EA Sports Cup Preview: Dundalk -v- UCD

Dundalk will have the opportunity to bounce back from their 3-1 league defeat to Bray Wanderers as they welcome UCD to Oriel Park on Monday afternoon for their EA Sports Cup clash.

DUNDALK

Dundalk were knocked out of the EA Sports Cup in 2016 at this stage of the competition by St. Patrick’s Athletic thanks to a late extra-time goal and Stephen Kenny’s men will be looking to avoid a similarly early cup exit on Monday.

The Louth side come into the game on the back of a league defeat to Bray Wanderers which leaves them trailing Cork City by nine points after nine games played.  

Dundalk remain without the services of long term injured Sean Gannon (knee), Robbie Benson and Shane Grimes (both hamstring). Patrick McEleney made his return to the side on Friday night while Paddy Barrett was fit enough to make the bench also.

Captain Stephen O’Donnell played the second half making a scoring return to Oriel Park so he is nearing full fitness. Manager Stephen Kenny is likely to shuffle his pack and make changes from Friday night. 

UCD

UCD fell at the first hurdle in the EA Sports Cup in 2016 after a 2-0 loss to Bray Wanderers in the First Round.

Collie O’Neill charges come into this cup clash on the back of a 2-2 draw against Cabinteely last Friday. Four wins, two draws and two losses this season see the Students sitting second in the First Division table, three points off leaders Waterford.

UCD have twice reached the final of the League Cup (2000/01, 2005) but have lost on both occasions. (to St. Pats and Derry City respectively)

No team news was available for UCD at the time of writing.  

Referee: Robert Harvey

MATCH STATS

Dundalk and UCD faced each other once in 2016; a FAI Cup Quarter-Final. A Ciaran Kilduff header for Dundalk separated the sides on that occasion.

Dundalk have won 30 of the 59 encounters with UCD with the Students winning 17. The other 12 ended in a draw.

The last two times the sides met in the League Cup, in 1989 and 2007, the games ended in a 3-2 scoreline. 

BETTING

Dundalk 1/6; Draw 11/2; UCD 14/1

PREDICTION

A little bit of history repeating - Dundalk 3 – 2 UCD

Dundalk

Injured: Sean Gannon (knee), Robbie Benson (hamstring), Shane Grimes (hamstring)

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

UCD

Injured: Unavailable

Doubtful: Unavailable

Suspended: Unavailable