Monday's EA Sports Cup Previews
Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
We leave league action for two nights as the EA Sports Cup takes over again. We preview the four games down for decision this Monday evening. All games kick off at 7.45pm and all games must be decided on the night with extra time and penalties if needed.
UCD v Shamrock Rovers
An all Premier Division tie takes places at the UCD bowl as Shamrock Rovers make the trip to face UCD. UCD put six goals past a helpless Bray Wanderers side on Friday while Shamrock Rovers beat Galway United 2-0 in Tallaght Stadium.
Shamrock Rovers will be without Aidan Price again, who suffered an ankle injury before last Friday night’s 2-0 defeat of Galway United, while Pat Sullivan (knee) and Chris Turner (ankle) remain sidelined. James Chambers returns after suspension.
“This is a competition we want to win. So I will be putting out the strongest team possible. We will be utilizing the squad, but it will still be a strong first team side”, Shamrock Rovers Manager Michael O’Neill said.
Extratime Prediction: Rovers to win 2-1 after extratime.
Dundalk v Sporting Fingal
By Emmet Maloney
Dundalk host Sporting Fingal in this EA Sports Cup 2nd round game. Both teams are making their bow in this competition this season after receiving 1st round byes due to being involved in European competition.
Tom Miller who has been carrying a back problem for the last few weeks was withdrawn early against Pats, but the timely arrival of Alan Cawley back to the first team fold may make up for his potential loss. “I’m going to put my strongest team out, I’d love to win something here”, Ian Foster, Dundalk manager told Extratime.
Defender Kenny Browne returns having missed the two most recent Airtricity League games through suspension. Shane Barrett is pushing for inclusion after shaking off the thigh strain which had ruled him out for the past month, while Shaun Maher (knee), Stephen Paisley (chest) and Brian Gannon (hamstring) are unavailable.
Ronan Finn with a slight knee strain and Eamon Zayed with a calf ailment are both rated doubtful but could be involved.
Extratime Prediction: 2-1 to the Lilywhites, home advantage will see Dundalk finish stronger and prevail.
St. Patrick’s Athletic v Bray Wanderers
Both sides come into this game on the back of very different results. St. Pat’s snatched a 1-0 win against Dundalk despite being down to ten men for most of the match. Bray Wanderers on the other hand were humiliated by UCD, losing 6-0.
Saints captain Damian Lynch will miss the game having limped off with a hamstring injury against Dundalk. There may be possible call ups to the team for Dan Connor, Alex Williams and Noel Haverty.
One win in twelve league games with 28 goals conceded tells the story of Bray’s season so far. Whether this game is a welcome distraction for Eddie Gormley’s side is anybody’s guess, but they will look to quickly forget Friday’s humiliating defeat.
Extratime Prediction: St. Pat’s to win 2-1
Derry City v Finn Harps
By Aidan O’Donnell
FINN Harps make their second trip to the Brandywell in a week when they play Derry City tonight for a place in the third round of the EA Sports League Cup.
Derry City started the season in great form, losing just once of their 11 league games, scoring 26 goals already. The Ballybofey club head across the border having completed the first series of games last Friday night when they suffered one of the worst defeats in recent years.
Harps have won just three games this season and lost out 3-2 to a previously winless Mervue United, a result that manager James Gallagher described as “a shocking result”. “There is no other way of looking at it, that’s their first victory of the season and they’ve got it here at Finn Park, and it’s absolutely shocking”, he said.
With Derry top of the table and Harps struggling at the bottom both managers will probably feel a need to concentrate more on their league campaigns, but may see this as a competition to progress through.
Extratime Prediction: 2-1 to Derry City.
UCD v Shamrock Rovers
An all Premier Division tie takes places at the UCD bowl as Shamrock Rovers make the trip to face UCD. UCD put six goals past a helpless Bray Wanderers side on Friday while Shamrock Rovers beat Galway United 2-0 in Tallaght Stadium.
Shamrock Rovers will be without Aidan Price again, who suffered an ankle injury before last Friday night’s 2-0 defeat of Galway United, while Pat Sullivan (knee) and Chris Turner (ankle) remain sidelined. James Chambers returns after suspension.
“This is a competition we want to win. So I will be putting out the strongest team possible. We will be utilizing the squad, but it will still be a strong first team side”, Shamrock Rovers Manager Michael O’Neill said.
Extratime Prediction: Rovers to win 2-1 after extratime.
Dundalk v Sporting Fingal
By Emmet Maloney
Dundalk host Sporting Fingal in this EA Sports Cup 2nd round game. Both teams are making their bow in this competition this season after receiving 1st round byes due to being involved in European competition.
Tom Miller who has been carrying a back problem for the last few weeks was withdrawn early against Pats, but the timely arrival of Alan Cawley back to the first team fold may make up for his potential loss. “I’m going to put my strongest team out, I’d love to win something here”, Ian Foster, Dundalk manager told Extratime.
Defender Kenny Browne returns having missed the two most recent Airtricity League games through suspension. Shane Barrett is pushing for inclusion after shaking off the thigh strain which had ruled him out for the past month, while Shaun Maher (knee), Stephen Paisley (chest) and Brian Gannon (hamstring) are unavailable.
Ronan Finn with a slight knee strain and Eamon Zayed with a calf ailment are both rated doubtful but could be involved.
Extratime Prediction: 2-1 to the Lilywhites, home advantage will see Dundalk finish stronger and prevail.
St. Patrick’s Athletic v Bray Wanderers
Both sides come into this game on the back of very different results. St. Pat’s snatched a 1-0 win against Dundalk despite being down to ten men for most of the match. Bray Wanderers on the other hand were humiliated by UCD, losing 6-0.
Saints captain Damian Lynch will miss the game having limped off with a hamstring injury against Dundalk. There may be possible call ups to the team for Dan Connor, Alex Williams and Noel Haverty.
One win in twelve league games with 28 goals conceded tells the story of Bray’s season so far. Whether this game is a welcome distraction for Eddie Gormley’s side is anybody’s guess, but they will look to quickly forget Friday’s humiliating defeat.
Extratime Prediction: St. Pat’s to win 2-1
Derry City v Finn Harps
By Aidan O’Donnell
FINN Harps make their second trip to the Brandywell in a week when they play Derry City tonight for a place in the third round of the EA Sports League Cup.
Derry City started the season in great form, losing just once of their 11 league games, scoring 26 goals already. The Ballybofey club head across the border having completed the first series of games last Friday night when they suffered one of the worst defeats in recent years.
Harps have won just three games this season and lost out 3-2 to a previously winless Mervue United, a result that manager James Gallagher described as “a shocking result”. “There is no other way of looking at it, that’s their first victory of the season and they’ve got it here at Finn Park, and it’s absolutely shocking”, he said.
With Derry top of the table and Harps struggling at the bottom both managers will probably feel a need to concentrate more on their league campaigns, but may see this as a competition to progress through.
Extratime Prediction: 2-1 to Derry City.
