WELL, WE’RE INTO the final month of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division season and it’s anyone’s guess who will be crowned 2016 champions.
Current leaders Dundalk are going for three-in-a-row under Stephen Kenny, but Saturday’s defeat to Sligo Rovers allowed title rivals Cork City to close the gap to one point heading into tonight’s showdown.
It’s a busy few weeks ahead for the country’s top two clubs, who play their six remaining league fixtures before October is out and then meet at the Aviva Stadium in the FAI Cup final on 6 November.
Full focus will be on this game, however, as it could have a huge bearing on whether the silverware remains with the Lilywhites or heads Leeside.
Kick-off is 7.05pm and it’s being shown live on RTE 2, but we’ll bring you all the thrills and spills right here.
The teams are in and the big news is that Stephen Kenny has dropped Dundalk number one Gary Rogers after several costly mistakes in recent weeks. Gabriel Sava fills in between the sticks for the Lilywhites.
Elsewhere, Alan Keane replaces Sean Gannon at full-back and Patrick McEleney makes a surprise return to fitness from a hip problem to start with Chris Shields dropping to the bench.
Cork City boss John Caulfield sticks with the same line-up that hammered Galway United 5-0 last weekend.
Dundalk: Sava; Keane, Gartland, Boyle, Massey; Mountney, O’Donnell (c), Finn, McEleney, Horgan; McMillan.
Cork City: McNulty; Beattie, Bennett, Browne, O’Connor; Sheppard, Buckley, Bolger, Holohan, Dooley; Maguire.
These sides have met twice this season, with Cork winning out 1-0 on both occasions. The Premier Division’s two top scorers also line out on opposing teams this evening — Sean Maguire took his tally to 16 against Galway United while David McMillan is one back on 15.
A quick poll before we get started… how do you see this one going?
Poll Results:
Here come the teams. As you would expect, Oriel Park is jammed to the rafters despite this evening’s rain, which has thankfully died down in the past few minutes.
KICK-OFF - The visitors, wearing their green and white home strip, tip off with Dundalk also in their traditional colours of white and black.
A cautious enough opening five minutes from both teams, as you might expect with so much at stake. Cork appear to be targeting Alan Keane be getting Stephen Dooley down their left side.
Former Sligo Rovers man Keane recently came out of retirement to join the current champions.
GOAL! Dundalk 1-0 Cork City (Daryl Horgan)
The Lilywhites are ahead! They win a corner 25 yards out and Daryl Horgan curls one at goal. It crashes off the bar and hits the back of goalkeeper Mark McNulty before going in.
SAVE – McMillan gets his toe to a cross but McNulty is able to collect easily. It’s all Dundalk right now.
Claims for a handball as the ball strikes Bennett’s arm during a Dundalk counter attack. Referee Tomas Connolly waves play on, however.
YELLOW CARD – Dooley goes by Boyle and he’s caught late by the defender, who picks up the first booking of the night.
Cork have had a couple of half-chances in the last couple of minutes. First, a corner is scrambled away, before Maguire sends an inviting ball to the back post but there are no green shirts around to take advantage.
The game is still being played at a frantic pace as the clock shows a half hour played. Horgan whips a ball in and Keane has got forward to make contact with the header but there’s no power on it and McNulty makes a routine save.
GOAL! Dundalk 2-0 Cork City (Daryl Horgan)
That’s a stunning goal from a super player. With Ireland manager Martin O’Neill watching on in the stands, the winger collects the ball at the halfway line and goes past a couple of challenges before rifling past McNulty. Wow.
YELLOW CARD – Gartland, who picked him a booking himself a few minutes ago, appears to be caught by Bolger and the Cork City skipper receives a caution.
Half-time: Dundalk 2-0 Cork City
SECOND HALF – We’re back underway. No substitutes on either team during the break.
Can Cork did deep and salvage something here?
Maguire beats the offside trap to race through onto a long ball but Sava is out off his line in a flash to pump it clear.
Horgan from a free-kick again, but this time it’s far too high to trouble McNulty.
SUBSTITUTION – Caulfield introduces Mark O’Sullivan for Holohan as Cork go in search of a goal.
And Steven Beattie is the latest player to pick up a booking.
GOAL! Dundalk 2-1 Cork City (Mark O’Sullivan)
Game on! He’s only on the field a couple of minutes, and O’Sullivan has got his name on the scoresheet.
The move begin with a fine ball from Bolger out wide to Beattie, who in turn sends over a cross. O’Sullivan didn’t connect properly on the first attempt but gets a second go and bundles the ball over the line via a slight deflection.
Bolger is a lucky man. Already on a yellow, the Cork City captain takes out Shields on the edge of the box. The free is awarded but referee Tomas Connolly opts to keep his cards in his pocket.
Horgan shoots over from the resulting set-piece.
There’s a break in play as Shields is down receiving treatment after a clash with Bennett.
ANOTHER CHANGE – Sheppard is off for Ogbene, who scored against Galway United last weekend.
Massey has also been cautioned.
CHANGES ON BOTH SIDES – Dundalk’s Ciaran O’Connor replaces McMillan, and Cork bring in Dave Mulcahy for Dooley.
Five additional minutes to play…
Paddy Barrett replaces Keane, who gets a standing ovatin.
Full-time: Dundalk 2-1 Cork City
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