(Cork City POV)
Cork City go into this local derby with Cóbh that was halted last year with City’s Premier Division status except for a Munster Senior Cup Final that Cóbh won vs a very young City side with 4 points from the double header with Athlone Town at Home that ended 1-0 at Turners Cross and a lackluster second half performance in Ferrycarrig Park which ended 1-1 against Wexford where Jaden Umeh made history in being Cork City’s youngest Men’s Team goalscorer.
City by no means have had any pretty performances so far this season while preferring defensive stability to fluid attacking which we saw from the divisions champions of last year Galway United. City sit as the divisions 8th best at goal scoring while have conceded 2 goals in 8 games courtesy of Success Edogun and Mikie Rowe. Some City fans have accepted Clean Sheets win you the division but that the performances have been boring and lackluster. The lack of creativity going forward is putting doubt in the mind of fans that this season won’t be as easy as our natural Cork arrogance led us to believe it would be.
Cóbh have had an inconsistent start to the season with Cian Browne and Matthew McKevitt being the stand out players for the Rams. They sit in 7th place with 7 points from 7 games. They have managed to score in every encounter so far and got 2 points from the double header with a last minute equalizer from Matthew McKevitt to secure him a brace and point with a 2-2 draw at the Carlisle Grounds vs Bray Wanderers last Friday. They picked a point vs Longford Town on Monday which will be disappointing for the Rams on their return to St.Colman’s Park.
Cóbh will be familiar with City’s Jack Doherty and Charlie Lyons who hopped across the Lee to join City in a full-time set up for the season and will be hoping for the bragging rights in this first Cork Derby of the season.
City’s unavailable players consist of Seán Murray who has missed the last 3 games
Conor Drinan
Arran Healy
Malik Dijksteel
Matthew Kiernan
And Jack Doherty is a dount but should be able to play as he missed City’s Monday trip to Ferrycarrig Park due to a stamp on his Achilles vs Athlone last Friday.
It will be a big game for both teams who will want to send a message to other teams in the league and also have the bragging rights amongst fans although I think it means more the Cóbh then City.