FAI Preview: Cobh Ramblers -v- Derry City
- John O'Shea
- Sat, Jun 07 2014
COBH RAMBLERS
Cobh Ramblers host Derry City on Saturday night in the FAI Cup in St Colman’s Park.
In their last game, a battling performance from Cobh earned them a precious home point and put a halt to Longford’s promotion ambitions.
Martin Cambridge’s side will be underdogs going into the game, but they have nothing to lose and, also, will be hoping that the magic of the cup will be in the air on Saturday evening.
Cobh welcome back Ryan Goldsmith, who was with the Ireland U19 squad last week. Goldsmith played in all three of Ireland’s games against Iceland, Turkey and Serbia.
Ramblers also have Ron Stanton eligible to play after he signed back with the club during the week. The club are also in talks to bring in Waterford’s Stephen Kenny.
“Derry is a big draw for us and as the Premier Division club they will be expected to win, but we will give it a go again. What we need to do is try to ignore the opposition , focus on our own game and see where that takes us” said Cambridge, who looks set to be without Sean O’Mahony, Cian Murphy, Rob Lynch and Jonathan Creamer, all of whom are doing the Leaving Cert exams.
In team news, Cobh will be without the injured duo of Eoin Hastings and Andrew Bhandarkar.
DERRY CITY
Derry City come into this game after a heavy defeat to St Pats last weekend. Peter Hutton’s side will be hoping to bounce back from that result with progression in the FAI Cup.
People will think, looking at the league tables, that it will be an easy game for Derry, but cup football sometimes brings up a surprise result and Hutton is aware of the dangers which could face Derry if they underestimate the opposition in St Colman’s Park.
“Irrespective of what team we put out. It is a game we need to win full stop. We will have a strong team out. I know Cobh fairly well from my time with Finn Harps. It is their cup final as such. They are a young squad, but they have some good players like Martin Deady and Craig Burns.
"Essentially this is Cobh's cup final, it will be tough and it's just a matter of getting the job done."
Derry have good recent history in the FAI Ford Cup. They won the competition in 2006 and most recently in 2012.
Defender Cliff Byrne has recovered from injury and returns to the Candystripes squad for the trip to Co Cork, but David Elebert is still out with a calf strain. Cormac Burke went over on his ankle in training, so he will also be missing.
Referee: Padraigh Sutton
MATCH STATS
The last two times that Derry have won the FAI Cup, they started their campaign with a trip to Cork
April 1995 was the last time Cobh avoided defeat by a Derry side, drawing 1-1 at St Colman’s Park in the league.
The last time the sides met was in 2008, on the final day of the Premier Division season. Derry won that game 4-2.
BETTING
Cobh Ramblers 14/1; Draw 11/2; Derry City 1/6.
PREDICTION
Cobh Ramblers 1-2 Derry City
Cobh Ramblers
Injured: Andrew Bhandarkar, Eoin Hastings.
Doubtful: Jonathan Creamer, Sean O’Mahony, Cian Murphy, Rob Lynch.
Suspended: None.
Derry City
Injured: David Elebert, Cormac Burke.
Doubtful: Mark Tomlin.
Suspended: None.
About John O'Shea
John is a Cork based reporter, mainly covering Cork City and Cobh Ramblers. John also reports regularly on Munster Senior League and Cork Youths League football for the Evening Echo. John has also freelanced for …