Soccer

Derry City's Kenny Shiels looking for cup upset agaisnt high-flying Dundalk

 Derry City suffered a disappointing 3-1 loss to Stephen Kenny’s side last week
 Derry City suffered a disappointing 3-1 loss to Stephen Kenny’s side last week  Derry City suffered a disappointing 3-1 loss to Stephen Kenny’s side last week

FAI Cup semi-final: Derry v Dundalk (tomorrow, 1.45pm, live on RTE2)

Derry City manager Kenny Shiels is hoping his side can cause somewhat of an FAI Cup shock when they face holders Dundalk, in front of the cameras.  

The Brandywell men, who suffered a disappointing 3-1 loss to Stephen Kenny’s side last week, have a number of injury doubts going into the semi-final clash.  

Centre-back Maximilian Karner looks certain to miss out with flu symptoms but skipper Ryan McBride maybe risked as he returned to training this week.  

“It’s a big game and the only thing in our mind is to go and win the game,” stated Shiels.  

“Everybody is feeling like that. We have to give them credit for what they have done and I feel it’s only appropriate that we show respect to them.  

“Everyone is relishing the tie and we all know the rewards for the victorious team and we want that to be us. We are determined within ourselves to make it and I think the boys deserve to get to a final because of the amount of work and commitment that they have put in this season.”  

Both sides go into the tie in totally different form; Derry let slip a 2-0 lead to only draw 2-2 at home to Shamrock Rovers on Tuesday night, while on Thursday night the champions defeated Maccabi Tel Aviv to become the first Irish side to secure a win in the Europa League group stages.  

Despite the Lilywhites’ recent tough schedule, Shiels feels that the Europa League specialists will freshen their pack.

“They will have a lot of fresh players like [Stephen] O’Donnell [John Mountney], while players like [Shan] Grimes and Paddy Barrett who haven’t played much and haven’t had much game time,” he added.  

“Chris Shields should be fairly fresh as he hasn’t had a lot of games. Dean Shiels also hasn’t had a lot game time, so they have a lot of fresh players to put out onto the pitch and again they will be difficult to beat.”  

Shiels is hoping the City supporters make the trip to Oriel Park and cheer his boys on against the FAI Cup holders.  

“I feel as if we let them down the other night against Shamrock Rovers,” he added.  

“Because when you get a good crowd you want to share some joy and I felt we should have because Shamrock Rovers weren’t really at the races. We can’t defend against Dundalk the way we did against Rovers, that’s for sure.”  

In the other semi-final, again live on RTE, last year’s beaten finalists Cork City make the trip to St Patrick’s Athletic.