Dundalk v Cork City, May 12

[seand]

Good opportunity to build on our recent good form,you would think.

[bigalan]

Looking foward to this one. Certainly a great chance to go 4 in a row and 6 unbeaten. Added to the fact that we certainly owe them one!!! Confidence must be high after the last few weeks results. A tough run after tonight so keep it going lads!!

[superman]

any players expected to make a return from the injury list tonight?

[Louth4sam]

Really should win this one based on the recent form of clubs. We are starting to get our injured players back which has coincided with our recent run of form. Would be great to get some early goals to get some more minutes into the likes of Doyle and the other returning players.

Although Cork are in the middle of a bad run, they have a very good manager in place now and we might see a new manager bounce from them.

[Louth4sam]

any players expected to make a return from the injury list tonight?

Kelly and Elliot back in the squad.

[holidaysong]

Although Cork are in the middle of a bad run, they have a very good manager in place now and we might see a new manager bounce from them.

New manager bounce should really be the only concern tonight, otherwise it should be straightforward 3 points.

4 points from tonight & Derry on Monday would be a very good return.

[Gearóid Bellew]

1 SHEPPERD
2 DAVIES
3 LEAHY
6 LEWIS
9 HOBAN
16 MULLER
17 WARD
22 WASIRI
27 MALLEY
28 O Kane
77 Tulloch

[Gearóid Bellew]

What an end!

I’ll gloss over the poor goal given away after the extra time

[Wexford White]

So much possession should produce more goals.

[dundalkfc1903]

Probably one of the worst 90 minutes of football in the last decade followed by the maddest 8 minutes I've seen.
I dunno where that team goes from here. So many average players.
Maybe when we get Boyle Doyle sloggett and dickie back regularly we'll see some better performances.

The midfield trio of ward Malley and Lewis were particularly awful. Tulloch not far behind them. No surprise they all got hooked.

[superman]

What a finish to a nearly incredibly fustrating evening.

As said here, that midfield trio was a disaster. Having Ward or Malley in center mid already requires two other midfielders to pick up the slack, nevermind the two playing together. Felt they got all the roles wrong there too. Malley and Tulloch could have the most talent in the league, but just wont consistently grab a game by the scruff of the net and dominate it. You can see why both ended up here. Malley reminds me sometimes of Patching.

Couldn't agree more as well with regards Boyle, Sloggett and Doyle - they will make such a difference to help balence out the team. It feels like if everyone got healthy, we would actually have a pretty big and talented squad.

Apart from the result, there were other positives too - O'Kane is also looking more and more dangerous every week, Elliott showed class strikers instinct that we were lacking with Martin playing out of position, and Williams and Muller are steadily improving (even if there are hiccups).

Hope for a much better performance on Monday- but the same result!

[mike]

I still think we need to factor in the players all out due to injury, and I'm not sure Muller, Lewis, Malley, Ward to name but 4 would be starting if we had full compliment.

Still very young age profile across all positions.

We are probably still over achieving amidst the latest injury crisis, and yet we have consolidated 4th spot which is usually good enough for europe.

But...........we were awful for 90% of that match tonight.

[Martin Lawlor80]

80k + views of Hoban’s goal on the LOI Twitter account. Next closest vid is 54k. We are massive!!

[superman]

Just listened to the men that saved football podcast. Think they make some good points, especially with movement in center midfield , and inability to set the tempo in the game.

With movement in center midfield, Doyle, Benson and Sloggett will help balence it out there and make a big difference.

Tempo-wise, I feel this rings true. It could be down to just have a young and inexperienced team. Too often we stay in the comfort zone and dont push on enough. Makes for very fustrating viewing.

Its fixable you feel, just like Williams and Mueller being caught square too often. Maybe just inexperience and lack of confidence too?

[mike]

Doesn't sound or look like Benson will be back anytime soon, but once Doyle is fully fit to start he comes in for Malley for my money. I'd also have Sloggett in for Ward, and Kelly for Tulloch, then of course Boyle goes straight in, with Muller dropping out.

Not sure how long Annesley is out for, but I'd prob in time go with him and Boyle as first choice.

We will need every single player especially when Europe starts as we might have up to 6 games.

Wont be too harsh on anyone, as most doing a good job with so many experienced players out, plus again will point out our current central defenders both in early 20's and first time football in Ireland, so to be fair they are doing ok.