SSE Airtricity League Premier Division
Cork City -v- Waterford FC
Friday, June 1, 2018
Kick Off: 7.45pm
Referee: Robert Harvey
Waterford FC will look to bring last weekend’s excellent performance into this Friday’s Munster Derby against Cork City in Turner’s Cross.
Having gone four league matches without a win, the Blues returned to winning ways in style last Friday with a 4-0 win at home to Derry City.
Goals in the first half from Rory Feely, Izzy Akinade and Sander Puri set the Blues on their way, before substitute Stanley Aborah put the gloss on an excellent performance with a late fourth goal in the second half.
The sides have both won their respective home league ties against each other; Cork City winning the opening meeting 2-0 in Turner’s Cross, before an own goal and a Courtney Duffus strike saw the Blues come from behind to win 2-1 at the RSC at the start of April.
Speaking ahead of the match, first-team coach Paul Cashin, who’s been putting the side through their paces this week along with the Blues coaching staff in the absence of manager Alan Reynolds, said:
“All the lads are looking forward to Friday’s match – they’ve been really focussed this week and training has been good. We’ve trained as we’d planned out with Alan, and we know it’ll be a tough test in Cork but it’s a test that we’ll relish.
“We were delighted with the win over Derry City last Friday and with the manner of the performance, so we’ll be looking to carry that into Friday’s match in Turner’s Cross.”
Waterford FC goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux, who this Friday plays the last game of his loan deal, was pleased with last week’s win and it looking forward to Friday’s match.
“I thought that we were brilliant from back to front [against Derry City]. I think that I only touched the ball once so that showed how well that we defended during the course of the game. We scored four goals which is always a bonus because they are a good side.
“I think it’s vital that we bring our second half in Dundalk and our whole performance against Derry into the Munster Derby game against Cork. I know that we’re going to bring a lot of fans down to Turner’s Cross and it’s going to be a massive occasion.”
TEAM NEWS: Waterford FC are again without John Kavanagh (knee) and Garry Comerford (foot). Paul Keegan continues to struggle with a calf problem and is doubtful, while Stanley Aborah misses the game through suspension. Sander Puri is on international duty with Estonia.