UCD are heading into the tie on the back of a 2-1 loss to St Patrick’s Athletic last week, while the visitors were held to a 1-1 draw against Drogheda United last time around.
Follow Us
University College Dublin will play host to Derry City in an Ireland Premier Division fixture at UCD Bowl stadium on Friday night. UCD are heading into the tie on the back of a 2-1 loss to St Patrick’s Athletic last week, while the visitors were held to a 1-1 draw against Drogheda United last time around. Derry City sit at the third spot with 34 points from 20 games, while the hosts find themselves rooted to the foot of the division with just 9 points from 19 games.
TOMORROW NIGHT ? pic.twitter.com/sVhlu9ZPB2
— Derry City FC (@derrycityfc) June 23, 2022
At Richmond Park, last week UCD suffered their 12th defeat of the season courtesy of a brace by Eoin Doyle. Although Alex Nolan pulled one back for UCD, three minutes from time, it proved to be just a consolation goal. After securing promotion to Ireland Premier Division last year, UCD have had a tough first half of the season registering just one win in 19 games. The Students registered their only victory of the campaign in mid-May when they edged past Finn Harps away from home courtesy of Liam Kerrigan’s lone strike. After that, UCD suffered two consecutive defeats against Shamrock Rovers and Shelbourne before earning a point against Sligo Rovers.
Derry City, on the other hand, are also going through a tough patch, having not won a single match in their last seven league games. The Candystripes last tasted victory in April when they thrashed St Patrick’s Athletic 4-0 courtesy of goals from Matty Smith, Jamie McGonigle and Cameron Dummigan. Derry City head to Friday’s match on the back of two disappointing stalemates firstly sharing the points against relegation battlers Finn Harps before playing out a 1-1 draw against Drogheda United last time out. Matty Smith’s opener was canceled out by Dean Williams at Brandywell.
UCD striker Colm Whelan is sidelined with an injury. Meanwhile young midfielder Alex Nolan could start alongside Kerrigan and Keane, having come off the bench to find the back of the net against St Patrick’s Athletic. As for Derry City, striker Jamie McGonigle will lead the line. The 26-year-old has netted 10 goals in 19 league appearances so far. Will Patching, who has eight scalps to his name this season is likely to play behind the centre-forward in a free role.
University College Dublin probable starting lineup: Moore; Gallagher, Todd, Yoro, Osam; Dignam, Caffrey; Kerrigan, Keane, Nolan; Duffy.
Derry City probable starting lineup: Maher; Porter, S McEleney, McJannet, Coll; Dummigan, P Mceleney; Kavanagh, Patching, Smith; McGonigle.
The League of Ireland Premier Division encounter between UCD and Derry City will take place at UCD Bowl and it will kickoff at 12:15 am IST on June 25, Saturday.
The League of Ireland Premier Division matches are televised on LOITV.
