FAI Cup Preview: Dundalk -v- Shamrock Rovers
- Macdara Ferris
- Sun, Sep 14 2014
DUNDALK FC
Stephen Kenny gets a second chance to knock Shamrock Rovers out of the FAI Cup on Monday night when his Dundalk team take on the Hoops in the quarter final replay (kick-off 7.45pm). Kenny will bring his professional focus on what is just another game in the Lilywhites treble threat of league, FAI Cup and EA Sports Cup but possibly in the back of his mind will be the 2012 season spent with the Hoops.
Kenny never got the chance to manage Rovers in FAI Cup quarter-final action having departed the club three days prior to Rovers tie against Shelbourne – a match which took place two years and a day on from Monday’s game.
His team finished the match stronger in Tallaght against Rovers last Friday night with Kurtis Byrne having the best chance of the game but Byrne couldn’t beat Hoops ‘keeper Barry Murphy when facing him one-on-one.
The clubs are in the middle of three games in nine days between the sides, with Saturday’s EA Sports Cup Final in Oriel Park rapidly approaching. Dundalk also face Rovers in their penultimate league game in Oriel Park of the season. That will be the eighth game between the sides this year and Dundalk have yet to lose.
This is likely to be a tasty affair whetted no doubt by controversy over the issue of the watering of Oriel Park’s FIFA 2-Star Synthetic pitch which garnered a few ‘splash’ headlines during Dundalk’s Setanta Sports Cup elimination of Rovers at the semi-final stage.
“We don’t have a problem with it,” said Kenny speaking to the Irish Times after the 0-0 draw in Tallaght about fitting in another game with Rovers in their busy schedule. “That was our third game in a week but we think we’re well able for the matches; the only thing you worry about is the yellow cards and the fact that they’ll start influencing your selections.”
That is the case on Monday as Dundalk will face the Hoops without Brian Gartland and Donal McDermott who, having both picked up four yellow cards this season, must sit out this tie. Simon Kelly also misses the game due to a calf strain. Club captain and former Hoops player Stephen O’Donnell is still a long-term absentee but his recovery is progressing well.
Daryl Horgan was man of the match in Tallaght and he spoke to dundalkfc.com about the 0-0 draw. “It was a hard fought game. The two teams were very even with not much between the sides. I thought we edged it on the chances really and were a little unlucky not to win it.
"We just couldn’t take one of the chances but the positive is we’re still in the Cup and can go again. It is a big week now for the club with the two games in two competitions (against Rovers) but we just have to keep working hard and showing what we can do. If we are at our best and playing well then I think we will go through to the next round.”
SHAMROCK ROVERS
While another southside Dublin club may lay claim to being cursed in the cup, the Hoops’ history in the FAI Cup has been a millstone around their neck for a generation. Only Rovers fans of a certain vintage remember seeing Ireland’s most successful club lift the trophy and Hoops boss Pat Fenlon is one of them.
In the build up to this tie, 45-year-old Fenlon spoke about watching the Hoops win the 1978 FAI Cup final, their 21st cup win. However he also noted how everyone was reminding him how long it has been since the green and white ribbons adorned the trophy for a Shamrock Rovers cup success – 27 years but who is counting? The Hoops overall tally is 24 cup victories and no other team is in double figures for FAI Cup wins.
Not yet anyway but Dundalk, who haven’t beaten Rovers in a replay since 1942, sit second in the all-time FAI Cup win table on nine wins and the Hoops will want to keep it that way. Rovers are looking to progress to win the competition outright but if they remain in fourth in the league and Dundalk win the double, then there will be no European football in Tallaght for the third year running.
Fenlon has a full strength squad to choose from with the return to availability of both David and Sean O’Connor. “We're very much looking forward to the game,” said Hoops boss Fenlon ahead of Monday’s game.
“I enjoy going to Oriel, there is always a good atmosphere and there should be a big crowd for this match. It was a very tight game on Friday night, as has been the case all season between the two sides. With a place in the semi-finals on offer, it will most likely be the same in this replay game."
Referee: David McKeon.
MATCH STATS
Dundalk are the highest scorers in the country with 65 goals in the league and 95 goals overall. Rovers meanwhile have only scored 34 league goals. Pat Hoban is the Lilywhites top scorer with 18 in all competitions and 16 in the league. Ciarán Kilduff and Gary McCabe are the Rovers top scorers with nine goals in all competitions. Ronan Finn is top scorer in the league with six goals, including an injury time strike in Oriel Park in April in a 2-2 draw.
Dundalk won the other league clash with Rovers this season 1-0 in Tallaght thanks to Pat Hoban’s goal. They also won home (1-0) and away (2-1) in the Setanta Sports Cup semi-final against the Hoops.
In 2002 both sides emerged victorious against one another in the FAI Cup. The competition had two finals in 2002 due to the change to ‘summer’ football. The last time the sides met in the FAI Cup was in July that year and the tie went to a replay which Rovers won in their then home venue of Tolka Park. That was revenge for their semi-final defeat in the 2001/02 edition. Dundalk won 4-0 at Oriel Park in March 2002 en-route to winning the final – the last time they lifted the trophy.
BETTING
Dundalk Evens; Draw 23/10; Shamrock Rovers 5/2.
PREDICTION
1-0 home win after extra time.
Dundalk
Injured: Stephen O’Donnell, Simon Kelly.
Suspended: Brian Gartland, Donal McDermott.
Shamrock Rovers
Injured: None.
Suspended: None.
About Macdara Ferris
Macdara Ferris is a contributor since 2007 to Hoops Scene (Shamrock Rovers' match day programme) and is the co-author of two books on Shamrock Rovers - 'Tallaght Time: Shamrock Rovers 2009 to 2012' (with Karl …