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Preview: Derry City v UCD

Friday 12th October 2007, 1:40 am

Killian Brennan, Derry City.

Photo by Tom Carey.

Derry City's season is virtually over although Tuesday night's League Cup win (the third time the club won the cup in three years) means the club now face an end of season play-off with the First Division champions for a place in the Setanta Sports Cup. Therefore manager John Robertson will have to keep his side sharp and motivated for the next couple of months.

Contracts too are to be played for with many expecting a clean-out at the Brandywell following a shocking season which has seen the side which finished twice in two consecutive seasons, languishing in the bottom half of the Premier Division table.

Derry do have a game in hand on sixth placed Sligo but still trail them by six points. UCD are just four points behind Derry as they look to finish off their attempts at clearing the drop zone.

The Students are seven points clear of Waterford United who currently occupy the relegation play-off place and look secure. An FAI Cup semi-final at the end of the month is sure to cause some distraction in the College camp in the coming weeks although competition for places may keep things lively.

UCD dumped Derry out of the FAI Cup in the quarter-finals at the Brandywell in late September. UCD lost a League Cup tie at the Brandywell but won a league game at the same venue in April thanks to a late Timmy Purcell goal.

Team news

Form

Previous meetings

21st September 2007 - FAI Cup

Derry City 0-1 UCD

28th August 2007 - League Cup

Derry City 3-0 UCD

25th May 2007 - eircom League of Ireland Premier Division

UCD 1-1 Derry City

20th April 2007 - eircom League of Ireland Premier Division

Derry City 0-1 UCD

1st October 2006 - FAI Cup

Derry City 2-0 UCD

3rd September 2006 - eircom League of Ireland Premier Division

Derry City 0-0 UCD

Prediction

Home win. Two distracted sides meet and it's hard to look past a home win.