FAI Cup Preview: UCD -v- Dundalk FC

UCD

First Division promotion contenders UCD will host defending FAI Cup champions Dundalk FC at the Bowl tomorrow evening seeking to progress to the last-four of the competition for the first time since 2007.

Collie O’Neill’s side have enjoyed a fairly productive league season to date. Despite lagging well behind the runaway First Division champions Limerick FC, UCD have amassed a credible 41 points to date, winning exactly twice as many matches as they have lost.

As a consequence, UCD currently reside in the second promotion play-off spot behind Drogheda United. Having suffered defeat to Finn Harps in the race for Premier Division football in 2015, promotion back to the top-flight will surely be the Students’ main objective for the remainder of the season.

However, the 1984 Cup champions will of course be aiming to knock out 10-time winners, Dundalk tomorrow night and they can draw solace from the fact that they have already knocked-out Premier Division opposition in this season’s competition.

O’Neill’s men defeated Bray Wanderers, 4-3, at tomorrow night’s venue in the second-round. Captain Gary O’Neill and frontman Kieran Marty Waters were on target for the Students on that occasion and their performances will be crucial to UCD on Friday night should an upset be on the cards.

The pair have netted a combined total of 24 goals this season in all competitions, clearly the most prolific goal scoring duo at the club. UCD also accounted for non-league, Janesboro in the last round. Waters was also on target with the SSE Airtricity League competitors ending up 3-1 victors.

Ahead of the Quarter-Final meeting, UCD manager Collie O’Neill spoke about the difficulty of the tie against the all-conquering Lilywhites, however, he feels that his players can only benefit from the experience that they will gain.

O’Neill told ucdsoccer.com: “Obviously drawing the league leaders is an extremely tough draw in anyone’s eyes. However, at this stage of the competition any draw is going to be tough and we have got to go into the game like any other and look to play our own game.

“Dundalk have had a fantastic season so far, they are top of the league, and of course are into the Group Stages of the Europa League. However, Stephen Kenny will also be looking to be successful in this competition.”

DUNDALK FC

Dundalk FC will be the third FAI Cup competitor to travel to the UCD Bowl for a knock-out match this season when they make the trip to Belfield on Friday night.

UCD have historically been a difficult proposition for the Lilywhites, although that precedent has seemingly been obliterated during Dundalk’s Stephen Kenny era. Victories, and handsome victories have been the order of the day when the teams have clashed since 2013, with Dundalk unequivocally leading the head-to-head stakes, 7-0.

The Lilywhites have cruised through to this point of the competition. The Oriel Park inhabitants walloped Crumlin United by five goals to nil in the last round with youngsters, Michael O’Connor, Ciaran O’Connor and Carlton Ubaezuono in sensational form.

Prior to that, they defeated former rivals, Shelbourne FC at the Carrick Road venue. Daryl Horgan and Ciaran Kilduff got their names on the score sheet as the Lilywhites’ cruised to a facile victory on their first defence of the crown that they gained by defeating Cork City in last November’s showpiece at the Aviva Stadium.

Dundalk are likely to trust their squad players and young-guns for tomorrow evening’s assignment with a very important period, not only in the club’s season, but their history, set to unfold in the coming weeks.

The Lilywhites face Finn Harps in the league on Monday night, before opening their Europa League group stage campaign in Alkmaar three days later. Indeed, after next Thursday’s game, Dundalk could be 10-points clear at the top of the Premier Division, in the semi-final of the FAI Cup and top of Group D in UEFA’s secondary club competition.

Games are set to come at a frantic pace. Indeed, the 2015 double winners are set to take part in at least five games before the end of September, including two Europa League games, along with Shamrock Rovers’ league visit to Oriel Park.

Dundalk ‘keeper Gary Rogers spoke to the club’s website in the aftermath of Tuesday night’s league victory over his former club Sligo Rovers, and insisted that his side were looking forward to facing UCD on Friday night.

Rogers told dundalkfc.com: “It was important to get the win (against Sligo Rovers) and to get the three points. We have a difficult game against UCD on Friday in the Cup but it’s a good opportunity for us to progress to the semi-finals. We’ll prepare well and hopefully we can get through.”

Referee: Tómas Connolly

MATCH STATS

Tomorrow night’s fixture will mark the 59^th meeting of the sides in all competitions.

The last time that UCD defeated Dundalk FC was in September 2012. The Students defeated the Lilywhites’ then under the temporary stewardship of Darius Kierans, 2-1 at Oriel Park. Current Dundalk striker, David McMillan scored twice for UCD that night.

Six current Dundalk players have represented UCD in the past (Andy Boyle, Darren Meenan, David McMillan, Robbie Benson, Ronan Finn and Ciaran Kilduff), while Students’ veteran Jason Byrne plied his trade in north County Louth for one season under Ian Foster

BETTING

UCD 12/1; Draw 9/2; Dundalk FC 1/5.

PREDICTION

UCD 0-3 Dundalk FC

UCD:

Injured: Brian Shortall (hamstring)

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

Dundalk FC:

Injured: Ciaran Kilduff (knee)

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None