League Preview: UCD -v- Bray Wanderers

• Andrew Dempsey
• Fri, May 31 2024




UCD

Promotion hopefuls UCD welcome Bray Wanderers to the UCD Bowl on Friday night in a bid to put some daylight between them and the Seagulls (kick-off is at 7.45pm).

The Students are sitting in second place and are five points clear of their N11 rivals with the same amount of games played.

And it will be the first time they have played the Wanderers since the opening night of the season when they claimed a 2-1 victory despite playing with ten-men for most of the game.

Since then, the Students have maintained their comfortable position in the top-five.

But they head into Friday’s encounter with a point to prove after drawing their last two games against Finn Harps (3-3) and Athlone Town (2-2).

However, they have been boosted with the return of Ronan Finn from injury in recent weeks. Harvey O’Brien remains out while Harry Curtis is suspended.

BRAY WANDERERS

Managerless Bray Wanderers travel up the N11 on Friday night looking to build on last weekend’s 2-1 win over Wexford.

The Seagulls are being led by the interim management team of Lorcan Fitzgerald and Paul Heffernan in the wake of former boss Ian Ryan’s departure.

And their side have enjoyed a long build up to Friday’s game after opting to play their under-20 side against St Patrick’s Athletic in the Leinster Senior Cup.

But they are still likely to be without a number of first-team players for their trip to Belfield.

Ben Feeney, Jimmy Corcoran, Peter Grogan and Kilian Cantwell remain out with injury, while doubts remain surrounding the fitness of goalkeeper Stephen McGuinness and defender Cole Omorehiomwan.

Referee: Alan Franklin.

 

MATCH STATS

UCD have won just once in their last five home league outings – with that victory coming against Longford Town at the start of May. The Students drew their last home tie against Finn Harps 3-3 after falling to a 2-1 loss against Cobh Ramblers prior to that at the Belfield Bowl.

Bray Wanderers have only picked up 10 points from eight games on the road this season – but that is the fourth-best record in the division this season. Only Wexford (15), UCD (20) and Cork City (22) have picked up more on their travels.

Despite not claiming a clean sheet in any of their last four games, only Cork City (11) and Athlone Town (9) have picked up more points than UCD’s eight points from their last five outings.

PREDICTION

UCD 2-1 Bray Wanderers

 

UCD

Injured: Harvey O’Brien.

Doubtful: N/A.

Suspended: Harry Curtis.

 

Bray Wanderers

Injured: Kilian Cantwell, Peter Grogan, Jimmy Corcoran, Ben Feeney.

Doubtful: Stephen McGuinness, Cole Omorehiomwan.

Suspended: None.

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