FAI CUP Preview: UCD -v- Sheriff YC

UCD

The Students head into Sunday’s cup fixture with Sheriff on the back an eight game unbeaten record which stretches back to the beginning of April, after starting the season with four defeats in their opening five games.

In their last two outings Collie O'Neill's side have secured a valuable victory over second placed Wexford Youths 4-1 and were unlucky not to leave Finn Park with all three points after surrendering the lead on two occasions against Finn Harps in a 2-2 draw.

In the build up to Sunday’s fixture O’Neill spoke to ucdsoccer.com about his sides’ upcoming game against the AUL Premier A champions.

“Sheriff YC have had a great season, winning their league and being finalists in the FAI Junior, and Leinster Junior Cups. They will come here full of confidence and be hopeful of advancing. However, we have been in good form ourselves and if we play the way we have been and take our chances, I believe we can win the game.”

Despite the Students run of strong form, O’Neill will be aiming to ensure that his side improve on their performance in previous cup [EA Sports Cup] outing earlier this season when they suffered a 1-0 defeat at home to Cabinteely last March.

With May been a huge month for students, Collie O’Neill has been forced to plan without three key players, Dan Tobin, Daire O'Conchobhair, Sean Byrne, while already contending with his growing list of injuries, this in turn will see the UCD squad capacity been tested to its maximum on Sunday evening.

Kick off 7:00pm in the UCD Bowl
 

SHERIFF YC

Sheriff make the short trip across the capital aiming to improve on their recent run of form in cup competitions after the Dublin 1 side suffered defeats in both the FAI Junior Cup final 2-1 [After extra time] to Liffey Wanderers followed by another shock defeat to Collinstown 1-0 in the Leinster Junior Cup final.

Despite slipping up in their last two cup competitions, Sheriff have also secured their fifth straight AUL Premier A title after they defeated St Paul’s of Artane in between the cup upsets.

If Alan Reilly’s side are to cause the desired upset, discipline will be key to Sheriff’s success as in their last three fixtures YC have been reduced to ten men on all three occasions, twice been defeated by a single goal.

Sheriff advanced to the second round of the 2015 FAI cup without playing a game as they received a Bye to enter the competition with alongside the Premier and First division clubs.

Match Referee: James McKell

MATCH STATS

2012 was the last time UCD won a fixture in either the FAI Cup or the EA Sports Cup, a run of seven straight defeats

In the 2014 renewal of the cup UCD a then Premier division side were eliminated by Galway United who were playing in the first division 1-3 at the UCD Bowl

UCD have won the FAI Cup on one previous occasion in 1984

Sheriff have played in the last five renewals of the FAI cup, reaching the third round in 2013 only to be eliminated by Shamrock Rovers 3-1

In 2014 Sheriff were eliminated in the second round again by Rovers 4-0

Sheriff are the most successful Junior club in the past five seasons, winning 19 trophies, which includes two FAI Junior Cup title in a row, 2011/12 and 2012/13

BETTIING

UCD 1/2 Draw 11/4 Sheriff YC 5/1

PREDICTIONS

UCD 1-2 Sheriff YC

UCD

Injured: Jack Watson, Greg Sloggett, and Gareth Coughlan

Doubtful: Robbie Benson, and Ryan McLaughlin

Suspended: None

Sheriff YC

Injured: Stephen Murphy, David Browne

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None