Drogheda United and Cork City will both be aiming to win their third consecutive match when they meet in the League of Ireland Premier Division on Friday.
The two sides find themselves in eighth and ninth positions respectively after each suffering disappointing starts to the campaign, but they have picked up in recent weeks ahead of an important clash this weekend.
Match preview
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Having finished seventh and eighth in their two seasons since gaining promotion from Ireland's second tier in 2020, Drogheda appear to be treading water in the Premier Division to an extent.
However, the Drogs were never close to being in any real relegation danger last season, with UDC finishing 12 points behind them in the relegation playoff spot. As such, Kevin Doherty has been retained as the club's manager in an effort to promote continuity.
Friday's match against Cork represents the halfway stage of the current league campaign for both teams, and a third straight victory would move Drogheda only six points behind St Patrick's Athletic in fourth place, which is enough to qualify for the Europa Conference League.
There is clearly a huge incentive for Doherty's side to secure a win, then, especially as it would put them on course to improve upon their impressive points tally of 44 from two seasons ago.
Cork, meanwhile, are still undergoing a rebuilding phase having succumbed to a shock relegation in the same season that Drogheda were promoted.
The Rebel Army finished in the top two of Ireland's Premier Division for five successive seasons between 2014 and 2018 - winning the division for the third time in the club's history in 2017 - yet they found themselves rapidly sliding down the table in the following two seasons.
After finishing sixth in a difficult opening campaign in the second tier, Cork managed to win the division last time out with an impressive points haul of 68 from 32 matches. However, they appear set for a long season of avoiding an instant return given that they find themselves second from bottom ahead of their trip to Drogheda on Friday.
That said, University College Dublin - who only avoided relegation themselves by beating Waterford United in a playoff last November - are languishing nine points behind Cork at the foot of the table, suggesting that even if Cork were to continue on their current trajectory, they would at least have the same opportunity to save themselves after the end of the regular campaign.
Team News
After recording back-to-back wins against Shamrock Rovers and UCD in recent weeks, it would be a surprise if Doherty opted to make any changes to Drogheda's starting XI in a crucial match on Friday.
The 43-year-old will sense an excellent opportunity to put considerable distance between themselves and the relegation playoff spot, moving closer to the European positions in the process, with Freddie Draper set to be full of confidence after bagging three goals across those two victories.
Cork, meanwhile, will travel without Cian Bargary, Albin Winbo and Tobi Oluwayemi due to injury, but Matthew Healy - who is on loan from Ipswich Town - will return to the visitors' matchday squad after serving a one-match suspension against Shamrock.
Having surprisingly beaten the reigning champions last time out, interim boss Liam Buckley is unlikely to restore Healy to his starting XI, meaning that 18-year-old Joe O'Brien-Whitmarsh should hold onto his place in central midfield.
Drogheda United possible starting lineup:
McCabe; Ahui, Adegboyega, Keeley, McNally; Heeney, Brennan; Grimes, Markey, Rooney; Draper
Cork City possible starting lineup:
Corcoran; Crowley, Hakkinen, Honohan; Walker, O'Brien-Whitmarsh, Bolger, Coffey, Custovic; Keating, Owolabi
We say: Drogheda United 2-1 Cork City
This should be an entertaining encounter given that both teams head into it fresh from two successive victories, with Cork requiring a positive result in order to avoid losing touch with the rest of the division.
However, we expect Drogheda to grind their way to a narrow victory, with the hosts undoubtedly having more stability at the club.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Brett Curtis
