Preview: Cork City vs. Dundalk
In football, no matter what we say about it; we all want to win. Dubbed as the “curtain raiser” tomorrow afternoon, Cork City FC will lock horns again with rivals Dundalk in the Presidents Cup at Turners Cross. Yet, unlike most preseason friendlies, City and Dundalk carriers a different weight. In 2014 and 2015, whenever the rise of the Rebel Army met with triumphant Lilywhites, the games where always tense, heavy metal affairs, with both teams fighting it out to the last. In October 2014, City and Dundalk met on the final day of the season, City a point clear and Dundalk needing a win to clinch the title. In the cauldron that was Oriel Park, two of the leagues heavyweights slugged it out to the 90; with two late Dundalk blows a critical knockout blow on City’s title chances. In 2015, 7000 gathered at Turners Cross forming a noise which defined everything about the Rebels Army. The following November, the sides met for the 7th time in two years, in the FAI Cup final… and what ensured was a cut throat 120 minutes of pure passion on display by two of the leagues finest teams.Tomorrow, kick off 2:00, atop the carpeted turf of Turners Cross, the sides will meet again, with both City manager John Caulfield and Dundalk steward Stephen Kenny eager to put down an early marker.When speaking to the UCC Express, the always passionate and resilient John Caulfield was chomping at the bit for the game, and when asked on his side’s recent record against the Double Champions, he fired back, “it’s not about a hoodoo, and it’s about whose better. So if we’re doing anything we’re changing our squad, we brought in a load of new players. So we’ve changed the dynamics of the squad and time will tell”New signings Greg Bolger, Sean Maguire, Ian Turner, Kenny Browne and Steven Dooley will all be on display in Turners Cross tomorrow, as well as on display tomorrow will be a selection of some of the league’s finest talents. In the opposite dug out, Dundalk will be boasting a squad of with the likes of Chris Shields, Daryl Horgan, and Stephen O Donnell as well as new signing Patrick McEleney in the middle of the field.When speaking to the Express, new signing Greg Bolger can’t wait to get out there and soak up the Turners Cross atmosphere, and to hit the ground running, “I’ll have to do it first before they (the fans) can take me in. No point in coming here and playing bad, look I have to go out on the pitch and prove I’m a good player and hopefully they’ll be on my back sooner rather than later”With the pieces in play, John Caulfield and his side will be itching to lay down an early season marker, while in the Dundalk camp, spirits remain high after a quadruple winning 2015 season. The stage is set, will the Rebels Rise or the Lilywhites remain supreme? John Kavanagh remains on the sidelines while he recovers from surgery, with Kevin O’Connor and Mark O’Sullivan suffering from knocks during the week but Caulfield is hopeful that they will be available.Injury News: John Kavanagh, Kevin O’Connor, Mark O’SullivanSuspensions: noneLast Game: Cobh Ramblers 0-4 Cork CityLast Meeting: Dundalk 1-0 Cork City (FAI Cup, after extra time)Last Meeting at Turner’s Cross: Cork City 2-2 Dundalk