After an unplanned 11-day hiatus from First Division football, Barry Robson’s Cork City welcome Wexford to the Rebel County, looking to build on their stellar start.
Cork City find themselves still seven points clear at the top of the table, even with a game less played, following the unexpected postponement of last Friday’s planned fixture with Treaty United at the Markets Field. Therefore, you have to look back to Easter Monday for their most previous game, in which Seani Maguire stole the show, scoring a hat-trick to help his team win 4-2, even with City being two down at the break.
Wexford are that team however that are seven points behind City in 2nd place. Wexford are currently unbeaten in four games, with their last loss coming away to Longford Town on the 21st of March. They most recently managed to get past Longford’s rivals in Athlone Town at Ferrycarrig Park, thanks to Adam Verdon’s free-kick, taking his tally to three for the season.
Key Information
Kick Off: 19:45, Friday 17th of April;
Where to Watch: LOI TV;
Betting Odds: Cork City @2/7, Draw @15/4, Wexford @15/2;
Team News
Charlie Hanover is continuing his rehabilitation process, following surgery on his knee.
Waterford-loanee Muhammad Oladiti was not included in the Wexford squad for Friday’s fixture with Athlone Town. Billy Vance is yet to play a First Division yet for Stephen Elliot since joining as a free agent in February.
Key Statistics
Seani Maguire has been provoking fear into goalkeepers consistently this season. He is the league’s top-scorer with eight, and is averaging the most shots and shots on target per game. He is followed in total shots per game by Jake Doyle and Mikie Rowe in 2nd and 3rd.
Maguire has also scored four times in this fixture across his career.
Max Murphy is averaging the most accurate long balls per game with 6.1 in 2026.
The last time Wexford defeated The Rebel Army was in October 2010, in a 2-1 win at Ferrycarrig Park
Key Players
If Wexford want any hope of getting a result out of Friday’s trip South, Seani Maguire will have to be nullified. The Kilkenny-native is on fire, having netted three in his most previous game. Along with the goals, the striker has shown immense leadership and close control when linking-up play so far this season.
Mikie Rowe will be one to watch without a doubt. The 29-year-old found the net twenty times in his last campaign, and has already gathered four goal contributions in his current campaign. Along with the G/As, he is also averaging 1.1 key passes per game.
Previous Meetings
20/2/26 – Wexford 1-4 Cork City;
18/10/24 – Cork City 6-0 Wexford;
4/7/24 – Wexford 1-3 Cork City;
6/5/24 – Cork City 1-1 Wexford.