FAI Cup up for grabs - Gary O'Neill
Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
Scorer of Sporting Fingal’s winning goal in the 2009 FAI Cup final,
Gary O’Neill, says that the 2010 FAI Ford Cup is “anyone’s to win”.
“A cup is anyone’s to win, as we showed last year. We were a First Division team last year and I wouldn’t say too many people backed us before the start of the competition,” states O’Neill, speaking exclusively to extratime.ie.
“If we can get home draws and decent draws the whole way through, and a bit a luck along the way [we might have a chance].”
If Fingal were to win the FAI Cup this year, they would be the first side since Longford Town in 2004 to retain the Cup and the twenty- fourth team in the competition’s history to win it two or more years in a row.
O’Neill is defiant in the face of history, and says Sporting are “confident of retaining the cup.”
“You need your bit of luck along the way in a cup competition and it’s about performing on the day, which suits some players,” said O’Neill, a league winner with Bohemians and Shelbourne.
Despite his success in domestic leagues, O’Neill’s cup win last year with Fingal was his first. “I had never won a cup until last year, I’d won leagues which are over thirty-six games and very hard as well, but the cup is just on the day- who shows up. We’ll see this year if we can retain it.”
Asked who will be Sporting Fingal’s main competition in their quest for retention of the FAI Cup, O’Neill cites the Ravens’ league rivals as the main threat.
“Obviously you look at the favourites. You look at Bohs and Shamrock Rovers, Pat’s and Dundalk the way things are going this season, they’re flying. It’ll be any of them I think, or ourselves.”
Fingal kick off their 2010 FAI Cup campaign this Friday against Mervue United, and O’Neill says that Fingal are wary of taking their First Division opponents for granted.
“Well we played them last year in their first season in the league and we did have some tricky games against them,” the striker who has netted five goals this season and is Sporting’s top scorer stated.
“We can’t be too complacent, we have to respect everyone. They’ll be down here with all guns blazing and if they can beat us it’d be a great scalp for them, so we’ll need to make sure we’re right at it.”
“A cup is anyone’s to win, as we showed last year. We were a First Division team last year and I wouldn’t say too many people backed us before the start of the competition,” states O’Neill, speaking exclusively to extratime.ie.
“If we can get home draws and decent draws the whole way through, and a bit a luck along the way [we might have a chance].”
If Fingal were to win the FAI Cup this year, they would be the first side since Longford Town in 2004 to retain the Cup and the twenty- fourth team in the competition’s history to win it two or more years in a row.
O’Neill is defiant in the face of history, and says Sporting are “confident of retaining the cup.”
“You need your bit of luck along the way in a cup competition and it’s about performing on the day, which suits some players,” said O’Neill, a league winner with Bohemians and Shelbourne.
Despite his success in domestic leagues, O’Neill’s cup win last year with Fingal was his first. “I had never won a cup until last year, I’d won leagues which are over thirty-six games and very hard as well, but the cup is just on the day- who shows up. We’ll see this year if we can retain it.”
Asked who will be Sporting Fingal’s main competition in their quest for retention of the FAI Cup, O’Neill cites the Ravens’ league rivals as the main threat.
“Obviously you look at the favourites. You look at Bohs and Shamrock Rovers, Pat’s and Dundalk the way things are going this season, they’re flying. It’ll be any of them I think, or ourselves.”
Fingal kick off their 2010 FAI Cup campaign this Friday against Mervue United, and O’Neill says that Fingal are wary of taking their First Division opponents for granted.
“Well we played them last year in their first season in the league and we did have some tricky games against them,” the striker who has netted five goals this season and is Sporting’s top scorer stated.
“We can’t be too complacent, we have to respect everyone. They’ll be down here with all guns blazing and if they can beat us it’d be a great scalp for them, so we’ll need to make sure we’re right at it.”
About Niall Farrell
Niall Farrell is our correspondent at Tolka Park, covering the goings-on at Shelbourne. You can visit Niall's website for further information and contact details- niallf.net. View Full Profile