Pole position up for grabs as Turner’s Cross set for cracker

The last time Cork City and Dundalk did battle, the league title was on the line on the final night of the 2014 season, with the Lilywhites crowned champions after a 2-0 win which will live long in the memory at Oriel Park.

Nothing quite so definitive is at stake this evening at Turner’s Cross but, even though we’re only nine games into the new season, the magnitude of the contest cannot be underplayed. The immediate goal is conquest of the summit of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division: a win or a draw will see Dundalk extend or retain their advantage; a win for Cork City will see the Rebels leapfrog their rivals to go top.

Beyond that, the game should also tell us a lot about how the months ahead might unfold and, come the conclusion of the long campaign, there’s every chance that this clash will be regarded as a significant milestone along the way.