UCD -v- Sporting Fingal

• Conor McKeogh
• Thu, Aug 19 2010


Sporting Fingal travel to the Belfield Bowl Friday when they take on UCD (kick-off 7.45) in the Airtricity League of Ireland Premier Division.

UCD manager Martin Russell has several players missing from his squad, notably Greg Bolger, Paul Corry, Stephen Roche, David McMillan and Sean Harding all absent. He does have Brian Shorthall to call upon again as he returned in the Student’s A game 8-0 victory over Galway last week. Along with former Manchester City winger Karl Moore, who made his debut last week against Sligo, Russell remains optimistic about his sides chances;

“Sporting will play entertaining football so it should be an entertaining match”

Sporting Fingal manager Liam Buckley believes that apart from Colin Hawkins, who is still out with broken ribs, the return of Shane McFaul, Eamon Zayed and in particular, Gary O’Neill last month after recovering from a groin strain is a massive plus at this stage of the season;

“[O’Neill’s comeback] has made a huge difference and it’s no coincidence that we haven’t lost since... With eleven games to go, we’re still battling to move up the table and, as we saw with last weekend’s results, no games are straightforward in this Division.”

Indeed, Sporting Fingal’s five game unbeaten run has given them breathing room from the chasing pack in fifth place, eight points clear of their nearest rivals, but having failed to beat the Students in their previous two meetings this season, it is not certain that the gap will widen tomorrow night.

Venue: Belfield Bowl
paddypower.com odds: UCD 15/8, Draw 11/5, Sporting Fingal: 8/15

UCD
Injured: Corry, Roche, McMillan, Harding
Suspended: Bolger
Doubtful: Shorthall

Sporting Fingal
Injured: Hawkins
Suspended: None
Doubtful: None

extratime.ie prediction: 2-3