Derry City will begin the defence of
their FAI Cup when they travel to Cork to take on Munster Senior League winners
Blarney; in fact the sides last met seven years ago at this stage of the
competition when Derry ran out 3-1 winners on their way to their fourth FAI Cup
triumph in 2006.
It is very much a different Derry side
that will make the journey this time around with Barry Molloy, Kevin Deery and
Ruaidhri Higgins the only three left from that trip, whilst Declan Devine and
Paul Hegarty were part of Stephen Kenny’s back-room team.
Declan Devine is taking the defence of
the FAI Cup very seriously and has shown the Munster Senior League side the
utmost respect by taking all of his first team squad with him to Cork; however
there is a few injury doubts in the form of Sean Houston (ankle) and Thomas
Crawley (groin) are definitely out, whilst Barry Molloy (dead leg) and Dermot
McCaffrey (groin) aren’t expected to be risked.
Devine may hand starts to Paddy Kavanagh
who is returning from injury, Kevin Deery and Stewart Greacen who have lacked
game time since returning from injury and Michael Duffy who has impressed very
much this season.
Declan Devine had this to say ahead of
his side’s trip to Blarney:
“I will be taking the full
first team squad to Cork, as we intend to use it as another form of bonding
session”, confirmed the Derry boss; “I will start with the strongest team
available to me and I’m hopeful of giving run-outs to players who need game”.
Devine added that he will
be preparing for the Blarney game with the same intensity and focus as he would
if it were a Premier Division fixture; whilst continuing to say that midfielder
Barry McNamee would be joining up with the side on Saturday morning when he
returns from u21 international duty with Republic of Ireland in Denmark.
This is undoubtedly
Blarney United’s biggest game of the season and will be hoping to cause a huge
upset against the cup holders, David Monyihan will have a few words to his
players before the game but with a place in the next round at stake will be
enough motivation for the Munster Senior League side.
They will be hoping to put
in the same dogged display that reduced Derry to a two goal advantage at this
stage seven years ago and give a good account of themselves and maybe even
sneak a draw that would see a potential pay day at the Brandywell; but the Co.
Cork side know that it will take an extremely unbelievable performance for
either to happy and probably will need Derry to an off day.
Blarney Team News to
follow.
Preview by: JP Fahy @jp_fahy
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