FAI Cup Preview: UCD - V - Janesboro

Promotion chasing UCD will put aside their ambitions of reaching the top flight when they take on Limerick amateur side Janesboro in the 3^rd round of the Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup at the UCD Bowl on Saturday evening (kick-off 7pm).

UCD

UCD will be striving to continue their interest in the FAI Cup and prevent a giant killing with the visit of Limerick side Janesboro FC at the UCD Bowl on Saturday evening. The Students all but relinquished any feint hopes of catching Limerick FC at the top of the SSE Airtricity First Division after only managing a 1-1 draw against playoff rivals Drogheda United last Friday night.

UCD have been in fine form recently and are currently unbeaten in their last six league games with four wins and two draws with their last defeat coming at the hands of runaway leaders Limerick FC in a 4-3 thriller at the Market’s Field in July.

The Students boss Collie O’Neill will be hoping his side can keep up their prolific exploits in front of goal having notched 15 goals in their last six games and maintain the good defensive displays having only conceded 6 goals in that same period.

UCD know what it means to cause a surprise having reached the last 16 of the Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup by beating Premier Division side Bray Wanderers 4-3 in a superb game of football at the UCD Bowl in May.

JANESBORO

Janesboro go into this clash with the intention of creating a huge upset by taking the scalp of SSE First Division high flyers UCD in the 3^rd round of the Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup. Shane O’Hanlon’s side will be hopeful that his side can continue the good level of performance in the previous round and knows that his side will have to be at the top of their game to outsmart The Students.

The Boro have had to battle hard to reach this stage having disposed impressively of St. John Bosco 4-2 despite a gallant display from the home side and followed that up with a hard fought 2-1 victory over Sheriff YC. Janesboro got revenge for their defeat at the hands of the Dublin side in last season’s FAI Junior Cup, and became the only team to win against the all-conquering Sheriff YC.

The Boro got their domestic league campaign underway with a comprehensive 3-1 win over Ballynanty Rovers on Tuesday night in the Limerick Premier League at Shelbourne Park.

Referee: John McCLoughlin.

MATCH FACTS

UCD are currently unbeaten in their last six games with four wins and two draws and are in second place in the SSE Airtricity First Division.

Janesboro are unbeaten in the Limerick Premier League with one win from their opening league fixture.

UCD have won the FAI Cup on one previous occasion back in 1984, while Janesboro have never won the competition but have a decent cup pedigree particularly in the FAI Junior Cup.

This is the first time that UCD and Janesboro have met each other in the FAI Cup.

BETTING

UCD 4/9 Draw 11/4 Janesboro 13/2.

PREDICTION

UCD 3-0 Janesboro.

UCD

Injuries: Unknown.

Doubtful: Unknown.

Suspended: None.

Janesboro

Injured: Unknown.

Doubtful: Unknown.

Suspended: Unknown.