EA Sports Cup Preview: Waterford United -v- Cork City

• Josh Dolan
• Sun, Apr 05 2015




WATERFORD UNITED

Tommy Griffin and Waterford United face the tough task of welcoming John Caulfield and his Cork City side to The R.S.C. in The EA Sports Cup Second Round on Monday afternoon.

 

United qualified for the Second Round with a bye, so 3PM on Easter Monday will be the Blues first taste of the 2015 EA Sports Cup.

 

Griffin’s side go into Monday afternoon’s Second Round tie on the back of a 2-2 draw with Kevin Doherty’s Shelbourne side on Friday night.

 

“We were disappointed not to take the three points on Friday night against Shelbourne,” said Griffin.

 

“We scored two excellent goals so we’re disappointed that we couldn’t hold on to the lead.”

 

The United boss is expecting another tough tie on Monday night in the form of John Caulfield and Cork City.

 

“Cork City will offer us a different kind of challenge on Monday,” the Blues boss explained.

 

“Cork have started their own season well so we’ll be expecting a difficult game, but our guys are up for it,” he concluded.

 

Jack Doherty is a doubt for Monday’s tie, as he continues to recover from an injury he picked up away at Cabinteely two weeks ago.


 

CORK CITY

City come into this one with serious momentum, following an unbeaten start to their Premier Division campaign.

 

The Rebels sit second in the Premier Division, after four wins and just two draws.  The latest of those wins came in a 3-0 win at home to Peter Hutton’s Derry City on Friday night.

 

However, Caulfield is set to use this game to give playing time to those that haven’t been regular starters in his side’s opening six league games.

 

“It’s another big game for us,” Caulfield said ahead of his side’s trip to The R.S.C. on Monday afternoon.

 

“The RSC is a good venue and it is a real opportunity for the guys who have not played or have been coming off the bench, because they will all be playing.

 

“A lot of these lads are chomping at the bit to get a game, so I am really looking forward to it and hope we can give a good performance,” the City boss concluded.


 

Referee:Sean Grant


 

MATCH STATS

The last competitive meeting between the sides came at the last 16 stage of last season’s EA Sports Cup, when a brace from Garry Buckley helped City into the Quarter Final stage.

 

Cork City have been knocked out of The EA Sports Cup at the Quarter Final stage in the last two seasons.

 

Waterford’s last win over Cork City came at Turner’s Cross in a First Division tie back in June of 2011.


 

BETTING

Waterford United 6/1; Draw 7/2; Cork City 4/11.

 

PREDICTION

Waterford United 0-2 Cork City


 

Waterford United

Injured:None.

Doubtful: Jack Doherty.

Suspended:Shane Nolan.

 

Cork City

Injured:Colin Healy, John O’Flynn, Alan Bennett, Liam Miller.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended:None.