19.45 24 Apr 2017 - Dublin
Referee: Derek Tomney
Leinster Senior Cup Preview: Bohemians -v- Shelbourne
- Dave Donnelly
- Mon, Apr 24 2017
BOHEMIANS
Defending champions Bohemians welcome Dublin rivals – and future bunkmates – Shelbourne to Dalymount Park for the first Leinster Senior Cup quarter-final.
Keith Long's side are on a frustrating four-game losing streak since beating Cabinteely in the EA Sports Cup on April 4th.
However two of those defeats have come to the top two, Cork City and Dundalk, and another in an EA Sports Cup game against bitter rivals Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght.
Nevertheless, Long's side can't afford to allow that sort of form to continue with three sides set for the drop from the Premier Division this season.
And the visit of First Division Shelbourne will be seen as the ideal opportunity to get some much-needed momentum back in Phibsboro.
We’ve a big game on Friday and obviously the league is the most important thing for us this year,” Long told the club's website.
“But this is another chance for us to look at players from the under-19s and under-17s and for them to show us what they can do.
“It’s a big step-up to the first team but we want to give young players an opportunity and there are others around the first-team squad who we feel deserve a game too.
“Games like these will stand to them in the future. They were excellent in the win against Cabinteely and we want to see more of the same tonight.”
Striker Izzy Akinade continues to miss out with illness while the game may come too soon for Dinny Corcoran, but Jamie Doyle is available after making his comeback from injury in Dundalk.
SHELBOURNE
Shelbourne got their season off to a flier with a 4-2 win over Wexford in the previous round of this competition, a scoreline skewed by two late Wexford penalties.
Owen Heary's side have been up and down in the First Division so far this season and, on Friday, lost to UCD for the second time this season thanks to a late Ben Hanrahan goal.
That result leaves the Reds five points off leaders Waterford with nine games played, a position Heary won't be too unhappy with at this stage of the season.
Friday night saw the return from injury of Aidan Collins – who had missed the whole season to date – and Niall Lanigan.
Dylan Kavanagh remains on the injury list while Mikey Murphy could come back into contention.
Referee: TBC
MATCH STATS
The sides last met in pre-season behind closed doors as Shelbourne ran out 1-0 winners thanks to a goal from Aaron Ashe.
That was Bohs' only defeat of pre-season, while Shelbourne won all of their warm-up games, including the Leinster Senior Cup tie with Wexford.
The sides met in the third round of last season's EA Sports Cup at Tolka Park, where a 0-0 draw after extra time was settled 4-3 on penalties.
BETTING
Bohemians 6/4; Draw 11/5; Shelbourne 7/5.
PREDICTION
Bohemians 2 – 1 Shelbourne
Bohemians
Injured: Izzy Akinade.
Doubtful: Dinny Corcoran.
Suspended: None.
Shelbourne
Injured: Dylan Kavanagh.
Doubtful: Mikey Murphy..
Suspended: None.