telling dundalkfc.com:

''The players have been excellent this year and every week they have given absolutely everything to the cause. This week we’ll have to rally round as we’re missing quite a few for the trip. It’s always a tough place to go in Cork.
“The goals have been well shared around the team this season which is always good. Away games are never easy but we’ve done well this year on the road. Cork City are a good side and it’ll be a tough game but we’ll go and give it our best shot.”

Kenny will have to plan without the services of Andy Boyle and Richie Towell as both are suspended for this tie.


Keith Ward is out for the rest of the season as a result of a cruciate ligament injury, while John Mountney (ankle ligaments) and Tiarnan Mulvenna (groin), are also set to miss out.
Dane Massey (knee) and Chris Shields (hip flexor) are rated as doubtful although John Sullivan should be fit to play despite limping off with a dead leg last weekend.


Stats
Both of these sides have only won 4 times at home this season. But it's Dundalk's away record that has them sitting 16 points ahead of their opponents.

Cork City’s first ever league game was on 16th Sept 1984 away to Dundalk.

Dundalk have only beaten Cork City once in their last 5 league games. That win came earlier on this season (also televised), when they beat the Rebel Army 2-0 thanks to goals from Mountney and Hoban.

Dundalk are looking to win back-to-back games vs the Leesiders for the first time in 4 seasons.

There is one ex-Rebel in the Dundalk team; Stephen O'Donnell had a spell at the Cross in 2009.

OTS Prediction: Dundalk's away form is excellent, and with City lacking confidence, I'm going for a victory for the Lilywhites.  Cork City 0-2 Dundalk