FAI Cup Preview: Drogheda United -v- Dundalk

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DROGHEDA UNITED 

Drogheda United host rivals Dundalk in the second round of the FAI Cup on Friday night (7.45pm). 

The Weavers Park clash will be the second time the Louth rivals have played each other in a week after the Lilywhites won the league meeting 4-2 last Friday. 

But Drogheda were able to add defender James Bolger to their ranks from Swedish side Bodens BK earlier this week. 

The former Galway United academy player spent four seasons playing for Northwestern University in America before transferring to Longwood University, where he started all 15 games for the NCAA Division 1 side.

The 23-year-old signed his first professional contract with Bodens BK in April, making thirteen appearances for the Swedish side. 

He now becomes the fifth player to join Kevin Doherty’s side in the window, following Douglas James-Taylor, Elicha Ahui, Shane Farrell and Luke Dennison.

But Jethren Barr, Aaron McNally, Gary Deegan and Zishim Bawa all look set to again miss out through injury, while Darragh Markey is a doubt. 

DUNDALK

Jon Daly is hoping that he can lead Dundalk to an FAI Cup this season after winning the competition last year with St Patrick’s Athletic.



But he knows his side have it all to do, starting with a Louth derby against Drogheda United.

“We’d like to go as far as we can,” Daly told Dundalk’s website. “I’m the current holder of the FAI Cup in terms of the manager and I would like to go and retain it. 

“Last week’s game will have no kind of impact or any sway on what happens on Friday night. It’s going to be a totally different game and it’ll bring its own problems.

“They’re going to outnumber us fans-wise so it’s going to be another intense atmosphere that we’re going to have to deal with and a lot of our new players will be experiencing that for the first time. 

“I’ve been to a couple of Louth Derby games in pre-season, the Jim Malone Cups and stuff like that and they’ve always been good atmospheres so I’m looking forward to it.”

New signing Aodh Dervin will be available for the Lilywhites, but Paul Doyle is out.



Referee: Damien MacGraith. 

 

PREDICTION

Drogheda United 2-1 Dundalk 

 

Drogheda United

Injured: Jethren Barr, Aaron McNally, Gary Deegan, Zishim Bawa. 

Doubtful:Darragh Markey. 

Suspended:None. 

 

Dundalk

Injured: Paul Doyle.

Doubtful:None. 

Suspended:None. 

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