Irish Football Tips | Cork City v Derry City | 2nd May 2016

IT’S the EA Sports Cup quarter-final on Monday night with Dylan O’Neill (@Dylanoneill_95) unearthing the value.

Cork City v Derry City | Monday 19.45

Derry travel to Cork in the EA Sports Cup on Monday night with a semi-final place for both at stake.

The EA Sports Cup is the Irish equivalent of the England's League Cup so top sides like Dundalk, Cork and Shamrock Rovers often prioritise the league ahead of this competition.

That appears to be the case with Cork tonight as manager John Caulfield has said he will be resting and rotating, with “at least ten changes” to be made.

Among those Caulfield will be bringing in include Conor McCarthy, Chiedozie Ogbene, Cian Coleman and Craig Donnellan – all members of Cork's high-flying U19 team and guys who have been in or around the first team squad this season.

Caulfield has also said he'll be giving time to those normally on the bench for Cork, which includes players like goalkeeper Alan Smith, Danny Morrissey and Mark O'Sullivan.

After an unexpectedly terrific start to the season with seven wins in their first 10 games, Derry were handed their second defeat of the campaign last Friday.

In preparing for tonight's fixture Derry have received positive news with two injury concerns from last week – both midfielder Aaron Barry and left-back Dean Jarvis return, with Jarvis getting over 30 minutes after coming on Friday night.

For Cork, on-loan defender Eoghan O'Connell has returned to Celtic after suffering a groin injury while arguably one of the league’s best centre-backs Kenny Browne is suspended on Monday.

I think the +1.25 Asian Handicap offers plenty of value at 8/11 (Bet365), especially as it should be an even game, with Cork resting the majority of their starting XI.

Cork may edge it but I doubt they win by two, against what should be a decent Derry team, so hopefully we should see a full win on the handicap here.

With this selection, we’ll pick up a half-stakes win should Derry lose by one goal and profit with a full-stakes win should Derry win or draw the match. The only way in which we’ll lose our stake is if Cork win by at least two goals.