Daryl Horgan enjoys returns to Leeside

Though his former club may have beaten Dundalk in their two most recent meetings, Daryl Horgan isn’t getting into the champions ‘owing’ their chief rivals anything when they face Cork City at Turner’s Cross tonight.

The newly crowned SSE Airtricity/Soccer Writers’ Association of Ireland Player of the Month for May is simply focused on Dundalk making it nine straight league wins.

And with it, stretch last season’s double winners’ lead at the top of the Premier Division to seven points going into the summer break. “I wouldn’t say we owe them one, I wouldn’t go along the lines of that,” said 23-year-old winger Horgan, having collected his third writers’ gong.

“We want to win, like we want to win every game and we want to go seven points clear, which we would with a win. I’m sure Cork will be looking at this and hoping they can win so that they can close the gap.”

Having helped City win promotion when lifting the First Division title in 2011, Horgan has good memories of his two-and-a-half years on Leeside. “I’ve been down there a good few times now since I left the club, so we’re well used to each other by this stage. I enjoy it,” said the Galway native.

And as has been the case with the current biggest rivalry in the League of Ireland, Horgan expects another close game between the country’s top two sides.

“It’ll be tight without being massively cagey,” said Horgan. “I think it will be a good game, we’re looking forward to it. Cork are on a good run at the moment too.

“I think there’s a bit of an edge to these games now over the last few years with us both going for the title. Then there was the FAI Cup final last year too. I’m looking forward to it. It’s very exciting with first versus second. It should be a cracking atmosphere.”

While it’s unlikely to see an interloper gatecrashing the title race at this junction, Horgan cautions there is a lot of football to be played yet.

“There is a long way to go in the season so who knows what could happen. We’re only 14 games in and anyone could still win it. You could have a team going on a surge and winning a load of games.

“I’d expect Cork to be there until the end, though.”

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