INSTITUTE: Boxing Day showdown at Fortwilliam Park

Manager Kevin Deery is expecting his players to be looking for some revenge when they face Limavady United in the Craig Memorial Cup Final, on Boxing Day.

The Waterside men face neighbours Limavady United in the Craig Memorial Cup Final, at Fortwilliam Park (KO 11.30am) and Deery is looking for his side to avenge their heavy defeat which they suffered at the Showgrounds earlier in the season.

Paul Owens’ side secured an impressive and deserved 3-0 victory in the North West Senior Cup in August and because of that Deery believes his players will be still smarting from that loss.

“I think our biggest disappointing game of the season was at Limavady earlier in the season,” he said.

“We were poor that night and credit to Limavady they deserved to win the game, but we weren’t good.

“I think the player’s attitude will be more like they want to avenge that result and show that they are better than that.

“I know that performance was a one-off so we have a good chance to rectify a few things and hopefully get a cup final victory, which can only be good for morale.”

Deery knows it’s going to be a tough encounter for his side as they come up against an in-form United, who also have a Jamie Vardy-esque striker in Cathair Friel.

The talented front man has scored an impressive 29 goals already this season.

“He has scored 29 goals in something like 15 or 16 games so we’ll have to keep an eye on him,” he added.

“But apart from Cathair, they are all working really hard for each other, which is a must in football.

“Some people over look that and start going into all these details, but if you get a bunch of boys working their socks off it can be very effective.

“I feel if my boys aren’t willing to do the nitty-gritty stuff then I think we’ll find ourselves having a tough day.”

Deery also believes that the North West derby was the perfect final from the organiser’s point of view.

“No disrespect to anyone else, but it’s probably the best final, because it’s a derby and probably the two best teams in the competition from the start.

“So it’s good that the both of us we go and have a real go at each other and that’s what I want. A final is the place to really go and show what you are about and that’s what I’ll be telling my players to go out and express themselves and give their all.”