FAI Cup Preview: Derry City -v- Cork City

• Josh Dolan
• Thu, Sep 10 2015




DERRY CITY

Derry Ctiy will be aiming to cause an upset and qualify for the FAI Cup semi-finals when Cork City travel to the Brandywell on Friday night.

 

The Candystripes have been involved in cup finals at the Aviva Stadium in recent times, beating St Patrick's Athletic in the final of the 2012 FAI Cup, before losing to the same opposition at the Landsdowne Road venue in 2014.

 

City boss Peter Hutton will be hoping that his players can continue their good form that has seen them get this far in this season's FAI Cup.  The Candystripes have recorded 3-0 victories against Edenderry Town and Drogheda United respectively to reach this stage of the competition.

 

City will be without midfielder Phillip Lowry through suspension; Stephen Dooley and Mark Timlin will face late fitness tests; while Ciaran O'Connor and Conor McCormack are cup-tied after featuring in earlier rounds for Dundalk and St Patrick's Athletic respectively. 

 

CORK CITY

Unlike the Candystripes, the Rebels haven't had the novelty of a couple of cup finals in most recent years.

 

However, following the Munster outfit's considerable improvement in the last couple of years, the Rebels have become one of the front runners in the race for the 2015 Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup.

 

"There are two major competitions: the league and the FAI Cup.  Our history shows we have won each of them in thirty years, which shows how difficult it is," Caulfield admitted.

 

Looking ahead to Friday's trip, Caulfield  acknowledged his side's recent form against Peter Hutton's side, but believes that his experienced side face a tough task against the Candystripes.

 

"We have a massive task away to Derry but, at the same time, our form away to Derry in the last season and a half has been very good.

 

“It’s a huge challenge to us but, we are confident that if we go up there and play well, that we can get the result.” 

 

The magic of the cup is something that has surrounded Ireland's longest running cup competition since its commencement in 1922, and in the build up to this week’s tie, Caulfield believes that he has sensed that magic through his players' efforts in training this week.

 

“We gave a very good performance in the last round, it is a huge game but we feel that if we play very well, we will go through and you could sense in training that the lads are hungry for the game. 

 

"It’s different to the league, there’s a glamour to the cup because it’s hyped up so much, so there’s a bit of a buzz about it. It’s a different feeling to the league because you know that, if you don’t perform on the night, you’re gone.

 

"In the cup, everyone is always dreaming and hoping that they will get to the Aviva and that is natural, but we don’t need to dream, we need to play well,” Caulfield exclaimed.

 

City go into the game buoyed by the return to fitness of Gavan Holohan.  However, John Dunleavy and John Kavanagh remain out through injuries, while there are doubt over the fitness of Colin Healy, Liam Miller and Alan Bennett, all of whom will be assessed closer to kick-off.

 

Caulfield will also have to cope without summer signings Stephen Folan and Steven Beattie, as both are cup-tied.

 

Referee: Paul McLaughlin

 

MATCH STATS

Cork have already won in the Brandywell this season. A Karl Sheppard strike followed by a late Billy Dennehy penalty helped the Rebels to three Premier Division points at the home of the Candystripes back in June.

 

Derry have been involved in two of the last three FAI Cup finals.

 

These sides met at the same stage of the FAI Cup back in 2008, when a 1-1 draw at Turners Cross forced a replay at the Brandywell, where Derry beat the Rebels 5-3 on penalties.

 

BETTING

Derry City 11/4; Draw 9/4; Cork City evens.

 

PREDICTION

Derry City 1-2 Cork City

 

Derry City

Injured: None.

Doubtful: Stephen Dooley, Mark Timlin.

Suspended: Phillip Lowry.

Cup-Tied: Ciaran O'Connor, Conor McCormack.

 

Cork City

Injured: John Dunleavy, John Kavanagh.

Doubtful: Colin Healy, Liam Miller, Alan Bennett.

Suspended: None.

Cup-tied: Stephen Folan, Steven Beattie.