Leinster Senior Cup Preview: UCD -v- Dundalk

UCD

UCD face the Lilywhites in cup competition for the second time this season with the carrot of a Leinster Senior Cup final date with Shelbourne to play for (kick-off 7.45pm).

The Dublin club come into this game off the back of a 1-1 draw at Longford Town on Saturday night.

David O’Sullivan gave the Midlanders a half-time lead from the penalty spot in City Calling Stadium, before Robert Manley equalised for third-placed UCD.

With Waterford winning the league and Cobh finishing second with two matches to play, the Students have are six points ahead of Longford with a superior goal difference, so they do not have much to play for in the league.

Boss Collie O'Neill will no doubt be disappointed that his men have not gave Waterford and Cobh a better challenge.

The Belfield club started the campaign strongly and looked likely to challenge those aforementioned two but they couldn’t find the consistency after the midway point.

They have only won once in their last five games in all competitions – that was a 1-0 win at home to Wexford on the first of this month.

Before that though, they had only won once in their last seven games and they were knocked out of the FAI Cup in the first round, losing away to Cabinteely back on August 11^th.

They’ve also accumulated a poor sum of ten points from a possible 27 on offer in the league.

Often ridiculed and scoffed at, the Leinster Senior Cup is still a trophy at the end of the day, no matter how significant, and one would think UCD will want to capture it after a disappointing season by all accounts.

DUNDALK

The Lilywhites come into this game off the back of winning the EA SPORTS cup final on Saturday evening, beating Shamrock Rovers 3-0 9 (report).

Boss Stephen Kenny is understandably frustrated at his charges' league campaign but now has the chance to end the underwhelming season with three cups (interview here).

Kenny told his club’s official website after the EA Sports Cup win that he expects more from his squad in the weeks ahead.

“We’ve two semi-finals coming up (in the LSC and the FAI cup) now so we’re not finished, we’re still hungry to do more.

“We have to look to improve and get better – that’s the ambition.”

For Jamie McGrath, it was his first winner’s medal as a Dundalk FC player and the midfielder told the club’s website what the win meant to himself and his team.

“Personally, that’s my third cup in a row now so it’s great but today is about a great performance from the lads,” stated McGrath.

“It wasn’t easy conditions out there but I think we adapted well and we fought hard for every ball. We matched Rovers in every department and our quality got us through in the end.”

As well as tonight’s semi-final, Dundalk are on a eight-match winning run and host the Hoops on the 1^st of October in the FAI cup semi-final, where the winner will play either Cork or Limerick in the November showpiece.

Shelbourne await the winners of tonight’s tie in this prestigious competitions' final.

Referee: TBC

MATCH STATS

Both sides have met each other already this season. In the EA Sports Cup second round, a 1-1 draw was played out between the pair at Oriel Park, with the home side prevailing on penalties.

Dundalk's Robbie Benson and David McMillan have represented UCD in the past.

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

BETTING

N/A

PREDICTION

UCD 1 – 2 Dundalk

UCD

Injured: Unknown.

Doubtful: Unknown.

Suspended: None.

Dundalk

Injured: Unavailable.

Doubtful: Unavailable.

Suspended: None.