FAI Cup Preview: Sligo Rovers -v- Cobh Wanderers

Sligo Rovers

Sligo Rovers host Cobh Wanderers at the Showgrounds on Sunday evening (kick-off is at 6.00pm). 

The Bit O’Red fans will have fond memories of their most recent encounter against the Corkmen as a 4-0 victory in 2015 saw current Rovers boss John Russell experience a victory as a player he will hope to repeat as a manager nine years later.

The two time FAI Cup winner oversees a squad which has welcomed a number of new arrivals over the course of the summer transfer window with loanees Jack Henry-Francis and Luke Pearce poised to make their FAI Cup debuts after arriving in Connacht on loan from Arsenal and Cardiff City respectively.

However, there are a number of absentees to the matchday squad with JR Wilson suspended and injuries to John Mahon and Kailin Barlow ruling the Academy graduates out of action.

Speaking to David Goulden and published on the Sligo Rovers website, Russell was looking forward to the game,

“There’s always a real excitement when it comes to the cup and the early rounds”, he says.

“I was there for two wins and was lucky to be involved. We all know how much the FAI Cup means to Rovers. We probably haven’t done ourselves much justice in the competition in the last few years but we’re going into this game in a really good place. 

“I would dearly love to bring this club to another cup final and win it but we can’t think about that at the moment. We have to win on Sunday.

“We have prepared in the same way as we would for any game. We know Cobh aren’t coming all the way to Sligo just to play a game of football. They have an experienced manager in Stephen Henderson who will know what it takes to get through and we have to be wary of them.

“We are in good form in the league the last few weeks but this stands for nothing when we kick-off. We know we have a real job on our hands on Sunday and that’s evident by the fact that we rested a lot of the lads for the Everton game.”

Cobh Wanderers

Wanderers travel north west to the Showgrounds after a pulsating 5-4 victory over fellow Corkonians College Corinthians in the first round of the competition.

Having fallen 3-1 behind with 55 minutes gone, a four goal haul from former Cobh Ramblers striker Ciarán Griffin- the final goal a 95th minute penalty- saw the visitors overhaul their hosts and render Keelan Crowley’s hat trick for Corinthians as ultimately futile.

Making his debut in the Wanderers dugout will be ex Cobh Ramblers boss Stephen Henderson. The Dubliner, who most recently departed First Division outfit Longford Town, was appointed at the end of the Munster Senior League season where Wanderers finished 5th in the Premier Division.

Having represented the club during his stellar playing career, he returns to the club with a management team of Darragh Burke, Ian Ryan, Timmy O’Shea and John Meade.

Wanderers have a squad packed with both youth and experience- skipper Dylan McNamara is a stalwart at the club alongside David Curran, David Stack and Mark Power. The aforementioned Griffin and Nathan O’Connell have League of Ireland experience with Cobh Ramblers, keeper Arthur Nganou lined out for both Cobh Ramblers and Kerry FC,  while defender Sean Cummins came through the Cork City underage ranks with Loic Nguefang, Mikey Foley and Adam Hastings Gilley playing underage with Cobh Ramblers. 

Wanderers are out of their league season and face an uphill task against a Sligo Rovers outfit who recently overcame reigning Premier Division champions Shamrock Rovers, Derry City and Bohemians on their current three match winning streak.

However, as Stephen Henderson showed with Ramblers a number of seasons ago, Cobh sides can often spring a surprise in cup competitions.

Referee: Eoghan O’Shea

PREDICTION 

Sligo Rovers 3-1 Cobh Wanderers 

Sligo Rovers

Injured: John Mahon, Cailin Barlow 

Doubtful: N/A. 

Suspended: JR Wilson

Cobh Wanderers

Injured: N/A

Doubtful: N/A. 

Suspended: None.