FAI Cup Preview: Cork City -v- St Mochta's
- John O'Shea
- Thu, Jun 05 2014
CORK CITY
After winning their last four league games in a row, Cork City FC will take a break from SSE Airtricity League Premier Division football on Friday night as they host St Mochta’s in the second round of the FAI Ford Cup.
Speaking ahead of the game at the club’s weekly press conference at the Cork International Airport Hotel, First Team Coach John Cotter said that City will treat the game as they would any other.
“The FAI Cup is the biggest cup competition in the country, so no matter who we are playing, we will treat it the same as any other game we play. It is a great cup to win; it’s great to go far in a competition like this, it breeds confidence and it’s beneficial to the club too. It’s a major trophy and you want to win every competition you’re in.
“St Mochta’s are on a good run, they won seven games in a row to get promoted and they won the Moore Cup at the weekend, so they will come here with nothing to lose. We have to go out, treat them with the respect they deserve and take nothing for granted.”
Cotter knows from his time managing Avondale United that there are some good players at non-league level and if Cork City underestimates the opposition, then they could be in for a shock.
The Rebels have ambitions of going far in this competition and their supporters will be hoping the first step on the way to cup glory will be taken on Friday night.
In City team news, Billy Dennehy returns from suspension having missed the Athlone game, but Liam Kearney will serve a one game ban after accumulating four yellow cards this season. Danny Morrissey returned to the squad last week but is still working towards full fitness, while Michael Rafter is out for the season after undergoing an operation. Darren Murphy and Iarfhlaith Davoren (both hamstring) will both be out for the game. Caulfield also has doubts over Darren Dennehy (foot), Colin Healy (hamstring) and Rob Lehane (hamstring).
ST MOCHTA’S
St Mochta’s will be hoping that the magic of the cup is well and truly alive on Friday night, as they make the trip to Turners Cross to take on Cork City.
St Mochta’s were founded in 1949 to cater for the sporting needs of the Clonsilla and greater Blanchardstown areas. They also come into the game in a confident frame of mind having claimed promotion and won the Moore Cup Final last weekend.
Brian McCarthy’s side showed great resilience in that final, coming from two goals down to win 4-2, while they also put together a run of seven consecutive league wins to seal their promotion.
One of the main men behind their success has been former Bohemians star Glen Crowe, who scored a hat- trick in the recent 4-0 away win over Celbridge Town that sealed promotion.
Crowe finished the 26 game season with 25 goals, still showing that he has the ability to find the back of the net. The Saints are also a good side for getting goals as a whole, with a total of 64 scored throughout the season.
St Mochta’s went all the way to the quarter finals of the FAI Ford Cup in 2000, when they were knocked out by Bohemians at Dalymount Park. That cup run is one of the highlights of the club’s history.
Speaking to www.stmochtasfc.com ahead of the trip to Cork, manager McCarthy said, "It's a brilliant draw for the club and players, the team have worked extremely hard all season, and to win promotion and the Moore Cup is fantastic, Cork City are a massive club, It's going to be a very tough game but we have very talented players and a wealth of experience, the lads will give it everything on the night."
The Saints have a few injury issues heading into the tie. Brian Kelly is out with tonsillitis, Jordan Lancaster has a dead leg, and Glen Crowe has ankle trouble but should be fine.
Referee: Keith Callanan
MATCH STATS
Cork City last won the FAI Cup on September 28th 2007 when a Denis Behan header after 60 minutes saw the Rebel Army beat Longford Town at the RDS. Current players Dan Murray, Colin Healy and Liam Kearney started for Cork City that day.
St Mochta’s striker Glen Crowe has scored two goals in his last ten games against Cork City. On 11th August 2006 the striker met an Ollie Cahill cross after 80 minutes to give his Shelbourne side a 2-2 draw in Tolka Park, while on 8th August 2008 he collected a Killian Brennan header and finished past Michael Devine to give Bohemians a 1-0 win at Turner’s Cross.
If Cork City avoid defeat on Friday night, they will have gone a whole year undefeated in Turner’s Cross in all national competitions (League, FAI Cup and EA Sports Cup).
BETTING
Cork City 1/20; Draw 9/1; St Mochtas 20/1
PREDICTION
Cork City 3-0 St Mochtas
Cork City
Injured: Danny Morrissey, Michael Rafter, Darren Murphy, Iarfhlaith Davoren
Doubtful: Colin Healy, Darren Dennehy, and Rob Lehane
Suspended: Liam Kearney
St Mochta’s
Injured: Brian Kelly
Doubtful: Glen Crowe, Jordan Lancaster
Suspended: None
About John O'Shea
John is a Cork based reporter, mainly covering Cork City and Cobh Ramblers. John also reports regularly on Munster Senior League and Cork Youths League football for the Evening Echo. John has also freelanced for …