League Preview: Derry City -v- UCD

DERRY CITY

Derry City affirmed their preseason label as one of the league title contenders when they clinched their ninth game of the season last Monday night, placing them hot on the heels of the new leaders, Shamrock Rovers.

The 3-0 home win over Dundalk propelled The Foylesiders into second place, a mere two points behind Rovers, who handed them their only defeat in their last five matches.

Both teams have won an equal number of games, nine out of the sixteen played. However, Rovers only have one defeat on their record and rightly sit at the top spot, while Derry has suffered three losses this season.

Ruadhri Higgins' side has endured a rough time with injuries to key players, but many of them are now returning to action. For instance, Cameron Dummigan made a substitute appearance in last Friday night’s game against Bohemians.

Mark Connolly and Patrick McEleney are nearing match fitness, with only the unfortunate Colm Whelan and long-term injury victim Ciaron Harkin unavailable for selection.

Speaking to the Derry City media team ahead of the visit of UCD, Ruadhri Higgins said, "We haven’t won three games in a week since April 2022, so that will be the driving factor for Friday night.”

"Everyone in the country expects us to win, but it doesn’t work like that. UCD have taken points off Bohemians and Dundalk this season. We can’t turn our nose up at anyone at all, and if we want to finish the week off properly, it’s really important that we prepare correctly and come into the game fully focused.

"Games in this league will cost you if you don’t do that. I remember in 2006 we lost the treble on goal difference, having drawn at home with UCD and lost to Waterford. We will always respect our opponents, and I expect nothing less than a professional performance from us on Friday night.”

UCD

UCD's difficult season continues to be challenging this weekend when they make the long trip north to face the second-placed Derry City.

Having faced the two sides with the longest unbeaten runs in the league in their last two outings, Shelbourne (lost 1-0) and Shamrock Rovers (lost 3-0), they now have the unenviable task of taking on a high-flying Derry City at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium on Friday night.

With only a single victory and three draws this season, they will face a steep uphill battle to leave Derry with anything this weekend.

While they can still be formidable opponents, as they demonstrated in the Shelbourne game, with a goal difference of -24 and only six points on the board going into this game, the odds are significantly stacked against Andy Myler’s young side in the North East.

The 2023 Collingwood Cup winners only have Cork City as companions in the basement section of the league. The Leesiders are a mere three points ahead of them, while Drogheda United, third-last in the table and on 14 points, are their next opponents on Friday, May 26th.

Referee: Eoghan O’ Shea

MATCH STATS

The previous clash between these two sides this season at UCD resulted in a 4-0 win for Ruadhri Higgins’s side. The goals came from Jordan McEneff (2), Ollie O’ Neill, and an own goal from long-serving UCD defender Evan Osam.

The Foylesiders tend to rack up large scores against the Students, netting 15 times in the last four games, averaging nearly four goals per game.

The most significant margin of victory in recent times was a 7-1 thrashing delivered back in April 2022. All of Derry’s scorers on that occasion are still on their books: Jamie McGonigle scored a hat trick, with other goals coming from Will Patching, Cameron McJannett, Cameron Dummigan, and Ronan Boyce.

BETTING

Derry City 1/12 Draw 13/2 UCD 22/1

PREDICTION

Derry City 4 - UCD 0

Derry City

Injured: Ciaron Harkin, Colm Whelan

Doubtful: Mark Connolly, Patrick McEleney, Shane McEleney

Suspended: None

UCD

Injured: Sam Todd, Mark Dignam

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None