SSE Airtricity League Premier Division: Derry City v Cork City (Friday, Maginn Park, 7.45pm)
DERRY City’s Conor McDermott concedes that runaway league leaders Cork City are a top side, but he believes they are beatable.
The Rebel Army remain unbeaten this term ahad of tonight’s trip to Maginn Park and sit a massive 18 points ahead of second-placed Dundalk in the Airtricity League table.
Derry are a further six points back in fifth, but McDermott (right) feels they have enough quality to become the first team to defeat Cork this season.
“They are flying at the minute” he said.
“They gave us a tough game down there a few months ago but hopefully we can put things right this time and give them their first loss, which we are more than capable of doing on our day,
“It will be a tough game, but everyone is beatable.”
McDermott is likely to come up against in-form striker Sean Maguire, who moves to Preston next month, and he’s relishing the challenge.
“Seanie he has been brilliant this season,” he said.
“He has banged in a lot goals and he’s moving away at the end of the July, so obviously he has done well for himself.
“Look, he’s going to be tough to deal with but I think I’m more than capable of doing well and hopefully myself and the defence can keep a clean sheet and give us a platform to build on.”
Having conceded three goals in last week’s defeat to Bray Wanderers from crosses, the Northern Ireland U21 international admits City have been working hard on defending
set-pieces at training this week.
“Prior to the Bray game we had been on a good run of keeping clean-sheets, but last week we didn’t do our job at set-pieces,” said McDermott.
“We have done a lot of work on defending set-pieces, we watched the videos and then went out to the training pitch and worked on it, so hopefully it will work for us.”
SSE Airtricity League Premier Division: Dundalk v Finn Harps (Friday, 8pm)
Finn Harps manager Ollie Horgan has close to a full-strength squad available for this evening’s Airtricity League clash with champions Dundalk at Oriel Park.
However, the Donegal club will need to be at their best if they are to get anything from the game.
Dundalk go into the game on the back of a 6-0 win away at neighbours Drogheda United and Horgan is aware of the scale of the challenge facing his side.
“They don’t get much tougher than this,” he said.
Last season, Dundalk beat Harps 2-0 and 3-0 at home and rattled in seven without reply in a breathtaking display in Ballybofey.
When the sides met earlier this season at Finn Park, the visitors won 2-0.
Horgan welcomes back Damien McNulty, Danny Morrissey, Caolan McAleer and Ethan Boyle from suspension while BJ Banda, Eddie Dsane and Pascal Millien have recovered from injuries to boost Horgan’s options.
Midfielder Jonny Bonner, who featured last weekend after a five-week lay-off said: “They are flying again, so it’s going to be a very tough match.”
But he remains upbeat about Harps’ prospects for the rest of the season.
“It’s been frustrating with the amount of injuries we’ve had but I really believe this side is good enough to survive.”
Having lost at home to Shamrock Rovers last week there is a real danger of Harps dropping back into the relegation zone in the next run of games.
Next week’s scheduled match against Derry City will not go ahead due to the latter’s involvement in the Europa League.
Harps must then travel to Drogheda before their next home game, on July 14 against Bohemians.
Horgan insists he does not have a points target in mind, but says every single point garnered will be key for Harps.
“There’s not much between the bottom six or seven sides, and we have to try and get something out of every game,” he said.
Dundalk are 18 points behind leaders Cork City, but won’t let go of their title without a fight.
Goalkeeper Gary Rogers is taking nothing for granted, though, against the Donegal side.
“We’ve set ourselves a standard of having to do well consistently after the break. We started well but if you don’t follow it up with another good performance and win against Finn Harps then it doesn’t matter much,” he said.
“We’re aren’t giving anything up in the league until it’s mathematically over but, we also need to also get ourselves playing well and into good shape going in to Europe.”
WHILE the match of the night is taking place in Buncrana, there are a few tasty encounters elsewhere this evening.
Bottom side Galway United, who will be hoping they start to get a run together sooner rather than later, host third-placed Bray Wanderers.
Bohemians, fresh from their derby win at St Patrick Athletic, entertain Sligo Rovers, who still haven’t won under Gerard Lyttle’s stewardship.
Drogheda United, who got thumped 6-0 at home to champions Dundalk last week, make the trip to Tallaght Stadium to face Shamrock Rovers, while tomorrow night Limerick entertain lowly St Pat’s.
In the First Division, third-placed UCD, who suffered a surprise loss at Shelbourne last week, face leaders Waterford.
Athlone Town have home advantage over Longford Town and Cabinteely face Wexford, while tomorrow evening Shels travel to Cobh Ramblers.
SSE Airtricity Premier Division
(7.45pm unless stated)
Bohemians v Sligo; Derry City v Cork City; Dundalk v Finn Harps (8pm); Galway Utd v Bray; Shamrock Rovers v Drogheda Utd (8.00)
SSE Airtricity First Division
Athlone Town v Longford Town; Cabinteely v Wexford ;UCD v Waterford
