4-Oct-2002

Preview - Kildare County V Dundalk

Kildare will be in high spirits as they prepare to take on mangerless Dundalk in Newbridge on Saturday. Confidence is high in the Kildare camp following their first league win of the season last week against Sligo.

County will again look to ever improving midfielder Cathal O'Connor (right) to pull the strings in the midfield. As well as his excellent vision and passing skills O'Connor has added a genuine goal threat to his game in recent weeks, he scroed in Cobh and hit the post last week against Sligo. He will again look to get forward from midfield tomorrow.

Kildare will hope that their defence can keep their recent improvments going. The defence, led by Gavin Dykes, has been excellent in the last two games. New goalkeeper Danny O'Leary has helped to instill a real confidence in the defence and Damian Maher has been improving in each game, while Damian Brennan has been the Thoroughbreds most consistent performer over the season.

County manager Dermot Keely is expected to name the same starting eleven as last week against Sligo with Shay Zeller again missing through injury. However, Tommy Dunne and Philip Gorman are pushing hard for inclusion.

Dundalk travel to Newbridge in a bit of turmoil following the resignation of manager Martin Murray. Assistant Ollie Ralph will be in charge for tomorrow's game. Dundalk have only long term absentees John Whyte and John Connolly missing and have no new injury worries. Dundalk have had a good start to the season winning two, drawing two and surprisingly lost at home to Athlone in their last game. They lie just outside the play off positions.

Dundalk, the current FAI Cup holders, bring two of the best known strikers in the Eircom League to Newbridge. Gary Haylock and Martin Reilly are surely the best partnership at this level and Gavin Dykes and co. will have to be on their toes for 90 minutes against these two.

It is important that County get something out of this game as they have two hard away games, against Waterford and Finn Harps, coming up. Confidence is high in the Thoroughbred camp and their is no reason why they shouldn't get three points out of the game.

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