Derry turn to another cup

HAVING BAGGED cup number one in Wexford over the weekend, Derry City turn their attention this evening to the FAI Cup with Cork…

HAVING BAGGED cup number one in Wexford over the weekend, Derry City turn their attention this evening to the FAI Cup with Cork City travelling to the Brandywell to battle it out for a place in a last four and a meeting with Galway United.

The hefty 6-1 win on Saturday night will add to the confidence of a Derry side playing well of late but, Derry defender Clive Delaney insists, it won't satisfy players who believe they are capable of a good deal more.

"It's something to build on," he says. "Now our focus is on Cork. We don't want to settle just for winning the League Cup. If we lose (tonight) we'd be gutted, you wouldn't be looking back saying you won the League Cup on Saturday. Realistically, we're not going to settle for it."

Derry manager Stephen Kenny has concerns for Steven Gray (hip) and particularly Niall McGinn, the young winger who shone brightly against Wexford before picking up a dead leg and having to come off during the second half.

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The visitors have Pat Sullivan and Joe Gamble back from suspension but Cillian Lordan is still out with a knee problem while Seán Kelly is struggling to overcome a hamstring injury.

Meanwhile, Drogheda United will close the gap on Derry City in the league to just one point if they can beat Cobh Ramblers this evening at United Park.

Cobh lost 4-0 in Sligo at the weekend, a massive blow after they had taken four points from their previous two games. Now, they must look to get something out of their third game of the campaign against a United side who have won the previous two by a combined total of seven goals to nil.

With six goals in his last six games, Eamon Zayed could again play a key role for the home side but Guy Bates, Declan O'Brien and Shane Barrett are all ruled out for the hosts while Ibrahima Iyane-Thiam returns from suspension.

Emmet Malone

Emmet Malone

Emmet Malone is Work Correspondent at The Irish Times