FAI Cup Preview: UCD -v- Galway United

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UCD

The Students can park their relegation troubles for this week at least and concentrate on the FAI Cup this Friday night when Galway United come to the UCD Bowl (kick-off 7.45pm).

The sides met at the same stage of the cup last season with UCD winning 3-2 in Galway thanks to a winner three minutes from time.

UCD haven’t won in the league since a 2-1 win over Sligo Rovers in June but come into this cup clash on the back of a 1-1 draw away to Cork City last week – the first time they avoided defeat in the league for five games.

Andy Myler’s men earned a place in the second round of the FAI Cup with a 3-2 home win over Cobh Ramblers last month.

Trailing 1-0 in the game, Jack Kearney scored a brace before half-time, with Daniel Norr scoring just after the hour mark. Dean Larkin’s goal for Cobh made it a nerevous end to the game.

GALWAY UNITED

Having dispatch non-league Bangor Celtic 4-1 with relative ease, United take the trip to Dublin on Friday to take on UCD in the second round.

It is expected that the two teams will swap divisions at the end of this season but John Caulfield spoke with caution about what faces his team this week in the cup.

"Andrew Myler has done a great job with UCD in the last couple of year,” said the United boss speaking to his club’s media team. 



“He has got them promotion to the Premier Division and has kept them there. 

“We are well aware of all their strengths - they have a lot of experience, led by their captain Jack Keaney. 

"We always know how difficult it is to go to UCD. They had a terrific win in the last round against Cobh and also a great result against Cork in the league last week. 

"We're in good form, we hope to play to our best, and we look forward to the game.”

Referee: Rob Harvey

MATCH STATS



UCD and Galway United have won the FAI Cup once each. On both occasions they have done so by beating Shamrock Rovers in the final – UCD in 1983 (2-1 in a replay) and United in 1991 (1-0 win).

United haven’t lost a game since May Day when they lost 1-0 away to Longford Town since then in the league they have won 11 matches and drawn four.

David Hurley is the top scorer for Galway United this season with 16 league goals and Stephen Walsh also is in double digits with ten goals.

PREDICTION

2 - 0 away win

About Macdara Ferris

Macdara Ferris is a contributor since 2007 to Hoops Scene (Shamrock Rovers' match day programme) and is the co-author of two books on Shamrock Rovers - 'Tallaght Time: Shamrock Rovers 2009 to 2012' (with Karl … View Full Profile