FAI Cup Preview: Pike Rovers -v- Midleton
![Pike Rovers player-manager Robbie Williams in action against Bonagee United in 2022](https://adrcezvpwp.cloudimg.io/v7/et-production-files.s3.amazonaws.com/media/extratime/images/articles/09e58935-f2f1-447e-839e-1abe6ff2bbc6.jpg?width=825&height=550)
Pike Rovers player-manager Robbie Williams in action against Bonagee United in 2022 Credit: Clare McCahill (ETPhotos)
PIKE ROVERS
Limerick junior side Pike Rovers host Munster Senior League outfit Midleton at Crossagalla on Saturday afternoon (kick-off is at 3pm).
Pike Rovers, led by former Limerick FC defender and their player-manager Robbie Williams, reached this round of the competition following a penalty shootout win over Villa FC in the first round of the FAI Cup.
Adam Lipper scored their only goal of the game as they eventually saw off their Waterford opponents.
Pike Rovers also reached the semi-final of the FAI Junior Cup last season before falling to a narrow 1-0 defeat against eventual winners Cockhill Celtic at home.
MIDLETON
Munster Senior League champions Midleton will be hoping that they can reach the third-round of the FAI Cup when they visit Limerick on Saturday afternoon.
But they will be acutely aware that they face a stiff test on their travels.
Midleton won their league last season by two points, pipping College Corinthians to the crown.
And they reached this stage of the FAI Cup with a 3-0 win over St Francis in the first round of the competition.
They also have a number of former League of Ireland stars within their ranks to call upon.
Goalkeeper Shane Hallahan was with Treaty United, while James McCarthy and Jake Hegarty are also previously of Cobh Ramblers.
Boss Kevin Murray also lined out for Cork City and Cobh Ramblers in the League of Ireland as a player, and won the First Division with Cobh in 2007.
Referee: Aaron O’Dowd.
PREDICTION
Pike Rovers 1-2 Midleton
Pike Rovers
Injured: N/A.
Doubtful: N/A.
Suspended: None.
Midleton
Injured: N/A.
Doubtful: N/A.
Suspended: None.
FAI Cup Preview: Cork City -v- Finn Harps https://t.co/fnojueJOXrpic.twitter.com/EOum1rR1AT
— extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) July 20, 2024