Cherry Orchard -v- UCD

• Seamus Egan
• Thu, Jun 02 2011


UCD will be hoping to put their poor league form to the back of their minds when they take on Leinster Senior League side Cherry Orchard  in the 3rd round of the FAI Cup at the Belfield Bowl on Friday night. (Kick off 7.45 pm)

The Students have had a lean time of it in recent weeks, losing five of their last six Premier Division matches, their only win during this sequence coming against struggling Galway United.

This will be the Premier Division side’s sixth Cup game of the current season. They overcame Longford Town and Drogheda United in the early rounds of the EA Sports Cup, winning 3-2 on both occasions and will face Derry City at home in the quarter-finals. They exited the Leinster Senior Cup at the first time of asking, going down 2-1 at Athlone Town and the Setanta Cup saw a 2-0 aggregate defeat to Lisburn Distillery, also in the first round.

UCD manager Martin Russell will not be taking the challenge of Cherry Orchard lightly. "This is the FAI Cup and it is a massive opportunity for us to progress on in the competition. We have watched Cherry Orchard three times and although, for once, we may be considered the favourites we are going to show them the respect that they deserve for reaching this stage. We will be focussing on producing a good display and will hope that will be enough to see us into the next round."

The Students will once again be without influential midfielder Robbie Creevy who has an ankle injury, while top scorer Graham Rusk is doubtful after picking up a knock in the 3-1 defeat to St. Patricks Athletic on Monday night.

While it will be UCD's first appearance in this season's competition, Cherry Orchard had to overcome Cobh Ramblers away from home in the previous round on April 16th. Ian McNeill and Adam Crowther were on target for the Ballyfermot club during their 2-1 win on that occasion. Orchard, who became an Intermediate club in 1992 after previously winning the FAI Juinor Cup on six occasions, were recently crowned as League Champions again this year.

Orchard were the first team to come out of the hat for this game but agreed to switch the game to Belfield because of the better facilities available.

Cherry Orchard:
Injured: Unavailable.
Doubtful: Unavailable.
Suspended: Unavailable.

UCD:
Injured: Robbie Creevy (ankle).
Doubtful: Graham Rusk.
Suspended: None.

Referee: Damien Hancock.
Paddy Power Odds: Cherry Orchard 15/2;  Draw 7/2; UCD 2/7.
Extratime prediction: Cherry Orchard 1-2 UCD.