FAI Cup Preview: Home Farm -v- Cork City

HOME FARM

Home Farm open their FAI Cup campaign with a turgid tough task of defending champions Cork City at Whitehall (kick off 1pm)

The Leinster Senior League side qualified for the FAI Cup through reaching the quarter finals of the 2017/18 FAI Intermediate Cup where they lost out to Letterkenny Rovers.

The non league side since have rebuilt in preseason enjoying a string of results in the build up to today’s clash including a 1-0 win over Liffey Valley last Thursday, a 3-2 win over partner club Drogheda United and a 1-1 draw against St. Mochta’s.

There is no team news available.

CORK CITY

The 2016 and 2017 cup winners open up their campaign to make history down south, and become the first Cork side to win a three in a row in the history of football on Leeside.

Only once ever had a back to back cup success been achieved on Leeside; in 1971-72 when Cork Hibernians overcame Waterford and Shelbourne to make a double cup success.

Starting off against Leinster Senior League side Home Farm, City have endured while on their way to success with a totaled 10 players who featured in the 2016 and 2017 finals gone from the club stretching to 2016 cup winner Seani Maguire right through to last year’s hero Achille Campion.

“We are the cup holders for the last two years and we would love to retain the cup,” said manager John Caulfield.



“We have seen shocks already during the week in the FAI Cup and the League Cup, so it shows what can happen.

“You have to be on your game and I would not expect us to be anything other than totally professional tomorrow.

“I know the players are looking forward to the game and I expect us to give a proper performance.”

He continued: “I know their manager from my amateur days. They have a very young team, very energetic.

“We know they are looking forward to the game and they will fancy themselves to have a right go off us, which is what we expect. We need to make sure we are totally professional.”

City travel to Dublin with a full strength team minus long term absentee Colm Horgan who remains sidelined with a leg injury.



 

MATCH STATS

This is the second meeting between the sides in the history of Cork City in the FAI Cup. 22 years ago City beat Home Farm 1-0 at Turners Cross after a 1-1 draw at Whitehall.

City have never lost to a non league side in their time in Irish football, sweeping aside sides such as St. Mochtas and St. Peter’s in recent years.

 

BETTING

Home Farm 14/1 Draw 15/2 Cork City 1/14

PREDICTION

Home Farm 0 – 4 Cork City

 

Home Farm

Injured: N/A.

Doubtful: N/A.

Suspended: N/A.

Cork City

Injured: Colm Horgan.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.