Dundalk vs Cork City Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

Cork City hold a one point lead at the top of the Premier Division ahead of Friday’s hosts, but Dundalk have a much better goal difference and we’re expecting a very competitive match between the pair. The battle for this seasons Premier Division title is a two horse race and with just a point between the pair, picking the champions elect at this point would be near impossible. Cork City have the opportunity to go four points clear with a win on Friday night, but likewise Dundalk would gain a huge confidence boost if they were to establish a two point lead with twelve games still to play.

When the two sides met for their reverse league fixture in April, hosts Cork City needed just one goal to pinch all three points. Visitors Dundalk dominated the game from start to finish, keeping 59% of the overall possession and reducing the home side to just a single shot on target. However, that one shot ended up producing the games winning goal, as Morrissey got the final touch a minute before the hour mark and against the run of play. After taking the lead Cork City reverted back to a defensive formation in fear of the leads top goalscorers, and held on to secure an important win in this season title race.

Both teams head into Friday’s big game in perfect form, with each winning their last six games in league and cup. One of the hosts last six victories arrived in the Leinster Senior Cup, but the remaining five wins arrived in the Premier Division. Something has to give in this game and we’re sure the visitors would settle for a share of the points if you offered it to them now, because Dundalk’s attack has put fear into most of the defences in Ireland this season. We’re not expecting a goal fest on Friday as four of the last six results between these two teams have ended with under 2.5 goals being scored. Cork City have seen three of their last six league games produce fewer than three goals and when they hosted Dundalk in April Cork only managed one shot on target during the ninety minutes. Cork City’s big hope of taking something from this game arrives in the statistic that just one of their last six games against Dundalk has ended in a loss.

Former Mansfield Town striker Hoban has taken the Irish Premier Division by storm this season with nineteen goals in twenty-three appearances for Dundalk. Teammate Duffy has chipped in with nine goals, while Benson has eight so the hosts do have other goal threats than their main striker. Both Cummins and Sadlier share the top goalscorers position at Cork City as things stand, with both netting eleven times in the league so far this season.

We’re confident that Friday’s game will produce under 2.5 goals, as so often proves to be the case when title rivals meet in the league. Dundalk have the home advantage and will be keen to avenge their 1-0 defeat at Cork a couple of months ago, especially as they dominated that game and should have taken all three points. In terms of a final scor,e we’re backing Dundalk to win 1-0 and go two points clear at the top of the table.

Dundalk Predicted Lineup: Rogers, Gartland, Massey, Hoare, Cleary, Shields, Benson, Connolly, McGrath, Hoban, Duffy.

Cork City Predicted Lineup: McNulty, Horgan, Griffin, McCarthy, McLoughlin, Keohane, Sadlier, Barry McNamee, Buckley, Cummins, Sheppard.