Bookies can't see beyond Derry

FAI Cup Quarter-final:The bookies, at least, are fairly clear on who will emerge from this evening's game at the Brandywell to book their place in the last four of this year's Ford-sponsored FAI Cup.

The home side's recent run of form combined with the fact UCD will arrive with a squad ravaged by injury has ensured Derry City go into the first of this weekend's quarter-finals as very short-priced favourites.

As he mulls over the prospect of returning to the ground where his side lost 3-0 in the League Cup just a few weeks ago, Pete Mahon doesn't sound much like a man who regards his side as a good bet.

"You've got to be positive," he observes, "because otherwise there'd be no point in going up there, but given all the lads we're missing it's a big ask, there's no doubt about that."

Mahon reckons the team he fielded against Dundalk in the last round may have been the youngest ever to play in the competition and pretty much the only thing to change this time around is that they'll all be a month or so older and have a few more senior games under their collective belt.

The Dubliners, though, have also added joint top scorer Derek Doyle to an already impressive injury-list with the striker having broken his leg last week. In all five of the 10 players who have found the net over the course of this season for the students are ruled out.

Derry, by comparison, are in fairly good shape and spirits were further lifted yesterday by the news that Barry Molloy has committed to the club until the end of the 2010 campaign.

In the absence of Sammy Morrow, Derry will look to Mark Farren and Kevin McHugh to produce the goods up front.

Pat McCourt is back in the squad after a few weeks out with a groin strain.