League Preview: Cabinteely -v- Waterford United

• Gareth O'Reilly
• Sun, Jul 12 2015




A Monday night fixture is a rarity in the First Division but that is exactly what League of Ireland fans in South Dublin can look forward to this week as Waterford come to the capital city to take on Cabinteely.

 

CABINTEELY

Cabinteely have struggled since the reinstatement of manager Eddie Gormley but this game will have been earmarked on the struggling First Division sides calendar now for some time as it is a case of 7^th v 8^th in Stradbrook.

 

Having only won three of their opening seventeen First Division encounters to date Cabo will know that results will need to be picked up if they are to bring that figure into more respectable territory.

 

Last time out on Friday, Cabinteely suffered a one goal defeat to Shelbourne thanks to a second half goal from James English – this being the second game in a row that the men in green and white have failed to find the back of the net.

 

Sadly we once again are left without team news from the newest addition to the SSE Airtricity League although it can be expected that Gormley will attempt to strengthen his squad in July with local players from the area.

 

 

WATERFORD UNITED

Waterford have struggled to rejuvenate themselves in the way many people expected when Roddy Collins was unveiled as the Blues new First Team boss.

 

Sitting with a lowly ten points and an even lowlier basement position in the First Division, United know that a win over a team just two points ahead of them in the standings is a must should they wish to salvage anything at all from what has being a miserable season for their loyal following.

 

The away side for this encounter announced six new additions to their first team panel in the last few days although it remains to be seen whether some of or indeed any of the new additions will be involved – Mark O’Keefe, Matthew Sheehan, Adam Prendergast, Sean Duffy, Robbie Buckley and Daniel Pender being the players in question.

 

Last Friday night United were beaten three nil by a rampant Finn Harps as further misery was humped on top of Roddy Collins’ charges.

 

Tommy Griffin was in the dugout for the Harps defeat and he felt that his side were unlucky to fall to such a hard defeat.

 

"We’re obviously disappointed that we didn’t get a result out of it. I thought that our first half performance was excellent to be honest and we were unlucky to go in at the half time behind because we dominated the game for long periods.

 

“We had really put some nice moves together during the course of that first half so it was frustrating that we did go a goal down at the half time. Anthony McAlavey was very unlucky to see the ball come off the crossbar early in the game before the Finn Harps goalkeeper produced a couple of very good saves.

 

“So in that regard, we were very disappointed to concede a goal just before half time,” continued Griffin.

 

“The lads will tell you themselves that there was a slip up in the build up. We' have Cabinteely on Monday and we'll be prepared for that. We're learning from every game and we'll look to take that into Monday night.

 

In team news, manager Collins returns from his one game ban while in less positive news, Dylan Mernagh, Brian Nolan and Matthew Connor are all out as they are with the Irish University team in Korea.

 

Referee: Eoghan O’Shea.

 

 

Match Facts

Cabo have failed to score in their last two games.

 

Waterford have not won away from home since the second game of the season against Wexford Youths.

 

Cabo have conceded 33 goals while Waterford’s tally is 30 goals conceeded – the two worst defensive teams in the First Division.

 

 

BETTING

Cabinteely 6/4; Draw 11/5; Waterford United 8/5.

 

PREDICTION

Cabinteely 2-2 Waterford United.

 

 

Cabinteely

Injured: Unknown.

Doubtful: Unknown.

Suspended: Unknown.

 

Waterford United

Injured: None.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

Unavailable: Dylan Mernagh, Brian Nolan, Matthew Connor (all away at University games in Korea).