A trip to the Garden of Eden for a second round FAI Cup tie this afternoon may just be what Derry City need to lift a season that has been far from the paradise that the club hoped for (kick off 2.00pm).

Manager Peter Hutton will resist the temptation to rest some of his more senior players despite the amateur status of opponents Edenderry Town, with City’s only remaining hope of silverware lying in the Cup.

The recent EA Sports League Cup quarter-final defeat to Shamrock Rovers, and City’s stuttering league form, has meant today’s game against the Leinster Senior League outfit is now massive for the Candy Stripes, with a victory a must.

“We are going to be huge favourites but we’re not going to take them lightly,” Hutton said.

“We have done our homework on them and we have to give them due respect.

“We would certainly like to think that we have enough to see us through. It’s an opportunity for us and while we’re not going to get carried away, it’s an opportunity to put in an improved performance.

“At the end of the day the most important thing is progression and getting through to the next round and that’s going to be our focus.

“Ideally we would like to do it with a comfortable win and a great performance and some players getting off the mark. While that could be wishful thinking, we want to make sure first and foremost that we’re in the hat for the next round as well.”

Derry City made it all the way to the final in last year’s competition, only to be beaten by St. Patrick’s Athletic, and Hutton revealed that the players were keen to make amends for that disappointing day at the Aviva Stadium.

“We’d like to go one better this year” he added. “Some of the players got a flavour of it down in the Aviva last year and it would be a great occasion to get there again, and those who were there last year certainly want to go back and savour it. It will be difficult but we’re looking forward to the cup involvement now. It will be a nice distraction from the league.”
Patrick McEleney should be fit for today’s game despite suffering a neck injury in training this week.

The 22-year-old made a surprise return to the Derry team in last week’s game against Sligo Rovers but has only returned to full time training this week, where he suffered that minor setback.

“Patrick hurt his neck in training but ideally he’ll be okay,” Hutton said.

“We wanted him to have a good week in training but he has this issue now with his neck, whatever way he turned he tweaked it and it’s been giving him a bit of discomfort.”

Dean Jarvis is another who is a doubt having suffered a dead leg in training, but there is good news in the return to fitness for goalkeeper Gerard Doherty.

Doherty (pictured) has not played since coming off during the game against Bohemians at the Brandywell earlier this month, but he could be back in goals this weekend.

Mark Timlin will also be available, despite his red card against Sligo, with a two game suspension set to begin following the FAI Cup tie.

A trip to the Garden of Eden for a second round FAI Cup tie this afternoon may just be what Derry City need to lift a season that has been far from the paradise that the club hoped for (kick off 2.00pm).

Manager Peter Hutton will resist the temptation to rest some of his more senior players despite the amateur status of opponents Edenderry Town, with City’s only remaining hope of silverware lying in the Cup.

The recent EA Sports League Cup quarter-final defeat to Shamrock Rovers, and City’s stuttering league form, has meant today’s game against the Leinster Senior League outfit is now massive for the Candy Stripes, with a victory a must.

“We are going to be huge favourites but we’re not going to take them lightly,” Hutton said.

“We have done our homework on them and we have to give them due respect.

“We would certainly like to think that we have enough to see us through. It’s an opportunity for us and while we’re not going to get carried away, it’s an opportunity to put in an improved performance.

“At the end of the day the most important thing is progression and getting through to the next round and that’s going to be our focus.

“Ideally we would like to do it with a comfortable win and a great performance and some players getting off the mark. While that could be wishful thinking, we want to make sure first and foremost that we’re in the hat for the next round as well.”

Derry City made it all the way to the final in last year’s competition, only to be beaten by St. Patrick’s Athletic, and Hutton revealed that the players were keen to make amends for that disappointing day at the Aviva Stadium.

“We’d like to go one better this year” he added. “Some of the players got a flavour of it down in the Aviva last year and it would be a great occasion to get there again, and those who were there last year certainly want to go back and savour it. It will be difficult but we’re looking forward to the cup involvement now. It will be a nice distraction from the league.”
Patrick McEleney should be fit for today’s game despite suffering a neck injury in training this week.

The 22-year-old made a surprise return to the Derry team in last week’s game against Sligo Rovers but has only returned to full time training this week, where he suffered that minor setback.

“Patrick hurt his neck in training but ideally he’ll be okay,” Hutton said.

“We wanted him to have a good week in training but he has this issue now with his neck, whatever way he turned he tweaked it and it’s been giving him a bit of discomfort.”

Dean Jarvis is another who is a doubt having suffered a dead leg in training, but there is good news in the return to fitness for goalkeeper Gerard Doherty.

Doherty (pictured) has not played since coming off during the game against Bohemians at the Brandywell earlier this month, but he could be back in goals this weekend.

Mark Timlin will also be available, despite his red card against Sligo, with a two game suspension set to begin following the FAI Cup tie.

If you have a story or want to send a photo or video to us please contact the Derry Now editorial team on 028 7129 6600 for Derry City stories Or 028 7774 3970 for County Derry stories. Or you can email gareth@derrynews.net at any time.