FAI Cup Preview: Dundalk -v- Shamrock Rovers
Daniel Kelly celebrates for Dundalk Credit: Ben Whitley (ETPhotos)
With additional reporting from Macdara Ferris
DUNDALK
Stephen O’Donnell’s Dundalk host Shamrock Rovers in a mouth-watering FAI Cup tie at Oriel Park on Sunday evening (kick-off is at 5pm).
The Lilywhites came out on top the last time the two met at the Co Louth venue last month.
However, Dundalk will be wary that the Hoops will be seeking revenge for that, and their exit from the Champions League earlier this week on Sunday. “Rovers have more depth in their squad so from that point of view, they’d be more suited to banging out the games close together.
“It’s nice to be in this little phase where we’re bouncing into big games every couple of days,” O’Donnell said this week. “They’re coming thick and fast and they don’t come any bigger than Rovers at Oriel.
“We beat them at Oriel Park in the league a few weeks ago, and we played well.
“They’ll be a bit wounded after going out of the Champions League this week but we feel confident against any team at Oriel and it’s a chance for us to knock them out.”
SHAMROCK ROVERS
After slumping out of the Champions League with a whimper, Shamrock Rovers know the importance of getting back to winning ways at home.
The Hoops were beaten 2-1 away to Breidablik on Tuesday night, and that condemned them to a 3-1 aggregate loss to the Icelandic champions.
And they will now play Hungarian giants Ferencvaros in the Europa Conference League following their exit from the Champions League qualifiers.
But before that they must play Dundalk in the FAI Cup first, knowing that they face a tough test with the big games mounting in the coming weeks.
“When you play at the level we play at, you are involved in big games every week,” Stephen Bradley told extratime.com earlier this week.
“You are going to lose some games and that is part of it. You have to move on quickly and you can't dwell on it.
“If you do, before you know it Sunday is upon us and you aren't ready or prepared.
“The (FAI Cup) competition is one that we know means a lot to the club and the fans. It is a competition we want to go far in.”
Referee: Rob Harvey.
PREDICTION
Dundalk 0-2 Shamrock Rovers
Dundalk
Injured: Robbie Benson, John Mountney, Keith Ward, Darren Brownlie
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.
Shamrock Rovers
Injured: Jack Byrne, Neil Farrugia, Trevor Clarke.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.
