FAI Cup Preview: Dundalk FC -v- Derry City

DUNDALK FC

The Lilywhites will aim to keep their bid for an 11th FAI Cup triumph on track when they face Derry City in Sunday’s semi-final at Oriel Park (kick off 1.45pm).

Dundalk have only beaten the Candystripes in the FAI Cup once though and that victory came in the 1988 final at Dalymount Park. John Cleary’s controversial 19^th minute penalty was all that separated the teams that day as the Lilywhites secured which was their eighth FAI Cup win.

Stephen Kenny will draw comfort from Dundalk’s excellent recent record against his former side though. The County Louth team have not lost to Derry since Kenny took charge at Oriel Park – winning eight of the last 10 meetings.

Indeed, one of those wins came as recently as last week when the Lilywhites eased to a 3-1 win despite Lukas Schubert giving the visitors a sixth minute lead. Goals from John Mountney, Brian Gartland and a peach from David McMillan proved decisive in the end.

However it was Daryl Horgan’s name that emanated from the mouths of all present on the Carrick Road.

The winger was in scintillating form, terrorising the Derry rear-guard for the entire 90 minutes. Candystripes manager Kenny Shiels even claimed that the Galweigan should be involved in the Irish international set-up as a result of his display.

On Thursday night, Dundalk became the first Irish side to claim a win in a European group phase match following their deserved 1-0 victory over Maccabi Tel-Aviv in Tallaght Stadium. Ciaran Kilduff seems to have the midas touch in

Europe at the minute, but undoubtedly it is his forward colleague David McMillan who has goal the scoring knack against the Candystripes.

McMillan has scored six goals in his last four appearances against Derry including a hat-trick in Dundalk’s 5-0 annihilation of the locals at the Brandywell in July.

Dundalk played an incredible nine games in September and they will open up their equally congested October catalogue injury free. Stephen Kenny immediately turned his attentions towards Sunday’s game in the aftermath of Thursday night’s victory.

The Dubliner told reporters: “My main concern now is Sunday. It’s an opportunity to get into an FAI Cup final so it’s a big game for us. We have to move on quite quickly, that’s the nature of it at the minute. I think we came through tonight relatively unscathed.”

DERRY CITY

It wouldn’t quite be fair to say that Derry’s season hinges on their visit to Oriel Park for Sunday’s FAI Cup semi-final with Dundalk as the Candystripes remain well in contention for third-place in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division.

However victory on Sunday would provide a landmark day out in Dublin in next month’s FAI Cup Final at the Aviva Stadium.

Derry’s first campaign with Kenny Shiels at the helm has been very successful when you compare it to the Brandywell side’s previous regimes which saw them more accustomed to fighting for survival. A trophy would top off what has been an encouraging year for the Foyleside club.

The Candystripes have a strong affiliation with the FAI Cup having appeared in ten finals since entering the League of Ireland. The most recent of their five cup triumphs came in 2012 when they beat St. Patrick’s Athletic after extra-time.

This season’s top-scorer Rory Patterson registered twice that day including the winner in the 105^th minute of the match as Derry reigned supreme for the first time in six years. Their previous triumph also came against St. Pats in 2006 with current Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny at the helm.

The Candystripes come into the match indifferently though. Their form lately has been fairly sketchy with defeat to the Lilywhites followed by last Tuesday night’s 2-2 draw with Shamrock Rovers which handed the Tallaght side a slight advantage in the race for a top-three finish.

The Derrymen led 2-0 in the first-half, only for Shiels’ side to be pegged back by a resurgent Rovers in the second period with Stephen McPhail’s 83^th minute free-kick drawing the Dubliners level, despite Ronan Curtis’ early brace for the home side.

Ahead of his side’s trip to Dundalk, Kenny Shiels spoke with Drive105mnl and remains positive about his side’s chances of making November’s Aviva showpiece

“It’s the semi-final of the FAI Cup and we all know the rewards for the victorious team and we want that to be us. We’re determined to make that is and I think that the boys deserve to get to a final.”

Referee: Graham Kelly

MATCH FACTS

Dundalk FC and Derry City will meet in an FAI Cup semi-final for the first time on Sunday, with their last meeting in the competition coming in 1999.

It is 23 years since Dundalk and Derry drew at Oriel Park. Their tie in September 1992 remains the only time that the score has finished level between the sides in the history of their meetings.

Dundalk have scored in each of their last 14 games versus Derry City, while Barry McNamee has a goal and an assist for the Candystripes at Oriel Park this season already.

MATCH BETTING

Dundalk FC 1/2; Draw 3/1; Derry City 9/2.

PREDICTION

Dundalk FC 2-0 Derry City

Dundalk FC

Injured: None

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

Derry City

Injured: Ryan McBride, Max Karner

Doubtful: Niclas Vemmelund, Dean Jarvis

Suspended: None