FAI Cup Preview: Shelbourne -v- Athlone Town

SHELBOURNE

Shelbourne will put their play-off aspirations on hiatus when they welcome Athlone Town to Tolka Park in the First Round of the Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup on Friday evening (kick-off 7.45pm).

The Reds aim to continue their impressive recent league form by advancing to the next round of the FAI Cup at the expense of the hapless Athlone Town.

Shels picked up another important win last Friday night with a 3-1 victory over Cobh Ramblers at Tolka Park.

Shelbourne hit the front early on with a James English goal after just three minutes but found themselves pegged back a little over 20 minutes later when Chris Hull equalised for Ramblers. 

The Reds regained the lead 16 minutes from time through Alan Byrne and English sealed all three points for the home side when he notched his second goal from the penalty spot three minutes later.

Shels are unbeaten in their last four competitive matches with wins over Cobh (3-1) and Longford Town (6-1) in the league and Longford Town (1-2) in the quarter-finals of the Leinster Senior Cup. The Drumcondra side have lost just one match in their last five games which was a 1-0 defeat to playoff rivals Drogheda United at Tolka Park in July.

"We have a big squad, we have a lot of players that need game-time as well, but we have two cup games next week in the FAI Cup against Athlone we’ll go with the strongest team as we can. We want to get into the next round," manager Owen Heary told journalist Aaron Clarke.

“We have Bluebell in the semi-final of the Leinster Cup on Monday and we’ll probably put the young players out in that. Hoping that they can get us through to the final but it is important that we get the recovery right and keep doing what we’re doing – it’s another two home games and we want to win both of them.”

Heary is expecting a difficult encounter and not taking Athlone Town likely. “We know Athlone are a decent enough side at the moment – Terry has done a good job there – UCD only beat them 1-0. Drogheda got late goals against them as well, so we know they’re going to be organised.

"They’re going to be fit and strong so we need to make sure that we do our work as well, come Friday.”

Heary has almost a fully fit squad to choose from with Mark Hughes the sole absentee with a hamstring issue and there are no suspensions.

ATHLONE TOWN

Athlone Town will make the tough trip to the capital in a bid to take the scalp of Shelbourne in the cup and give themselves a much needed confidence boost.

The Town were on the end of 3-0 drubbing at the hands of Longford Town at the City Calling Stadium last Friday night leaving themselves firmly rooted to the bottom of the table.

Two first half goals from Baba Issaka and Aodh Dervin had the home side firmly in control at the break and a third goal from Jamie Hollywood nine minutes into the second half all but ended any hopes that Athlone had of taking anything from the game.

Athlone have been simply woeful in the league so far having failed to register a single win so far having just two points from their 23 league matches and a goal difference of minus 65.

Athlone Town would be looking to win the FAI Cup for only the second time in their history having previously won the cup in 1924 in just their second season playing in the league of Ireland.

Referee: Adriano Reale

MATCH FACTS

Shelbourne and Athlone Town have met each other five times in the FAI Cup to date with Athlone winning 2-0 in the 2^ndround in 1924. Shels won 4-0 in the semi-final in 1925 and won 4-1 in the 1^stround in 1927. Shels won 2-0 once again in the 1^stround in 1968, and their last time victory was in 2^ndround in 1975 with Shels edging it 2-1.

Shels and The Town have met three times already this season with Shelbourne winning both league meetings 7-0 at Tolka Park in April and 5-0 at Strokestown Road in June, with Athlone managing a hard fought 1-0 win at home in the Leinster Senior League.

Shelbourne won all four meetings last season 4-1, 2-1, 3-1, and 4-1.

Shelbourne have a good pedigree in the cup and are seeking to lift the trophy for the eighth time, having already won the FAI Cup in 1939, 1960, 1963, 1993, 1996, 1997, and 2000.

BETTING

Shelbourne 1-16; Draw 8/1; Athlone Town 20/1.

PREDICTION

Shelbourne 3-0 Athlone Town

Shelbourne

Injured: Mark Hughes (hamstring)

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

Athlone Town

Injured: NA

Doubtful: NA

Suspended: NA

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