Castlebar Celtic -v- Raheny United
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Castlebar Celtic and Raheny United meet for the third time in nine days at Celtic Park on Monday afternoon but this time it’s a Bus Éireann Women’s National League Cup semi-final.
Raheny are the holders of the competition and just one win away from securing the league title and after beating Castlebar 4-1 and 5-0 in their last two meetings they will start the semi-final as overwhelming favourites to advance to the final.
But Castlebar Head Coach Johnny Morris Burke believes the fact his side are 90 minutes away from a cup final will be a huge motivation for his players.
“It’s a cup game and generally league form can count for little in a winner take all situation. It’s a chance for us to reach a final and also to do something special in memory of the late Jeremy Dee. We were definitely second best on Saturday at Morton Stadium but this is a different situation entirely and I hope we can seize the opportunity,” said Morris Burke.
Burke hopes to welcome back several players who missed Saturday’s trip to Dublin while his Raheny counterpart, Sean Byrne, is facing a major test of his squad’s strength in depth as no few than nine players are out or very doubtful because of injury. Katie McCabe is suspended and the injury list includes Mary Waldron, Niamh Walsh, Niamh Reid Burke, Ciara Grant, Katie McKeever, Siobhan Killeen and Noelle Murray.
“It’s going to be an interesting game as not only is it the third game in short space of time but we look like we will be short a lot of experienced players,” said Byrne.
