5 May 2017
By Bryan T. Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
Cork City FC begin the second series of games in this season’s SSE Airtricity League Premier Division at home to Finn Harps tonight.
City rounded off the first series of games with a win over Bray Wanderers at Turner’s Cross last Friday night, and they followed up that victory with a 2-0 win over St. Patrick’s Athletic in the EA Sports Cup quarter finals on Monday. The visitors come into the game on the back of two consecutive two-nil defeats, at home to Drogheda United and away to Bohemians.
The sides’ previous meeting this season took place at Finn Park on the opening day of the season, where a Seán Maguire goal just before half time proved decisive. Harps’ last trip to Turner’s Cross was last October, when Karl Sheppard and Stephen Dooley struck to give City a 2-0 win.
Speaking to the media ahead of the game, John Caulfield said: “Every week throws up different challenges for us and we are well aware of what a fantastic job Ollie Horgan has done at Finn Harps over the last few years. Harps were everyone’s favourites to go down last year and Ollie arguably could have got manager of the year for the job he did there. Last season, they were a well-organised, resilient side but they have added attacking options to the side this season and it has helped them get some excellent results already this year.”
“This year, Harps have won away to Pat’s and Derry, and also beaten Sligo, so they are in a good mid-table position and they are upsetting the odds again! Every time we play Harps, they are fully committed with a great work ethic. You could see, in the opening game of the season, that we came away with a hard-fought one nil win. We know they will play on the counter attack and we will have to be at our best to pick up the three points.”
On the injury front, Garry Buckley and Alan Bennett are both set to miss out through injury, while John Kavanagh is a doubt and will be assessed today.
Injury News: Garry Buckley, Alan Bennett, John Kavanagh
Suspensions: None
Last league game: Cork City 2-1 Bray Wanderers
Last game: Cork City 2-0 St. Patrick’s Athletic (EA Sports Cup)
Last meeting: Finn Harps 0-1 Cork City
League Form (most recent game first): W W W W W W W W W W