FAI CUP Preview: Edenderry Town -v- Derry City

EDENDERRY TOWN 

Leinster Senior League side Edenderry Town will face Derry City in the Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup 2nd round on Sunday at Paddy Maloney Park (Kick off: 2:00pm). 

The Offaly outfit have reached the 2nd round due to their exploits in the FAI's Intermediate Cup and will be keen to make their opportunity count come Sunday afternoon. 

Edenderry have been in reasonably good form this season sitting in 6th position in the league and having also been runners up in the Gilligan Cup. 

The Offaly club fell short last time out losing 2-1 to Dublin University FC however will be determined to get back to form with the tie against Derry arguably being their biggest game of the season. 

DERRY CITY

Derry will travel to Paddy Maloney Park in a bid to regain control of their season by progressing to the next stage of the FAI Cup. The Candystripes’ league form has been less than convincing all season but the club is widely regarded as a “cup team” and this season will hopefully be no different for the Brandywell faithful as it would act as a great distraction.  

Peter Hutton has rejoiced in the chance to take his mind off league duties but is cautious all the same:

“It's a distraction from the league campaign but a bit of a trip into the unknown. For Edenderry, it is their cup final so we can't be complacent.”

The Derry boss, who watched Edenderry lose 2-1 to Dublin University FC in the league, has described the side as “very aggressive and in your face".

He then added: "They have a lot of dual GAA players in their ranks so they have some very big lads, they are very direct and rely a lot on set-pieces.

The Derry boss concluded explaining the mind-set of the side going into the clash:

“The FAI Cup is a competition that we done fairly well in last season after getting to the final, so we would like to go one better this season,” 

“It was a great experience for all the young players and I’m sure that they’ll need no motivation to try and get back to the Aviva Stadium again this year.”

On the injury front, Derry will be without the services of captain Ryan McBride as well as Stephen Dooley who hasn’t featured all season. While the Derry camp also have doubts over the availability of Patrick McEleney, Philip Lowry and Dean Jarvis. 

Referee: Andrew Mullally

MATCH STATS

Derry are heavy favourites coming into this tie having won the cup itself 5 times. 

Edenderry have won 11 out of their 24 league games this season. 

Derry were runners up last season in the competition whereas Edenderry didn't feature. 

BETTING

Edenderry Town 13/1; Draw 11/2; Derry City 1/6

PREDICTION

Edenderry Town 0-4 Derry City 

Edenderry Town

Injured: Unavailable. 

Doubtful: Unavailable.

Suspended: Unavailable.

Derry City

Injured: Stephen Dooley, Ryan McBride.

Doubtful: Patrick McEleney, Philip Lowry, Dean Jarvis.

Suspended: None.