Leinster Senior Cup Preview: UCD -v- Crumlin United

UCD

UCD will be looking to secure their passage to the last eight of the Leinster Senior Cup when they welcome Leinster Senior League kingpins Crumlin United to the UCD Bowl on Tuesday evening (kick-off is at 7.45pm). 

The Students have endured a rotten run of recent results – with Maciej Tarnogrodzki’s side languishing at the foot of the Premier Division table.

However, speaking on Friday evening after the defeat to Sligo Rovers – Tarnogrodzki admits that he has not given up hope of reeling in Finn Harps just yet.

“You need to believe until the end. Anything can happen in football and we still have a chance going up to Donegal.”

The Polish native added; “The result was very bad. I think, on the balance of play, I don’t we got what we deserved in the end.

“We created enough and had enough of the ball to do something with it in the second half especially. We didn’t show enough quality finishing and cutting edge to get back into the game.

“Maybe if we scored with twenty minutes to go in the second half, we might have had a chance, but it didn’t happen.”

With no game scheduled on Friday evening with the FAI Cup semi-finals due to take place, UCD are expected to line out with a near full-strength squad – despite the likes of Evan Osam, Josh Collins, Gavin Sheridan and Sean McDonald expected to miss out.

CRUMLIN UNITED

Leinster Senior league kingpins Crumlin United will be looking to spring a surprise or two when they visit Premier Division UCD on Tuesday evening.

Crumlin were recently defeated two-nil at Richmond Park by Bohemians, but they can be buoyed with their performance against the Gypsies.

Manager Martin Loughran has a strong panel to choose from – with plenty of players at a level in which they could compete in the League of Ireland.

Captain Thomas Hyland has impressed in many of his showings against League of Ireland opposition – while the well-known Craig Walsh is also a threat that the Students must be wary of.

Liam and Gareth Brady, both brothers of Republic of Ireland international Robbie – are also more than capable of performing to a higher level.

Speaking to extratime.ie recently, Crumlin boss Loughran admits he feels his side can compete with sides in the First Division, but he also questioned if they could consistently manage to do so.

“It’s always questioned whether or not the top teams in the LSL can compete in the National League, and I feel we could compete but until you actually compete you can’t know for sure.

“We played Wexford Youths and Finn Harps before and beat them, but can we do it on a regular basis?

“We can go and beat one of the best teams in the Leinster Senior League then lose to a team in 1B.

“Obviously, the League of Ireland is a higher standard, there’s no point in denying that but we feel we could compete in the First Division, but you wouldn’t know until we compete in it on a regular basis.”

Referee: TBC.

MATCH STATS

Crumlin United reached the fourth round of the Leinster Senior Cup thanks to a five-nil win over fellow Leinster Senior League side Malahide United.

Gareth Brady scored twice, while the trio of Sam Burgess, Marc Keeley and Noel Cummins also got in on the act to make it a comfortable day at the office for Martin Loughran’s side.

The Students are winless at home in the Leinster Senior Cup since 2017 – when they defeated Drogheda United by two goals to nil.

Midfielder Cian Kavanagh and Republic of Ireland under-21 international Liam Scales both got on the scoresheet for Collie O’Neill’s side on that occasion.

BETTING

N/A.

PREDICTION

UCD 0 - 0 Crumlin United. 

UCD

Injured: Josh Collins, Evan Osam, Gavin Sheridan, Sean McDonald.

Doubtful: Unavailable.

Suspended: None.

Crumlin United

Injured: Unavailable.

Doubtful: Unavailable.

Suspended: None.