MATCH PREVIEW #15 | CORK CITY AT ORIEL

After a three-year absence, old rivals Cork City are the visitors to Oriel Park on Friday night for a fixture that will bring fond memories of the past flooding back

For a five-year period between 2014 and 2018, Dundalk and Cork City went toe-to-toe in one of the greatest rivalries the League of Ireland has ever seen.

During that period, Stephen Kenny’s Dundalk won four league titles and two FAI Cups with John Caulfield’s Rebels storming to a league and FAI Cup double in 2017 before they were relegated three years later.

Friday night’s encounter is the first time the sides have met at Oriel Park since March 2020, when Dundalk beat Cork City 3-0 in what proved to be the club’s final home game before the COVID-19 pandemic took hold.

The Lilywhites go into it full of confidence. After losing at Turner’s Cross on Easter Monday, Stephen O’Donnell’s men have responded in style, piecing together a five-match unbeaten run that has taken them up to fourth place in the table.

That win over Dundalk was just one of two that Cork have recorded from their 13 outings thus far and after three years at the helm, manager Colin Healy departed his position last week.

After being appointed as Director of Football less than 24 hours earlier, Liam Buckley stepped in to take interim charge of the side in Cork’s 3-2 defeat at home to St Patrick’s Athletic on Friday night and is expected to be in the dugout at Oriel Park.

The game kicks off another hectic period in the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division which will see Dundalk travel to the Ryan McBride Brandywell to face Derry City on Monday night before welcoming current league leaders Bohemians to Oriel Park next Friday.

With Bohs set to face the Candystripes on Friday night, Dundalk know that a win would see them make up ground on at least one of the teams in the top three ahead of two crucial fixtures next week.

Team News
Cameron Elliott and Daniel Kelly have enjoyed a full week of training after returning to the squad for the win over Sligo Rovers but Andy Boyle, Greg Sloggett, Louie Annesley, Robbie Benson and John Mountney are still unavailable.

Ticket Information
Tickets for the game are available online and from the office at Oriel Park.

A limited number of juvenile (U12) tickets will be available for the game. ​After this point, tickets will only be available in the higher-priced categories.

​To gain entry to Oriel Park, all juveniles must have a ticket and be accompanied by at least one adult. Dundalk FC reserves the right to refuse admission to any unaccompanied juveniles. Any adult entering the stadium using a juvenile ticket will be ejected from the ground without a refund.

Match Programme
The front cover of the 24-page match programme features 1903 Dundalk FC Supporters Club Player of the Month for April, Archie Davies. It will be available before the game for just €4.

Match Sponsors
We would like to say a special word of thanks to our match sponsors, Fyffes, who have been partners of Dundalk FC for many years, supporting the club from near relegation to the dizzying highs of League of Ireland and UEFA Europa League glory!

The company was the main club sponsor for many years and assisted Dundalk FC with charity initiatives, family days, and children’s camps.

Most recently, Fyffes has worked with the club to develop the Harry Taaffe Mental Health and Wellbeing Programme and hope that this programme will go some way to breaking the stigma of talking about mental health.

A huge word of thanks to Gerry Cunningham, Emma Hunt-Duffy and everyone at Fyffes for their continued support.

Refreshments, Food & Drink
The Lilywhite Lounge and Enda McGuill Suite will be open from 5.30pm on Friday. Cash only in both bars. Hot food will be available from our Match Day Food Partners, Mullens. Coffee, tea and hot beverages will also be available from our Coffee Partners, The Brew Crew, in the ground and from the Enda McGuill Suite.

How Can I Follow The Game?
There will be pre-match, in-game and post-match updates across all of the club’s official social media channels – Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. The match will be streamed live on LOITV for just €7 with Adrian Taaffe and former Dundalk FC captain John Flanagan providing the commentary. Supporters can also avail of an LOITV Season Pass which costs just €120 and gives access to all matches across the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division, Men’s First Division and Women’s Premier Division.

Bucket Collection
There will be a bucket collection ahead of Friday’s game to raise funds for the Dundalk FC MU14 and MU15 academy teams wo will take part in the Norhalne Cup in Denmark next week.

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