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Youghal United -v- Bray Wanderers
- Simon O'Gorman
- Sun, Jun 05 2011
Bray Wanderers travel south to the east Cork town of Youghal on Sunday afternoon to face local side Youghal United in the third round of the FAI Ford Cup. (Kick off, 3pm)
Youghal made it to the third round having beaten ‘A’ Championship side Tralee Dynamos 2-1 in a replay at Ardrath Park in April. They have never reached this stage of the competition before but the town has something of a history in slaying giants, albeit of the celluloid variety with the hollywood blockbuster Moby Dick being filmed in the town in the 1950’s.
The town’s chances of sending harpooning Bray’s Cup hopes have been given something of a boost with news that the Seagulls will be missing five first team players for the clash. Darren Quigley remains out with a broken elbow while Gary Shaw and Stephen Brennan are still suffering from foot and thigh injuries respectively.
They have been joined in the sick bay by Jake Kelly who has picked up a hamstring injury and Dave Webster who has been ruled out with a knock to his ankle.
But if Youghal are to make it to Round four they will have to overcome a team that have resurrected themselves from regular relegation candidates to one that now have genuine hopes of qualifying for Europe. Bray currently sit fifth in the Airtricity Premier Division table, just three points shy of top spot.
Pat Devlin’s men have won three and drawn one of their last four league games and have the distinction of having overturned the current champions, Shamrock Rovers, twice in the league so far this season. They will also be welcoming top scorer Conor Murphy back from his spell with the international U/19 side.
Perhaps Youghal will take some solace from the fact that Bray have lost their two cup games so far this season, going down to Drogheda in the EA Sports cup and to St Patrick’s Athletic in the Leinster Senior cup. Or maybe it will prove third time lucky for the visitors.
Youghal United
Injured: Unavailable.
Doubtful: Unavailable.
Suspended: Unavailable.
Bray Wanderers
Injured: Gary Shaw, Stephen Brennan, Darren Quigley, Jake Kelly, Dave Webster.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.
Referee: Graham Kelly.
Paddy Power Odds: Youghal 11/1; Draw 9/2; Bray 1/5.
Extratime prediction: A 2-2 draw.
About Simon O'Gorman
Simon O'Gorman began reporting for Extratime in 2010. He remembers Milltown and Flower Lodge and, back in the mists of time, saw Diego Maradona play at Lansdowne Road. He now lives in Co Kildare and …