EA Cup: 'We want to win' - Burns
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Dundalk FC defender Liam Burns insists the EA SPORTS Cup is a competition that his side “should be looking to do well in”.
The Belfast-born 33-year-old was speaking ahead of their entry into this year’s tournament, as they travel to face First Division leaders Longford Town in the second round at Flancare Park on Tuesday night (kick-off 8pm).
While Dundalk have had a mixed start to the top-flight season – winning one, drawing three and losing two of their six outings – Longford have opened their chase for promotion in impressive fashion, winning five and drawing one of their six games.
Last Friday saw them issue a real sign of intent as they defeated hot ante-post favourites for the league Limerick 2-1 at Jackman Park thanks to second-half goals from Noel Haverty and Colm James.
But Burns is keen for his side to stop the eye-catching form of Tony Cousins’ Midlanders by making it into the quarter-finals of a competition that he reached the last four of with Dundalk in 2010.
“It’s a massive game,” Burns, who was a runner-up in the competition with Bohemians in 2007, told dundalkfc.com.
“It’s a competition we feel we can do well in, and we should be looking to do well in.
“I don’t think it’s one of those games where you think you should put out a weakened team for people who need games.
“We were in over the weekend, and people who have recovered and are available should be ready to play.
“It’s a game we’re looking to win.”Manager Seán McCaffrey remains without Mark Griffin (groin) and Nathan Murphy (toe), while Derek Foran (heel) is doubtful.
However, Luke Danville (hamstring) will come back into the squad, and Eoghan Osborne is set to make a welcome return to the bench having been on the sidelines since March last year after suffering a fractured tibia in training.
Ger Hanley will start in goal, with Cian Byrne also set to figure in defence, in a team that will resemble that that lined out in the scoreless draw with Shelbourne on Friday night.
Ben McLaughlin will be given a well-earned rest, while Gerard McSorley will be on the bench.
The clubs have not met since the 2008 season, the year that Dundalk won promotion back to the Premier Division.
The last meeting saw Longford win 2-1 at Oriel Park, while on the Lilywhites’ last trip to the midlands, they won 3-0 thanks to goals from Paul Crowley, Tiarnán Mulvenna and John Flanagan.
The clubs last met in the League Cup in August 1999 when Longford won 1-0 at Oriel Park.
Dundalk have won the League Cup on four occasions, the last of those four triumphs in a 12-year period coming in 1989, while Longford’s sole success came in 2004.
