19.45 10 Mar 2014 -
Referee: Robert Rogers
Setanta Preview: St Pats -v- Ballinamallard
- Macdara Ferris
- Mon, Mar 10 2014
SAINT PATRICK’S ATHLETIC
League of Ireland champions St. Pat’s take a 1-0 first leg lead into the conclusion of their Setanta Sports Cup quarter-final tie this evening against Ballinamallard United (kick off 7.45pm), as they look to add an all-island crown to their palmares.
A first half goal from Chris Forrester in Ferney Park two weeks ago separates the sides, however the Mallards will be looking for a repeat of their second half display against Liam Buckley’s side which showed them threaten the Saints’ defence on numerous occasions.
The Saints will be looking to progress through the first round of the Setanta Sports Cup for the first time in four years having been knocked out in their previous three outings against Cliftonville (2011 and 2012) and Glentoran last year.
“Ballinamallard really put it up to us the last day, so we’ll be expecting them to produce the same type of challenge,” said Liam Buckley speaking to stpatsfc.com about the challenge of facing Ballinamallard. “We’ve thankfully got a lead going into the game, but we’ll treat the game as normal and look to go out and win.”
It is possible that the Saints will be without the services of PFAI and FAI player of the year Killian Brennan. He has a groin strain picked up in the pre-match warm-up against Cork City last Friday. Otherwise, Buckley has a full squad to select from.
For Saints’ midfielder Lee Lynch, the objective on Monday night is clear in that the Saints will be looking to finish the job off and progress to the semi-finals of the Setanta Sports Cup.
“Monday is a case of getting the result and getting through to the next round. I’m sure we’ll change it around as we’ve such a big squad, but it’s just a case of getting the result and going through to the next round,” said the former Sligo Rovers player to stpatsfc.com.
“We’ve such a good squad with the boys coming in. There’s really no difference between us all. They’ll know their jobs coming in, know their roles and be as good as the other lads who started the previous game.”
BALLINAMALLARD UNITED
When the two sides met at the end of last month, the first leg was played in difficult conditions with the wind, rain and Ferney Park surface not helpful to either team. That game was live on television but tonight the cameras will be in The Showgrounds in Coleraine to see their game with Dundalk, as Setanta believe that game will be tighter than the one in Richmond Park. With the bookies making The Mallards 16/1 for an away win, it shows what the visitors are up against this evening.
This is Ballinamallard’s first appearance in the Setanta Sports Cup, in only the club’s second season in the top flight of Irish League football. The Irish League side only gained entry to this year’s cross-border cup competition following the withdrawal of Linfield and Cliftonville.
Whitley Anderson’s team come into the game on the back of a poor run of form as they sit 10th out of the 12 teams in the Danske Bank Premiership. They have lost seven of their last ten games, with just one solitary win on their record from those matches. That was a 1-0 win over bottom side Ards in mid-February.
Referee: Robert Rogers.
MATCH STATS
While St. Pat’s gained a point in their opening league game of the season in Turner’s Cross against Cork City, the Mallards come into this tie on the back of a 5-0 loss to Cliftonville in Solitude last Saturday.
If the Saints go through, it will be their third semi-final appearance in the Setanta Sports Cup. Their only appearance in the final was in the 2009/10 competition when they lost out to Bohemians.
Ballinamallard’s goalkeeper is Barbados international Alvin Rouse who played a number of seasons in the League of Ireland with Monaghan United, Galway United and Longford Town.
BETTING
St. Pat’s 1/8; Draw 13/2; Ballinamallard 16/1.
PREDICITON
3-0 Home win.
Saint Patrick’s Athletic
Injured: None.
Doubtful: Killian Brennan.
Suspended: None.
Ballinamallard United
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 …