Cork City will look to put their League Cup elimination behind them and take up where they left off in the Premier Division with John Caulfield's side heading to the Bray Wanderers's Carlisle Grounds today in search of what would be fourth straight win; a run that that had provided some significant upward momentum.
“Last week was very good and I have been saying to the lads they have raised the bar and that is the level they need to play at,” says Caulfield, whose players have beaten Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers in the league but then let other points slip rather through their fingers. “We need to be at our highest intensity, our highest performance levels and I feel, if we are at that, we will win the match.”
Warning
On paper, at least, they should win this one regardless but Bray, who have Seán Harding suspended, sent out a warning a couple of weeks back when they beat St Patrick’s Athletic and Cork will be concerned that, with
John Kavanagh
and Eoghan O’Connell ruled out,
Karl Sheppard
, Gearóid Morrissey and Mark O’Sullivan all travel for the game while nursing slight knocks.
Sligo’s recent league form is almost as good as Cork’s but the win at the Brandywell last week seemed to complete their transformation from a side that, in the opening weeks, seemed utterly incapable of even seriously testing opponents.
"It was a very mature performance from the whole squad in Derry," says manager Dave Robertson. "Derry are a very good team who had won all four games before that. It was a fantastic performance from us and an equally good result.
Focused approach
“But now we need to focus on the present. For Wexford we need to make sure that we go into it with the same approach. They are a high energy and hard-working team, quite similar to Derry so it will be a tough game.
“I have seen them play and they are a strong side and will have a couple more players back for tomorrow. They will be a threat from set-pieces and with the long throws they have so we are aware of all that. We have done plenty of work this week to be able to counter that. We will not be taking them lightly.”
Turning point
Wexford do indeed have
Danny Furlong
back from suspension for the trip to the Showgrounds while
Shane Dunne
is available again having come through the Finn Harps game without any problems. Manager
Shane Keegan
describes the second half in that match as “a turning point” for his side who came from behind to salvage a precious point.
Shamrock Rovers could do with taking all three points at Longford, whose morale got a lift by the comeback in Galway, as they try to narrow the gap between themselves and the top of the table but Pat Fenlon has problems to deal with in defence as, in addition to long- term absentee Luke Byrne, David O'Connor is set to miss out and Max Blanchard is considered a doubt.
Today's fixtures Premier Division: Bray Wanderers v Cork City (7.30); Longford Town v Shamrock Rovers (7.30); Sligo Rovers v Wexford Youths (7.45). First Division: Cabinteely v Shelbourne(3.0); Cobh Ramblers v Limerick (7.15).
