FAI Cup Preview: Cork City -v- Maynooth University Town

CORK CITY

Cork City continue their FAI Cup defense with the visit of Maynooth University Town to Turners Cross this evening.

The three in a row chasing side come into tonight’s tie on the back of a comprehensive 5-1 win against Home Farm in the last round of the cup. In a win which saw a brace from Ronan Couglan as well as goals from Josh O’Hanlon and Kieran Sadlier, City hope to take one step closer to the Aviva Stadium against Maynooth with another Leinster Senior League side tonight.

Speaking ahead of tonight’s game, City boss John Caulfield was excited at the return of cup action to Turners Cross.

“We are all looking forward to the game. We have been the cup winners for the last two years and it is an opportunity for us to get to the quarter finals.”

With the game under focus, Caulfield gave praise to Maynooth boss Barry Prendeville and his work at the college. Having matched wits with Prendeville in his own time at UCC, the City boss was quick to praise the work done from the visitors tonight.

“Barry Prendeville has done a fantastic job with them and they have progressed very quickly through the leagues over the last number of years, since merging together. Some of their players would have won Collingwood Cups, and they are also the reigning FAI Intermediate Cup holders, so we are well aware of their strengths.” Caulfield began, “They are a young, fit, energetic team and they are on the way up. They are strong all over the pitch, with the likes of Connor Dunne at the back, Darragh Reynor in the middle of the park and they have two very good players in Duffy and Foley up front. Playing us in Turner’s Cross will be something they are very much looking forward to.”

Despite this, Caulfield was firmly focused on getting his side into the quarter finals,

“We are the home side and there is an opportunity for us to get to the quarter finals, so I am expecting that we will have a strong team. We will make some changes, but the lads are working hard in training all week and I expect that the players who come in will do so with a point to prove. I expect a good game and a top performance from us.”

In team news City will be without long term absentee Colm Horgan while Steven Beattie has also been ruled out.

MAYNOOTH UNIVERSITY TOWN

Maynooth travel to Turners Cross tonight already having beaten Leeds 2-0 in the last round of the cup.

Having qualified for the cup by winning the 2017/18 FAI Intermediate Cup, Maynooth are no strangers to the M8 and Cork football. Having beaten Blarney and Rockmount on their way to last season’s success, Barry Prendeville’s side also overcame Everton of Cork to qualify for the FAI Cup proper.

Despite the overwhelming odds, Maynooth are not without their experience as former St. Patrick’s Athletic and Drogehda midfielder Jake Corrigan captains the side tonight.

Maynooth travel to Turners Cross on the back of a 2-0 win at the weekend over Home Farm in the Leinster Senior League, in what was their third game of the season and also their third win of the season

MATCH STATS

This is the first competitive meeting between the sides, but familiarities remain. Cork City’s own John Caulfield managed against Maynooth in his time at UCC, through the College University Football Leagues. Elsewhere, City duo Shane Daly Bütz and Sean McLaughlin have both played against Maynooth during a 0-0 draw in the 2016 Collingwood Cup.

Cork City have never lost to non league opposition in their cup history.

BETTING

Cork City 1/15; Draw 14/1; Maynooh University Town 60/1.

PREDICTION

Cork City 4-0 Maynooth University Town.

Cork City:

Injured: Colm Hogan, Steven Beattie.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

Maynooth Town University:

Injured: Unknown

Doubtful: Unknown

Suspended: None