FAI Cup a side issue for Gormley
Credit:
Bray Wanderers boss Eddie Gormley insists staying in the Premier
Division is his main priority for the rest of this season, despite
having an FAI FORD Cup quarter-final to look forward to. Bray visit
Longford Town on Friday night in a bid to put themselves in the draw
for the semi-finals. However, Gormley wouldn't swap staying in the top
flight for lifting the cup.
“I wouldn't disrespect the Cup, but the league is obviously the priority. We still want to do well in the Cup, but we would rather be in the Premier Division next season than winning a cup. It's a lot more rewarding to stay in the league but in saying that we'll be doing our utmost to try and win the cup.”
If Bray are to go into the semi finals they must overcome a Longford Town team who knocked out Galway United away from home in the previous round. The Seagulls are currently rooted to the bottom of the Premier Division and Gormley knows they'll have to be at their best to beat Longford.
“Playing Longford isn't going to be easy. Any team who can beat Galway on their own patch has to be considered a force to be reckoned with. We'll take nothing for granted, we'll go up there playing the strongest squad possible and hopefully lady luck shines on us on the night.”
Gormley also added: “It's going to be a very tough game. We're under no illusions, we know we can't just show up on the night, that's not the way Cup football is. To win the Cup you need a certain amount of luck. The confidence from the result against Bohemians on Friday night is a key factor. The players have gained a lot of confidence from it, but we won't be silly enough to think we're in the hat for the next round, because that's not the case. We'll go out, work hard and stick to the way we play and hopefully at the end of it we'll be in a semi final."
Both teams have previously won the competition twice. Bray in 1990 and 1999. While Longford won back-to-back titles in 2003 and 2004. They also made the final two years ago but went down 1-0 against Cork City.
With both teams at the wrong end of their respective league tables, a Cup semi final would surely bring some consolation to the winning team of this intriguing tie. It would also leave them only one game away from a Cup Final which will take place this year in Tallaght Stadium.
“I wouldn't disrespect the Cup, but the league is obviously the priority. We still want to do well in the Cup, but we would rather be in the Premier Division next season than winning a cup. It's a lot more rewarding to stay in the league but in saying that we'll be doing our utmost to try and win the cup.”
If Bray are to go into the semi finals they must overcome a Longford Town team who knocked out Galway United away from home in the previous round. The Seagulls are currently rooted to the bottom of the Premier Division and Gormley knows they'll have to be at their best to beat Longford.
“Playing Longford isn't going to be easy. Any team who can beat Galway on their own patch has to be considered a force to be reckoned with. We'll take nothing for granted, we'll go up there playing the strongest squad possible and hopefully lady luck shines on us on the night.”
Gormley also added: “It's going to be a very tough game. We're under no illusions, we know we can't just show up on the night, that's not the way Cup football is. To win the Cup you need a certain amount of luck. The confidence from the result against Bohemians on Friday night is a key factor. The players have gained a lot of confidence from it, but we won't be silly enough to think we're in the hat for the next round, because that's not the case. We'll go out, work hard and stick to the way we play and hopefully at the end of it we'll be in a semi final."
Both teams have previously won the competition twice. Bray in 1990 and 1999. While Longford won back-to-back titles in 2003 and 2004. They also made the final two years ago but went down 1-0 against Cork City.
With both teams at the wrong end of their respective league tables, a Cup semi final would surely bring some consolation to the winning team of this intriguing tie. It would also leave them only one game away from a Cup Final which will take place this year in Tallaght Stadium.
About Frankie Lally
Frankie Lally writes for a number of publications. You can contact Frankie on Twitter at @FrankieLally
View Full Profile