Blow for Dundalk's treble aspirations as Chris Shields set to be suspended for the FAI Cup final
Credit: John-Paul McGinley (ETPhotos)
Dundalk have been dealt a heavy blow ahead of the FAI Cup final with the news that midfielder Chris Shields will sit the game out with a suspension.
The Clondalkin man accrued his eighth booking of the season in the 1-0 defeat to Cork City at Turner’s Cross two weeks ago.
While he played the final game against St Patrick's Athletic on Friday night, his suspension kicks in ahead of the Aviva showdown, and the club's appeals have fallen on deaf ears.
Dane Massey had also been due to serve a suspension after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season but has been saved by the amnesty in place before the cup final.
Shields, having already served a suspension for five bookings, cannot avail of the amnesty, however, as it only applies to the initial ban for five cards.
It’s a bitter blow for Lilywhites manager Vinny Perth, who will have to negotiate the tie without his hometown club minus his twice FAI Cup-winning talisman.
Rovers will have a full deck to choose from for the game, though Sean Callan and Leon Pohls are expected to miss out with injury, while Dylan Watts sat out the win over Cork last Friday.
