EA Sports Cup Preview: UCC -v- Dundalk

UCC

UCC will be playing their first ever EA Sports Cup Quarter Final tomorrow night at 8pm in the Mardyke when they host the visit of Dundalk to their historic ground.

 

The home side have qualified for this game after defeating two SSE Airtricity League teams in Wexford Youths and Cobh Ramblers, 2-1 and 3-2 respectively.

 

Speaking to The Evening Echo ahead of tomorrow’s clash striker Ian Mylod expects a big challenge ahead of the visit of the 2014 EA Sports Cup champions but is hopeful of an upset going by his side’s previous performances.

 

“It would be great but to be honest they’re two different types of opposition. That night we went up to Wexford with a second string side having only 13 players with injuries and we didn’t expect to get much”.

 

The UCC striker is hopeful that some of the college’s 15,000 students will make the short trip down to the Mardyke to cheer them on in what is a real David versus Goliath battle; however Mylod the ex-Cork City U19 player is hopeful of a large support.



 

“Hopefully we’ll get good support from Cork people especially since City doesn’t play until the following day and this could play its part on the night. It might even make an ordinary night into an historic night. It was great to have the support a few weeks back when defeating Ramblers with the crowd in the Mardyke and we’re hoping for something similar Monday.”

 

UCC will go into the game without long term injury victims Charlie Bourneman and Darragh Kiely while Conor Barry is unavailable for the visit of Dundalk. The match winner from the last day Sean O’Mahony is currently struggling with an injury but is expected to be fit for the game tomorrow night.

 

 



DUNDALK

Dundalk qualified for this stage of the competition thanks to a 13th minute strike from John Mountney against First Division side Shelbourne.

 

Dundalk is currently four points clear at the summit of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division with a game in hand over second placed Cork City.

 

Stephen Kenny’s side who are yet to taste defeat this year in any completion are also the current EA Sports Cup Champions having defeated Shamrock Rovers in the decider last September in Oriel Park.

 

In the aftermath of Friday’s home victory over Derry City manager Stephen Kenny suggested to the media that he will rotate his squad ahead of the long trip to Cork by giving starts to youth players Georgie Poynton, Anton Reilly, Paul Finnegan and Ciaran O’Connor along with senior player’s Shane Grimes, Gabriel Sava, Kurtis Byrne and Jake Kelly.

 

Captain Stephen O’Donnell who is an injury doubt ahead of the game says that the club is fully aware of the challenge his side will face when they play in the Mardyke tomorrow night.

 

“A Quarter Final of a cup is a big game for us. It’s not every day you get into the final stages of a competition so that’s our main focus. We can’t take our eyes off that. I actually saw UCC win the Collingwood Cup. You have to play for them as a club. We are under no illusions about going down there. They’re going to be really up for it on Monday and they’re a good side. It’s a big game, a quarter-final, and it’s going to be difficult but hopefully we can get through.”

 

Dundalk will be without the injured Brian Gartland while Stephen O’Donnell remains a major doubt for the trip due to an Achilles injury.

 

Referee: David Keeler.

 

 

MATCH FACTS

This will be the first time Dundalk have faced Cork opposition in any knockout competition since the FAI Cup back in 2006 when they played and defeated Cobh Ramblers 1-0 at Oriel Park.

 

It will also be the first time since drawing Phoenix in the 2013 FAI Cup that Dundalk have drawn non-league opposition in any knockout competition.

 

Dundalk haven’t gone unbeaten in three away from home in the EA Sports Cup since 1997 but can do that should they avoid defeat on Monday.

 

 

BETTING

UCC 17/2; Draw 17/4; Dundalk 2/9.

 

PREDICTION

UCC 1- 3 Dundalk.

 

 

UCC

Injured: Charlie Bourneman, Darragh Kiely, Conor Barry.

Doubtful: Sean O’Mahony.

Suspended: None.

 

Dundalk

Injured: Brian Gartland.

Doubtful: Stephen O’Donnell.

Suspended: Sean Gannon.

 

 

    About Stephen Walsh

    Stephen Walsh is an extratime.ie reporter since August 2014 as one can see by looking at his LinkedIn page in the bottom right hand corner. Stephen mainly covers games for Cork City and Cobh Ramblers … View Full Profile