FAI Cup Preview: St. Patrick’s Athletic -v- Wexford

SAINT PATRICK’S ATHLETIC

The Saints are seeking to make their first FAI Cup semi-final since 2016 if they can eliminate Wexford in Friday’s quarter-final at Richmond Park (kick off 7.45pm). St. Pat’s face First Division opposition in the cup for the third time this campaign. 

St. Pat’s come into the game on the back of a disappointing 2-0 loss in the league away to Sligo last weekend but back in Inchicore they are in a rich vein of form – winning their last seven matches in Dublin 8 – six in the league along with the 6-0 victory over Bray Wanderers in the first round of the cup.

The Athletic earned their place in this round of the cup having won a penalty shoot-out in Turner’s Cross against Cork City – the side who beat them in the 2016 semi-final en-route to winning the cup. 

Head Coach Stephen O’Donnell said “it is a game we are really looking forward to. It's the quarter-finals, and you are two games away from The Aviva. We have been in really good home form recently so hopefully the crowd get behind us as always. We are hoping to get through to the semi-finals. 

“Wexford are coming off the back of a good 3-1 win over Cobh Ramblers so their confidence will be high, and they will be looking forward to the game themselves. 

“Ian Ryan has come in and has done very well. The games they have been on the wrong end of have been tight affairs, so he has improved them massively. 

“They have good players, they play to a certain system, they're a young team and they have good legs and energy. 

“They will be eyeing this game on Friday as a massive opportunity to really stake a claim as a club and as players, so we are going to have to be ready for that."

Saints top scorer Ronan Coughlan is looking for his team to bounce back after their league setback last week." We are obviously disappointed from the league result against Sligo Rovers, but you just have to move on quickly. The cup is coming up and we want to go all the way, so we are looking forward to it.

“We are in a good place. We have worked hard throughout the whole year and that is showing on the league table. We are up there fighting when people probably didn't give us much of a chance, so the momentum is good, and the camp is good so we are looking forward to playing Wexford in the cup.

“Everyone wants to be in the Aviva come the end of the season. We have to turn up and be at our best because anyone can get turned over on any given day in the cup."

WEXFORD

Wexford will come to Inchicore on Friday night looking for their first ever win over St. Pat’s. The sides have faced each other in competitive action on six occasions with the Saints winning on each occasion.

Wexford have only won once in the league on their travels this season (a 2-0 win over Cabinteely back in May).

However, despite propping up the First Division table, the visitors come into the game in good form – three wins, a draw and one defeat from their last five outings  including a 3-1 home victory last time out in the league against Cobh Ramblers.



In the FAI Cup second round they defeated Killester Donnycarney 2-0 having eliminated Cabinteely in the first round back in July winning 3-0 in Ferrycarrig Park.

The teams did meet earlier this year in a pre-season friendly when Wexford traveled to Richmond in a match where St. Pat's ran out 4-0 winners thanks to goals from Ben McCormack, Chris Forrester, Jamie Lennon and Bill King. 

Referee: Derek Tomney

MATCH STATS

2014 is the last time that the Saints lifted the FAI Cup when a 2-0 win over Derry City secured them a third cup crown.

It is 13 years since the two sides faced each other in the FAI Cup. A John Murphy double along with an early Mark Quigley strike set The Saints on their way to a 3-1 win against Wexford Youths.



When Wexford last played in the Premier Division back in 2016, the Saints beat them 4-0 and 4-1 at Richmond Park along with a 1-0 win in Ferrcarrig Park thanks to an Ian Bermingham goal.

PREDICTION
2-0 home win

St. Patrick’s Athletic

Injured: Robbie Benson, John Mountney, Lee Desmond, Adam Murphy.

Suspended: None.

Wexford

Injured: None. 

Unavailable: Kyle Robinson, Cian Kelly (due to loan arrangement)

Suspended: None.

    About Macdara Ferris

    Macdara Ferris is a contributor since 2007 to Hoops Scene (Shamrock Rovers' match day programme) and is the co-author of two books on Shamrock Rovers - 'Tallaght Time: Shamrock Rovers 2009 to 2012' (with Karl … View Full Profile