Out-of-form UCD next up for Cork City after FAI Cup exit

A second consecutive trip to Dublin awaits, with this one taking Barry Robson’s Cork City to the UCD Bowl as they face the Students in the First Division at 7.45pm this evening.

Last week’s outing was a disappointing one, despite the Leesiders managing to drag Shamrock Rovers to extra time in the FAI Cup. After Naj Razi’s goal to get Rovers in front at the start of the second half, Ruairi Keating hit back immediately after from the penalty spot, and City managed to keep themselves in the fight.

By full time parity remained, but once extra time began, there was no stopping last year’s league and double winners. City’s Cup aspirations were certainly hindered by the one issue that has persisted all throughout the year, their squad size.

Niall O’Keeffe, Harry Nevin and Matthew Murray were the only senior players Robson could call upon with the game finely balanced against the Premier Division champions. 

O’Keeffe was the only one of those three to be introduced before extra time.

In some aspects the defeat can be looked at as a blessing in disguise. After all, the last thing City need to deal with in their pursuit of automatic promotion would be additional fixtures. While they will be bitterly disappointed with the eventual 4-1 hammering, it is likely better for their league hopes to go out at this early stage.

The full focus will be on tonight’s game – win and they could potentially extend their lead at the top further – but UCD will be desperate to set this one right. Twice they’ve met this season and both times City have come away with all three points, the first when Cillian Murphy netted his first season goal in a 1-0 away win, before City hit three a couple of months ago at Turner’s Cross.

On a roll

That victory snapped a two-game losing streak and got the ball rolling for what would eventually become a nine-game win run in the First Division.

It was a stellar run of form, only ended in their last First Division contest after a 4-3 home defeat to Longford Town. Late goals from Cillian Murphy and Josh Fitzpatrick looked to have done enough to get City a 3-2 win, but a strike from Darragh Murtagh in the 86th minute and another from Stefan Ugbesia in added time ensured Longford left with all three points, a result which propelled them to fourth in the table.

UCD’s form has waned considerably in the last few months. They were far and away the second best in the Division prior to that second City defeat, but since then, they’ve only won three of their last eight games.

Their previous two have been defeats to promotion playoff rivals, first 2-1 to Longford Town, before a damning 6-0 defeat away to Bray.

Defensively they’ve been one of the better teams in the Division – they had only conceded 21 goals in 22 games prior to the Bray defeat – and so it’s absolutely pivotal they bounce back against the title favourites.

City still have a very comfortable lead of 14 points, but without any immediate relief to their injury struggles, damage limitation is essential. They have to protect that buffer to avoid being drawn back into the fight below. It’s fair to say the title is theirs to lose from here.

It's been a bruising few years for a club of Cork City's stature, last year's drop was their third of the decade so far. 

They cannot afford to lose momentum here. They’ll need the best from Keating, Murphy and Hans Mpongo here, with Seani Maguire still expected to be out.