EA Sports Cup Tuesday Previews

Simon O'Gorman previews the five EA Sports Cup 1st Round matches taking place on Tuesday night.

UCD v Athlone Town
The only game in Dublin will be at The Belfield Bowl where UCD revisit their First Division past and host Athlone Town. The Students come into the game on the back of a 3-0 defeat at Dundalk over the weekend but a promising start to Premier Division life will ensure they are confident of progressing against the Midlanders who themselves had a morale boosting draw at home to Shelbourne on Saturday night. Athlone will no doubt try to forget the fact that it was UCD who knocked them out of this competition last year and concentrate instead on the positives; they have only conceded two league goals so far this season and have lost only once, a narrow 1-0 defeat away to Derry City.

Limerick FC v Cobh Ramblers
Limerick FC take on ‘A’ Championship side Cobh Ramblers at Jackman Park and will be keen to get back to winning ways having lost their last two league games. Cobh, meanwhile, have struggled recently in the wake of financial difficulties and played through last season with a very young and inexperienced side. Their only competitive outing so far this season was a disappointing 4-1 defeat at the hands of Dublin Bus in the 1st round of the FAI Cup.

Derry City v Galway United
Derry City face Premier Division opponents Galway United at the Brandywell and will relish the opportunity to put one over on a top tier team. Derry have made a habit of winning this trophy, going unbeaten for four years from 2005 until they were finally beaten in the second round of last year’s competition... by Galway United.

Derry’s form this season is steadily improving and the Candystripes have bagged seven goals in their last two league games. Likewise, Galway are starting to get things together after a poor pre-season and indifferent results in the early stages of their league campaign. A 2-2 draw at home to Sporting Fingal and, more importantly, a much improved level of performance, may give them the boost they need ahead of Tuesday’s Cup game. Galway look likely to be without Thomas Heary (knee) and Derek O'Brien (pulled stomach muscle) for the match.

Castlebar Celtic v Finn Harps
Castlebar Celtic are in flying form so far this year, beating Salthill Devon in the Preliminary Round to earn a pop at Finn Harps in the 1st round proper. They also opened up their ‘A’ Championship Cup campaign last Saturday with a 7-2 thumping of Harp’s reserves and with Finn Harps’ first team putting in some inconsistent displays in the league there will be much optimism around Celtic Park for a Donegal double. Harps will again be with the injured Jonathan Minnock and Ciaran Gallagher for the game.

Monaghan United v Tullamore Town
Finally, Monaghan United are starting to tick over very nicely, mauling Salthill Devon 6-1 in their latest league outing and sitting 5th in the First Division having lost only once in their opening six games. Mons will be without the injured Shane Grimes and Darragh Hanaphy. They take on ‘A’ Championship side Tullamore Town at Gortakeegan. Tullamore beat FC Carlow in the Preliminary round and also progressed to the FAI Cup 2nd round when they beat Cherry Orchard after a replay. But expectations among the Offaly side may have been dampened somewhat following their 3-0 defeat to St Patrick’s Athletic reserves over the weekend.