EA Sports Cup Final Preview: Derry City -v- Dundalk

DERRY CITY

The Candystripes will be hoping to make home advantage count when they host Dundalk in the EA Sports Cup Final at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium this evening (kick-off is at 8pm).

Derry reached the final of the EA Sports Cup thanks to an extra-time victory over Waterford last month thanks to an inspired performance from David Parkhouse.

Speaking ahead of the game with his club’s media team, manager Declan Devine is relishing the test his side faces against the ‘best team in the country’.

“It feels great. When we came in, we wanted big nights at the Brandywell, we wanted big occasions for the supporters to come out in their numbers and you see the interest in this game. It’s incredible.

“It’s a testament to the players and the supporters. We’re under no illusions of how difficult it’s going to be. they’re on a 27 game unbeaten run and we’ve drawn with them two of those times. But it’s something that we should look forward to.

“The game will come and go in ninety or 120 minutes, but the result will stay in the history books forever. And that’s what we’ve got to embrace.

“It’s a defining game between who wins the cup and who doesn’t, but this is a great opportunity to make memories.

“We’re going to try our best to win this trophy. The best way to win this game is if the supporters stick with the players through both good times and bad.

“There’ll be a plot of people watching, and it is a great opportunity to show how big of a football we are.”

Greg Sloggett is rated as doubtful for the cup final while Darren Cole is ruled out with a knee injury. Conor Davis is cup-tied.  

DUNDALK

Looking to continue their imperious recent run of form, Dundalk can secure their first piece of silverware this season with a win over Derry City in the EA Sports Cup final.

The Lilywhites won on their last visit to the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium – with Georgie Kelly scoring late in extra-time to dump the hosts out of the FAI Cup.

Vinny Perth’s side have since gone on to see off Waterford in the Cup, to secure a last four spot away to Sligo Rovers at the end of the month.

“There’s a certain amount of confidence in the squad. It’s been difficult. We’re averaging a game every three days in recent times and that’s meant there’s a lot of fatigue and a lot of recovery.

“We’re not overly training. We’ve not had an opportunity to train this week with Derry’s patterns of play in mind and they would have had that, though I’m sure Derry would prefer to be in Waterford on Monday night for a FAI Cup quarter-final. But that’s the price of success and we embrace that. 

“The players have been a credit to themselves. They’ve driven this themselves – their recovery, their ability to turn up and be fresh every day and in every match. Full credit must go to them and I just hope they get the rewards come Saturday night, for what’s been a mammoth run of games.”

Perth added; “They are two teams that play a really good brand of football. Both teams will go and try and create goals. I don’t think it will be a defensive game from either team. It will be a proper game of football and a proper test.

“The way we’ve got to look at it is, if Derry score four, we’ve got to be thinking ‘how can we get five?’ and vice versa. That’s the type of mindset in both camps. Scoring goals and having a good brand of football. 

“Derry made it difficult for us this year. They’re a good side and we’ll expect a really tough game there on Saturday night. If we’re going to do this, we’re going to do it the hard way.”

Referee: Robert Hennessy.

MATCH STATS

Derry City’s last win over Dundalk came in March 2017, with a 3-1 win at Maginn Park – as Cork City eventually won the Premier Division after a slow start from the Lilywhites.

The Lilywhites were dumped out of the EA Sports Cup last season by First Division Cobh Ramblers in the semi-finals, where Chris Hull scored a fairy-tale winner for the Rams.

Vinny Perth’s side are unbeaten domestically since April, where they fell to a 2-1 defeat away to Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds.

BETTING

Derry City 10/3; Draw 12/5; Dundalk 4/6.

PREDICTION

Derry City 2 - 1 Dundalk

Derry City

Injured: Darren Cole.

Doubtful: Greg Sloggett.

Unavailable: Conor Davis (cup-tied).

Suspended: None.

Dundalk

Injured: None.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.