EA Sports Cup Preview: Shamrock Rovers - v - St Patrick's Athletic

• Harry Manning
• Sun, Aug 07 2016




Shamrock Rovers will welcome Dublin rivals St Patrick’s Athletic to Tallaght Stadium this Monday night in the semi-finals of the EA Sports Cup to determine who will meet Limerick in the final on September 17th.

 

The Saints are bidding to become only the third team to successfully defend the trophy since the tournaments inception whilst the Hoops will be attempting to reach their fourth EA Sports Cup final in the last five years and claim their third title overall.

 

SHAMROCK ROVERS

Shamrock Rovers will come into this semi-final contest on the back of a solid 2-1 league victory over Longford Town last Friday night where Brandon Miele and Sean Heaney put their names on the score-sheet to secure the valuable three points for the Hoops.

 

Stephen Bradley will now put league duties to one side as the Rovers interim boss takes focus on delivering silverware to Tallaght Stadium.

 

Rovers have looked impressive in the previous rounds of this year’s EA Sports Cup.

 

After opening with a comprehensive 3-0 victory at home to Athlone Town, the Hoops travelled to Tolka Park and overcame a difficult Shelbourne challenge, on penalties to seal progression to the final four.

 

They now take on fierce Dublin rivals St Patrick’s Athletic in what is sure to be an intriguing fixture to decide who will face Limerick FC in September’s final.

 

Stephen Bradley spoke to www.shamrockrovers.ie, ahead of the game against St. Patrick’s Athletic and spoke about the mood in the camp and how he’s feeling facing a semi-final.

 

“We have to be confident,” Bradley said.

 

“It’s a massive chance to get into the final and we want to win this game. It’s a different competition and one I enjoy so it would be nice to partake in the final of it.”

 

Bradley was also happy with the mood in the camp with everyone raring to go for tomorrow’s big game.

 

“The lads trained this morning and it was great,” Bradley said.

 

“Everyone is in good spirits and every player has had equal recovery time. The lads are excited at the prospect of playing in the final so that’s good. We have to have a look at who done well in training today, but everyone is in good spirits and we’re excited for the game.”

 

In team news, Rovers are still without Luke Byrne who is ruled out for the remainder of the season, while Evan Osam is yet to be declared 100% fit. Killian Brennan continues his stint on the sidelines following his absence from Longford Town’s visit although he should be available for selection for the Hoops’ following game away to Sligo Rovers.

 

Rob Cornwall is also suspended having been sent off in the previous round against Shelbourne.

 

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC

2015 EA Sports Cup champions St Patrick’s Athletic will be hoping of a repeat of last year’s semi-final where they defeated Shamrock Rovers in an enthralling contest which saw the Saints come out on top following a tense penalty shootout before going on to defeat Galway United to lift the crown for only the third time in their history and the first time in 12 years.

 

They are now looking to join an exclusive list of clubs to successfully defend the League Cup after Athlone Town and Derry City.

 

They come into the game having drawn 1-1 with Derry at the Brandywell last Friday night, although Liam Buckley’s side would have felt hard done by not to grab the full three points with a number of late near-misses.

 

The Saints opened their title defence with an extra-time 1-0 win over current League of Ireland champions Dundalk FC thanks to a 113^th minute Rory Feely strike.

 

They then defeated Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds in a 3-2 thriller which also went to extratime with Mark Timlin’s 110^th minute winner eventually turning the game in Pat’s’ favour.

 

Speaking to stpatsfc.com, manager Liam Buckley spoke of his sides desire to reach another cup final.

 

“Monday night is another big game for us in what has been a busy week for us.  We played well in patches against Derry and could have come away with the points, but a slow start cost us and a point was probably a fair result,” Buckley admitted. 

 

“We’ve played Rovers twice this year and both sides have a win under their belts so it shows that it’ll be another tight game in Tallaght Stadium.  With both teams just 90 minutes away from a final, it’s set to be an open game as there is a big prize on offer to face Limerick in the final.” 

 

“On big nights like these, our supporters always get behind us so we know they’ll be a huge amount of super saints getting behind the team.” 

 

David Cawley will miss this tie after suffering a collarbone injury, while Keith Treacy is considered doubtful and will undergo a late fitness test on a hamstring injury.

 

Referee: Unknown.

 

 

MATCH STATS

This is Shamrock Rovers and St Patrick’s Athletic’s third meeting so far this season. In their first game last March, the Saints overcame the Hoops 2-0 at Tallaght Stadium, however, in their following fixture last June, Rovers extracted vengeance with a 2-0 victory of their own at Richmond Park.

 

St Pat’s have won the competition three times in their history, while Shamrock Rovers have two wins to their name with the last coming in 2013.

 

In their 2015 EA Sports Cup win last year, the Saints became the first club to win the competition having progressed on penalties at the quarter-final stage, semi-final stage and then winning the competition again on spot-kicks.

 

BETTING

Shamrock Rovers 6/5; Draw 11/5; St Patrick’s Athletic 9/4.

 

PREDICTION

Shamrock Rovers 2-3 St Patrick’s Athletic.

 

Shamrock Rovers

Injured: Evan Osam, Luke Byrne, Killian Brennan.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: Rob Cornwall.

 

St Patrick’s Athletic

Injured: David Cawley.

Doubtful: Keith Treacy.

Suspended: None.