FAI Cup Semi Final Preview: Shamrock Rovers -v- Derry City
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SHAMROCK ROVERS
Shamrock Rovers face the task of negotiating the penultimate hurdle in their ''drive for 25'' when they host Derry City at Tallaght Stadium in the second of Sunday afternoon's FAI Cup semi-final showdowns.
The Hoops come into the game on the back of a 3-0 home league win over Premier Division strugglers UCD that was played before a paltry attendance at the Whitestown Way venue. However, with the cessation of a 27 year long cup famine and European qualification top of every Rovers fan's end of season wish list, Pat Fenlon's charges can expect to experience a vastly different atmosphere when they emerge from the tunnel to do battle with the Candystripes on Sunday afternoon.
Having been part of the Trevor Croly managed side that fell feebly at the feet of Sligo Rovers in last year's semi-final, Rovers playmaker Ronan Finn is determined to make amends this time around.
''We never showed up and Sligo were the better side, so as a player you learn from that,'' he told rte.ie.
'' A lot of the boys have experienced disappointment in their career so it is something that you have to channel to make sure it doesn't happen again.
''But Sunday’s a different game. There are a lot of new faces in the club and we’re under new management and we believe in ourselves. Pat’s got the belief in us and hopefully we can prove that on Sunday.''
“There is a big prize at stake,” said Pat Fenlon speaking about the tie ahead of the game. “We have to make sure we play to the best of our ability so we can get to that final to give us a great chance of winning a trophy but also of progressing into Europe next season.
“The players are looking forward to the match. We are on a decent run of form. We played well at St. Pat’s (1-1 in Richmond Park) and performed well during the week against UCD (3-0 win). We are going into this game confident on the back of those really good performances.
“We know that Derry are a decent side so it will be a tough and tight game. We are looking to make home advantage count with a big crowd behind us.”
Although Patrick Cregg limped off 21 minutes into Wednesday's win over UCD with Marty Waters (knee) and Barry Murphy (calf) missing that game, Pat Fenlon still expects all three players to be available for him on Sunday.
Jason McGuinness returns from suspension and so will come into contention for a place in the former Hibernian manager's starting back four.
DERRY CITY
Like Shamrock Rovers, Derry City also possess a fine cup pedigree. In stark contrast to the Hoops whose last cup triumph was almost three decades ago, the last time the Candystripes tasted glory in the competition was as recent as 2012 when they beat St. Pat's 3-2 after extra-time.
With the exception of a record breaking 9-0 aggregate trouncing of Welsh side Aberystwyth Town in the Europa League first qualifying round, the Brandywell faithful haven't had much to cheer about in 2014 and so they will be hoping their side can progress to a second FAI Cup final in the space of three years.
In order for that to happen, Derry must overcome a Rovers side who will be backed by a Tallaght faithful hungry for cup glory. Although City striker Patrick McEleney concedes that he feels perhaps neutral grounds might be more conducive to the creation of more balanced conditions in which to play a tie of such magnitude, he maintains that he is looking forward to the trip to Dublin 24.
''Obviously, they have a slight advantage but it’s still a great pitch so I have no worries about it although it would even it out a bit if it was a neutral venue,'' he told rte.ie
''Tallaght is an unbelievable stadium. Their fans are brilliant and we’re going to bring a lot of fans down.''
Derry boss Peter Hutton must plan without the services of full-back Shaun Kelly and experienced long-term absentee Danny Ventre who remains in recovery mode after knee surgery whilst decisions are yet to be made as to the fitness of both Stephen Dooley and midfielder Barry Molloy.
Referee: Neil Doyle (Dublin)
MATCH STATS
The first leg of the 1989 semi-final was the first time Rovers and City locked horns in the FAI Cup. After following their 3-0 victory that day up with a 1-1 draw at Dalymount Park, it was Derry who prevailed to the final where they met Cork City before taking their first victory in the competition by defeating the Rebels 1-0 in a replay.
Sunday's game will be the fourth meeting between the two teams in 2014. Out of their three encounters to date, Rovers have won twice with the remaining fixture being a 1-1 draw at Tallaght on the opening weekend of the league season.
The last time the two sides faced each other in the competition was back in September 2005 when Gary Beckett's solitary second-half strike was enough to give the Brandywell men a 1-0 quarter-final victory over the Roddy Collins managed Hoops.
BETTING
Shamrock Rovers evens; draw 11/5; Derry City 11/4
PREDICTION
1-1 draw
Shamrock Rovers:
Injured:None
Doubtful: Marty Waters (knee), Patrick Cregg (calf), Barry Murphy (calf)
Suspended: None
Derry City
Injured: Danny Ventre (knee), Shaun Kelly
Doubtful: Stephen Dooley, Barry Molloy
Suspended:None
