Dundalk v Cork City | League Round 30 | Monday 25 September 19.45

[oldfogey]

With Cork City fighting for their lives, and Drogheda smelling blood, this could be a very difficult week.

I get the feeling we only had 2 fit defenders last night, the other bodies were window dressing to hide our weakness. With Benson suspended it looks like Paul Doyle will be next up to play left back. Keating is flying and will relish the opportunity to nab a few goals.

[Richie87]

Sligo winning last night and Cork City losing has put a lot of pressure on Cork City. They are 9 pts behind with 5 games left after Monday.

It will likely be a play off between them and Waterford.

[niall_hearty2000]

Sligo winning last night and Cork City losing has put a lot of pressure on Cork City. They are 9 pts behind with 5 games left after Monday.

It will likely be a play off between them and Waterford.

On the plus side I think it's a draw and we are safe from the play off isn't it?

[Richie87]

He should maybe give Peter Cherrie a run out. Sheppard while he's a good keeper, has let in a few soft goals lately. He will be off at the end of the season anyway m

[niall_hearty2000]

He should maybe give Peter Cherrie a run out. Sheppard while he's a good keeper, has let in a few soft goals lately. He will be off at the end of the season anyway m

Why not give Mark Byrne a try in goals so?

[Richie87]

Yes Byrne would benefit more . A few of the U19s should get game time until end of season

[holidaysong]

We're 6 points off 4th place with 6 games to go. I don't get this 'season is over' point of view just yet guys. Win our next 2 back to back (easily winnable on paper) home games and we're right back in the mix for a possible European place if Pat's were to win the cup. Throwing out a load of u19 players at this stage is premature until we're mathematically out of contention for a European place.

[Richie87]

Not over till the fat lady sings, but even if Dundalk were level on points with Shelbourne they have a superior goal difference which is unlikely to be pegged back.

[Gearóid Bellew]

We're 6 points off 4th place with 6 games to go. I don't get this 'season is over' point of view just yet guys. Win our next 2 back to back (easily winnable on paper) home games and we're right back in the mix for a possible European place if Pat's were to win the cup. Throwing out a load of u19 players at this stage is premature until we're mathematically out of contention for a European place.

Looking at this, yes you are correct, but it is the next three we really need to win, Cork & Drogheda at home then away to Shel's

[mike]

I don't think 4th is completely out of the question, but we would need to win the next 3, Cork / Drogs / Shels or min of 7 points, that could be a big ask. Plus remember 4th is only in scope for europe if a 3rd place team wins the cup, its probably looking like Pats v Bohs, but Galway won't make it easy for Bohs, so we need Pats to win the cup really but you are entering into the 'looking for snookers' scenario, its too long a shot. Also I just don't see us finishing ahead of Bohs, but we do have them at home.

On Fri v Pats, maybe we only had 2 fit defenders but Leahy was on the bench he should have tried him at centre half to start with, but to have any chance we need to start winning games and last league win was 1-0 v Sligo on 11/08.

The attendance v Cork City will be interesting, it will be below 2k for sure, but how bad I wonder, will it even get 1,500? Cork will only have 50 probably less.

On the match itself, it would be great to hear SOD say 'We played quite poor but won the game' ..................that will do for me.

[mike]

He should maybe give Peter Cherrie a run out. Sheppard while he's a good keeper, has let in a few soft goals lately. He will be off at the end of the season anyway m

But will he? Who is going to take him on his last 3 months performance, he did well away to Gibraltar, at fault for at least one away in Iceland and the opening goal in Oriel in second leg, lopped from too far out v Pats on Fri, question mark over first goal, was poor for at least 2 in Galway, and these are only recent examples that spring to mind.

Not sure why he has lost form, as he was in outstanding really in most games Feb - July, def giving 7 or 8 out of 10, recent displays 5 or below.

Wondering at times was there a row in the camp with players over euro bonuses as save Rovers cup game, and hard earned 1-0 away to Bray, and the 1-0 win v Sligo, its been pretty much all downhill since Gibraltar and too many key players have just not been 'at it' since July.

[Richie87]

Yeah the performances over the last couple of months wouldn't entice many clubs. But would still have a decent profile in UK having been with Brentford and a Welsh u21.
Cambridge and Forest Green were suppose to be after him prior to the European campaign m.

[cooney]

Starting XI

Supposing brownlie recovered from flu

————Sheps
Davies - muller - brownlie - leahy
Kelly - slogget - Koko - okane
————-Horgan
————-Hoban

[oldfogey]

Starting XI

Supposing brownlie recovered from flu

————Sheps
Davies - muller - brownlie - leahy
Kelly - slogget - Koko - okane
————-Horgan
————-Hoban

If Leahy is not fit or still out of sorts, I would like to see Mountney get a start, will Davies switching to the left.

[dundalkfc1903]

The fans have spoken, Oriel is empty