FAI Cup Preview: Derry City -v- Shelbourne

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DERRY CITY 

Derry City host Shelbourne in a mouthwatering FAI Cup quarter-final tie on Saturday evening with a place in the last four on offer for the winners (kick-off is at 5.45pm).

The Candystripes trail Premier Division leaders Shelbourne in the race for the league title but can strike a psychological blow of sorts when they meet in the FAI Cup.

And they will be confident they can do just that - even if Shelbourne have proven to be a tough nut to crack this season.  

Boss Ruaidhri Higgins is wary of the threat Shels pose to his side.

"They are a really good side, they've developed well over the last few years and really added to their squad in the summer, which has given them a boost,” Higgins told BBC NI.

"It's a difficult task but our home form has been really good. We were very good on that day but they've developed as a team since then - we'll take any sort of victory on Saturday."

SHELBOURNE 

Shelbourne boss Damien Duff believes Derry City are better in almost every department than his side - but he does not care one jot.

The Reds visit Foyleside on Saturday evening looking to keep their hopes of winning the FAI Cup alive.



And they face Higgins’ men who are behind them in the league table.

But Shels may be without midfielder JJ Lunney for the game through injury.

“Derry City has a better manager, better staff, a better squad, better team, better stadium, and better budget,” Duff told his club’s media team. 

“You ask anyone at Derry, they would agree with me; it would be madness to write them off. But we’re not focused on that, what people say about them, what they say about us. 

“What can we do about it? We can continue to be the hardest-working team in the league. The most tight-knit group and we see where that can take us. We know Derry are certainly the favourites for both the league and the cup — that’s just a fact.”

Referee: Robert Harvey. 



 

PREDICTION 

Derry City 1-2 Shelbourne (AET)

 

Derry City

Injured: N/A.

Doubtful: N/A. 

Suspended: None. 

 

Shelbourne

Injured: None.

Doubtful: JJ Lunney.

Suspended: None.

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