Brandywell Stadium, 7.45pm. Ref: D McKeon.
The sides have already faced each other three times and the Foylesiders are unbeaten having recorded a draw and a win in the league and a win in the FAI Ford Cup.
April 20, 2007 was the last time UCD beat Derry thanks to a Timmy Purcell goal eight minutes from time at the Brandywell.
Since then there have been 14 league and cup games between the two sides with Derry City having won ten and drawn four.
Last week’s 7-1 win over Mervue United was Derry’s second highest win in the Brandywell, the highest also coming against a Galway side when they beat Galway United 9-1 in 1990.
Mark Farren’s hat-trick against Mervue saw him break Liam Coyle’s all-time Derry City scoring record and set a new mark of 113.
It’s two weeks since UCD have played a competitive game, the last being the vital 2-1 win over Dundalk.
Team News
Derry will go into this game without the services of both Simon Madden and Ryan McBride who are suspended. They are also without Rory Patterson but welcome back Owen Morrison, Ruaidhri Higgins, Stewart Greacen and Conor Murphy.
UCD strikers Cillian Morrison (ankle) and Graham Rusk (shin) and midfielder Chris Mulhall (groin) hope to return to action soon while goalkeeper John Kelly may need surgery on his groin injury and is unlikely to play any further part this season. Centre back David O’Connor (hamstring) returns while defender/midfielder Mark Langtry is also back in the squad after a couple of months abroad on work placement.
Quotes
Declan Devine (Derry City manager): “Over the last number of season we have had very tight games with UCD and I expect this to be no different. They have been in good form of late and that form has seen them open a gap on Dundalk at the bottom. Martin, as always, will have them playing the game at a very high standard and with flair not often seen in this league but I feel that we have the confidence now to finish out the season on a high”.
Martin Russell (UCD manager): “We are looking to continue our run of recent victories but we know Derry will be full of confidence after their superb win v Mervue in the cup last week and that will keep their season very much alive. The Brandywell is a formidable place to go but also a place where the fans appreciate good football and hopefully we can come away with the three points on the night.”
