League Preview: Cabinteely -v- UCD

• Dave Donnelly
• Fri, Jul 31 2015




CABINTEELY

Cabinteely fell three points further adrift of sixth-place Cobh Ramblers with a narrow 2-1 loss against the Rams at St Colman's Park on Saturday.

 

Waterford's defeat at home to Shelbourne – a game they were winning until suffering two controversial second-half red cards – ensured the gap between the two sides at the bottom of the table remained two points, showing that the threat of a last-place finish is still very real for Eddie Gormley's young side.

 

Captain Rob Maloney departed the club during the week, heaping further pressure on Cabo's stretched resources as Gormley faces into a critical period without injured defenders Victor Ekanem and Jamie McGlynn, while Kevin Knight serves a one-match ban after his sending-off in Cobh.

 

UCD

UCD allayed any fears they were going to suffer a Europa League hangover – and in doing so boosted their title credentials considerably – with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over league leaders Finn Harps at the UCD Bowl last Sunday.

 

Those three points leave the Students in fourth-place, seven points behind Harps but, significantly, with games in hand over fellow promotion-chasers Shelbourne and Wexford Youths. They now boast a 13-game unbeaten streak in the league, dating back to a 1-0 defeat away to Youths in March.

 

“Our performances in Europe were brilliant and have helped us gain a lot of respect,” UCD manager Collie O'Neill said. “It is important now that we keep up those performances and look to use our experiences in Europe throughout the rest of the season.

 

“We have been on a very good run in the league over the last few months, however we have drawn too many games and will need to start turning those draws into wins if we are to have any chance of winning the league. We’ll be looking for three points from every game we play from now till the end of the season.”

 

O'Neill has a heavy list of absentees to nurse as Mick Leahy, Dylan Watts and Samir Belhout all miss out with injury, while there are doubts over rhyming couplet Jamie Doyle and Tomás Boyle. Another key player, Chris Mulhall, is also unavailable as he serves the second of a three-game ban.

 

Referee: Keith Kennedy (IFA).

 

MATCH STATS

Cabinteely and UCD have met three times so far this season, with the Students running out 2-0 and 6-1 winners respectively in the two league games to date, with European sensation Ryan Swan bagging four – including a four-minute hat-trick – in the latter tie at the UCD Bowl.

 

Cabinteely and UCD also met in the former's first ever senior cup outing, as Shane O'Neill's goal deep into injury time secured a famous EA Sports Cup victory for Cabo in Belfield.

 

BETTING

Cabinteely 11/2; Draw 13/5; UCD 1/2.

 

PREDICTION

Cabinteely 0-2 UCD.

 

Cabinteely

Injured: Jamie McGlynn (shoulder).

Doubtful: Daniel Campbell, Victor Ekanem, Shane O'Neill.

Suspended: Kevin Knight.

 

UCD

Injured: Samir Belhout (knee), Mick Leahy (hamstring), Dylan Watts (hamstring).

Doubtful: Tomás Boyle, Jamie Doyle.

Suspended: Chris Mulhall.