Setanta Sports Cup Final Preview

DERRY CITY

Declan Devine will lead his team into Setanta Cup Final on the back of a disappointing home loss to St. Patrick's Athletic last Friday night.

The defeat means that the Candystripes have gone six league games without a victory and the manager is well aware that his team will have to greatly improve if they are to triumph in the all-Ireland competition at The Oval on Saturday.

The team will be buoyed by the return of Rory Patterson, Owen Morrison and Patrick McEleney but have also had the unfortunate news that skipper, Kevin Deery, must undergo surgery on his knee and could be out for up to three months.

Speaking to the club website the manager couldn’t mask the excitement he felt at the thought of Saturday’s game.

"It is the biggest day I have had so far as manager of Derry City Football Club and if I'm honest it's a day I'm really looking forward to. Not only as this is my first final but to have it take place at the Oval where I have some good memories while playing for Glentoran makes it all the more special. The location also means that we should see a good travelling support there which will give the lads a boost on the pitch.

He was also confident that his team were up for the challenge and if they performed to their best they would travel back up the M2 as champions.

 "Training last night (Thursday) was an absolute joy to be at with so many players back fit, at one stage I thought I was at the wrong training session, but that's what is to be expected in a cup final week. The lads have worked well with Paul (Hegarty) all week and they know that come Saturday afternoon the pressure is off, they need to enjoy the experience and if they play to the best of their ability they will be crowned Setanta Sports Cup Champions."

CRUSADERS

Crusaders will play their second cup final on consecutive Saturdays as they attempt to put last weekend’s defeat to Linfield in the Irish Cup behind them.

The north Belfast side are gaining the reputation as cup specialists after winning the Northern Irish League Cup as well as qualifying for the Irish Cup final in the last two years.

On both occasions they could not stop Linfield completing the double and although last weekend’s 4-1 score line flattered the champions Stephen Baxter could have been in no doubt that his team were second best on the day.

They finished only sixth in the Irish League and the manager has been resting his first team regulars in their final league games as they concentrated on cup success.

Crusaders goal scorer in last week’s final and the scorer of the extra-time penalty that ended Sligo Rovers participation in the semi-final, Colin Coates, is in no doubt that a win on Saturday would more than banish the hurt from the Irish Cup defeat.

Speaking to the News Letter he said: “I think winning the Setanta would be massive, I said at the weekend if I had to choose between the Irish Cup and the Setanta, I would go for the latter.

“It is an all-Ireland competition with all the best teams involved. I think it would be unbelievable to lift it. I have never won the Setanta either so it is something I would like to do with Crusaders.”

MATCH STATS

This is both teams first appearance in the Setanta Cup final. Derry City’s best previous position was a semi-final appearance in 2008 when they lost to Cork City. Crusaders reached last year’s quarter-final when they were defeated by Cliftonville.

The competition has been won five times by teams from the League of Ireland with Drogheda United (twice), Cork City, Bohemians and Shamrock Rovers being crowned champions. Linfield are the sole winners from north of the border with their victory in 2005.

Derry City have the two top goal scorers in this year’s competition with Rory Patterson on four goals and Stephen McLaughlin scoring three. David Rainey is Crusaders leading goal scorer in this year’s competition with two goals.

MATCH BETTING 

Crusaders 10/3; Draw 12/5; Derry City 5/6.

PREDICTION

Crusaders 1  Derry City 2

Derry City Injury News: Stewart Greacen (knee), Mark Farren (hamstring), Kevin Deery (knee).

Derry City Suspension News: None.

Crusaders Injury News: None.

Crusaders Suspension News: None.