Drogheda United -v- Dundalk FC

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DROGHEDA UNITED

The Boynesiders may finish behind their Louth rivals, but Sunday offers a chance to take the bragging rights back to South half of the county.


Louth derbies haven’t gone Mick Cooke’s way this season, apart from the pre-season Malone Cup match, Drogheda haven’t beaten Dundalk in any of their three league meetings.


The Drogs stopped a three game losing streak on Monday night when they drew 2-2 with Shelboure at Tolka Park. The Boynesiders however have gifted their opponents two goal head starts in two of their last three games.


Mick Cooke has a fully fit squad ahead of the FAI Cup semi-final on Sunday, the Drogheda manager has had to shuffle his pack over the last three weeks due to injury and suspension meaning a lot of players got game time.


The FAI Cup represents Drogheda’s only route back into Europe, something which the team are keen to experience again after their heroics earlier this season.


Speaking ahead of the game, Cooke said that he was expecting it to be another cracking game, “The matches I've had with Dundalk since coming to Drogheda have all been fantastic and all of them have been played in a great spirit, I can't remember one bad moment from any of our games,”


“League form goes out the window in cup semi-finals, but especially when you're playing a local derby. It's all about the day, I also wouldn't write Dundalk off for the league just yet, there's three games to go and if you look at what happened to us last season, all the top teams lost in the run in, so there's a lot of football to be played.”


DUNDALK FC

Stephen Kenny’s side have seen their league challenge fall off in recent weeks, the Lilywhites will now focus fully on booking their place in their first FAI Cup final since 2002.


The Lilywhites league challenge fell apart when they lost to St Pats and then Limerick FC, however they bounced back with a resounding 3-0 win away to Derry City, thus ensuring European football next season.


Dundalk have won four of the last ten meetings of the teams, only losing twice, they also progressed the last time the sides met in the FAI Cup. That coming in 2011 when a replay saw Dundalk progress to the quarter-finals.


Long term absentee Keith Ward is the only injury worry ahead of the trip to Hunky Dorys Park. Mark Rossiter, who picked up a knock and was withdrawn as a precaution on Monday evening, should be fit to play. Captain and match winner from the last Louth derby Stephen O’Donnell returns following suspension and should go back into the starting team.


Stephen Kenny said that his side are ready for battle, “It’s great that it’s a Louth derby. These matches are high intensity. Drogheda United have some very good players but our players have been absolutely fantastic this year. You have to earn the right to get to a Cup final and we have scored 14 goals – 4 against Phoneix, 5 against both Limerick and Shelbourne – to get this far and it’s a great incentive for the club to get to the final. We have to have an appetite for battle because that’s what it’s going to be but we’re looking forward to it and we’ll be ready.”


Referee: Anthony Buttimer


MATCH STATS

Drogheda are looking to make their second FAI Cup final since 2005, they are also looking to make it a treble of cup finals this season.


There have been six goals scored in the three league meetings between the teams, however the last two games were 1-0 wins for Dundalk


This will be the 153rd senior contest between the Louth clubs. In the previous 152 matches, Dundalk have had the better of it with 80 wins, 38 times the match ended level while the Lilywhites have tasted defeat on 34 occasions.


BETTING

Drogheda United 15/8, Draw 11/5, Dundalk 11/8


PREDICTION

It’s going to be tough but Drogheda could edge this 1-0


Drogheda United

Injured: None.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.


Dundalk FC

Injured: Keith Ward

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.