Setanta Cup Preview: Dundalk -v- Shamrock Rovers

Dundalk welcome Shamrock Rovers to Oriel Park on Tuesday night in the second leg of the Setanta Sports Cup semi-final. The home side lead 2-1 on aggregate with both Lilywhites goals coming from first half penalties by Richie Towell before a late Eamon Zayed strike gave the Hoops hope heading into the second leg.(kick-off 8pm – Live on Setanta)

DUNDALK

Dundalk go into the match on the back of another impressive away result against UCD on Friday. The Students took a 1-0 lead after 25 minutes through Gary Burke but the Lilywhites hit back with a goal from Patrick Hoban before half-time. Captain Stephen O’Donnell put the side in front before Mark Langtry scored an own goal to make it 3. Hoban finished off the scoring with his second of the evening with 5 minutes remaining with a cool side foot finish.

The result meant a perfect week for the Louth club as they began with a 4-1 victory over champions St. Patrick’s Athletic and followed that with a 3-0 win over Derry City last Monday. The 4-1 against UCD made it 3 wins in a week with a combined total of 11 goals scored and just 2 conceded.

The result saw Stephen Kenny’s men go top of the table for the first time this season as they went two points clear of Cork City and three clear of opponents Shamrock Rovers. Of course it is early days yet and there is still a lot of football to be played and we’re only 7 games into the league season.

For the match itself, Brian Gartland should return from injury after he missed out against UCD and John Mountney could be in line for a return to the starting line XI as he made the bench on Friday evening after missing out with a knee injury against Derry City last week. Keith Ward is back in contention and could make the squad as he has completed his recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Speaking to dundalkfc.com before the match, manager Stephen Kenny is looking to approach the game in the same manner as every other this season and is looking forward to the match.

“We have to approach the match in the right way. We are not going to go out there to contain, we aren’t going out there to defend just because we have a lead. We are going out there and we are going to approach the match as we would every other one. We are going to attack.

“It’s a big incentive getting to the final. We have prepared well and we are looking forward to the game.”

SHAMROCK ROVERS

Since playing the first leg, Shamrock Rovers have taken six points from 12 in the league. Home wins against Sligo Rovers and UCD have been balanced out with away defeats to Cork City and St. Pat’s. Having failed to score in either away game, the Hoops will need to improve their performance on the road if they hope to face Sligo Rovers in the final.

Shamrock Rovers manager Trevor Croly will have to plan without David O’Connor (foot ligament), who, despite being back training, won't make this game. Sean O'Connor is also out with a hamstring injury.

Speaking ahead of the game, Croly said: “We'll go to Dundalk positive and know that if we put in a good performance it will be possible to get something from the game.

“It's great to be involved in a big semi-final game at this stage of the season and it is all or nothing on Tuesday night. Dundalk are a goal up going into the tie, so we know we have to score twice to have a chance of progressing to the final, so we will be going for it tomorrow night."

Referee: Raymond Crangel

MATCH STATS

The sides met on five occasions last year – in the league - a draw at Oriel Park, a win for Rovers in Tallaght and Dundalk won the final league meeting in August 3-1 at Oriel Park. In the EA Sports Cup Rovers were victorious 1-0 and in the Leinster Senior Cup the Hoops were 4-1 winners in July.

This is already the second meeting between the sides this season and it will be quickly followed by the third as the sides meet on Friday evening in the first SSE Airtricity League meeting of the sides in 2014.

Stephen Kenny has previously managed Shamrock Rovers – appointed on 27^th Dec 2011 before leaving the post on the 11^th September 2012

BETTING

Dundalk 7/5; Draw 9/4; Shamrock Rovers 7/4

PREDICTION

Dundalk to win 2-1 on the night - 4-2 on aggregate 

Dundalk

Injured: None.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

Shamrock Rovers

Injured: David O’Connor (foot ligament), Sean O'Connor (hamstring)

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.