EA Sports Cup Previews
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Cockhill Celtic v Sligo Rovers, Maginn Park, Buncrana (6.00pm)
Ulster Senior League side Cockhill Celtic face the biggest game in the club’s history when they host holders Sligo Rovers, as the Bit O’Red begin their defence of the EA Sports Cup. Managed by former Derry City and Finn Harps midfielder Donal O’Brien, the Inishowen side shocked Galway United in the previous round. Sligo are without suspended Richie Ryan while Raffaele Cretaro and Alan Kirby are doubts because of illness. Matthew Blinkhorn continues his return from a back injury.
Derry City v Mervue United, Brandywell (3.00pm)
Nine time winners Derry City host First Division Mervue Utd in their third round EA Sports Cup at the Brandywell on Monday with an early afternoon 3 p.m. kick-off.
Derry defeated Mervue’s Galway City neighbours, Salthill Devon, in round two needing extra time to see off the First Division bottom side eventually advancing with a 4-2 win. Since then Stephen Kenny’s side have won three of their league games and drew with St Pats at home on Friday night to climb to third in the Premier Division.
Mervue also took extra time to depose of Finn Harps in round two as a Rory Gaffney penalty eventually saw them through at Fahy’s Field. An exciting 5-3 win over Wexford Youths followed that, but two defeats on the bounce to Limerick and Athlone have followed since.
These two sides have met four times in LOI games and have previous cup history when Mervue, then a non-league club, travelled to the Brandywell in December 2001 in the second round of the FAI Cup but the game was won 2-0 by the home side. The other three meetings were in last season’s First Division campaign which Derry also won all three.
The Candystripes boast one of the best records in the League Cup with nine successes in all, including a four-in-a-row from 2005 to 2008, so the home side will be hoping to improve that record by advancing to the fourth round.
Mervue on the other hand will be hoping to beat Derry in a competitive game for the first time at senior level but will face a stiff task against the Premier Division high flyers. Johnny Glynn’s side have got off to a solid enough start this season and will be looking to bounce back from Friday night’s 1-0 defeat away to Athlone Town.
Both sides have no suspensions to worry about as both managers may use the game to give some of their squad a run out and some competitive action as both will be placing more importance on league matters.Mervue will be missing Damien O’Rourke (ankle) and Mike Tierney (knee) through injury.
Drogheda United v UCD, Hunky Dorys Park (7.45pm)
Drogheda United are still looking for their opening league win of the season but they caused one of the surprises of the previous round when they eliminated Bray Wanderers. UCD travel to Hunky Dorys Park looking to build momentum after an impressive performance against Shamrock Rovers on Friday that ultimately ended in an unfortunate 3-1 loss. UCD have twice reached the final of this competition in the last ten years. Drogheda United won the competition in 1984. Sean Russell is added to the Students squad but Cillian Morrison remains out with an ankle problem.
Limerick v Waterford United, Jackman Park (2.30pm)
An under pressure Waterford United travel west to face Limerick at Jackman Park on Monday in the EA Sports Cup. Neither side will treat this as a less important fixture for different reasons. (Kickoff 2.30 p.m.)
The timing of this fixture couldn’t come at a better time for either side. Limerick will go into this fixture having just had their bye week, and will look to treat this as their league match for routines sake, while Stephen Hendersons’ men need this to revive belief into the camp and fans alike.
Although the cup isn’t a main aim for any club, the Waterford boss admits it’s starting to become a more treasured competition than in recent years. “The profile of the competition has grown, especially here. We got to the final two years ago, and to the quarter final last year, so we enjoy it and we will be doing our best to have another good run in it this year”.
Limerick and Waterford matches always have an extra edge, and with a knockout tie thrown into the mix, the match itself should be a highly competitive fixture. Henderson agreed. “The fact it's a derby adds more significance, mainly to the supporters of both clubs. It would be nice to give our fans a lift, considering the last few results in the league.”
While only four points separate the sides in the league table, Stephen Henderson finds himself under far more pressure in this tie, not only for the results, but for the performances of his side in the last while. The Blues boss agrees with the blame being landed on his doorstep however. “There is always pressure on football managers, and not the players. That’s the way it should be. I want our lads to enjoy their football and to give it a real go on Monday against a very good Limerick side.”
While both managers want the result, it somehow filters across that the performance is more important, while the result is merely an insignificant scoreline. “A win would be a good boost for our lads ahead of Wexford Friday, but the main thing is to get them back enjoying their football” admits Henderson.
Waterford will be without Willie John Kiely (Knee) whilst Limerick will be missing Garry Sheahan (broken leg) and Thomas Lyons (ankle ligaments).
Monaghan Utd v Dundalk, Gortakeegan (3.00pm)
Monaghan United were beaten in the final of this competition last year but this is their opening tie of the 2011 series after receiving a bye in the last round. Included in last season’s run to the final was a defeat of Dundalk, who have a poor record at Gortakeegan. Monaghan continue to operate without injured defender Alan Byrne. Dundalk are still without Greg Bolger (thigh strain), Stephen Maher (torn groin muscles), Eoghan Osborne (fractured tibia) and Shane Guthrie (blurred vision & concussion) while Colin Hawkins is a doubt.
St Patrick's Ath v Shamrock Rovers, Richmond Park (3.00pm)
St Pat’s will be looking to build on Friday’s draw away to Derry City when they host champions and league leaders Shamrock Rovers at Richmond Park. Pete Mahon’s side won this competition for the second time in 2003 while the Hoops have remarkably lifted the cup just once – in the 1976-77 season. Rovers are in buoyant mood having clinched their place in the Setanta Sports Cup final last week.
Wexford Youths v Cork City, Ferrycarrig Park (6.00pm)
Wexford Youths were the fairytale side of the EA Sports Cup in 2008 when they went all the way to the final, where they were eventually beaten by Derry City. Youths have got off to a slow start in the First Division this season but pushed Monaghan United close on Friday. Cork City are top of the division and have scored ten goals in their last two games. Cork City FC have lifted this cup three times.
Shelbourne v Bohemians, Tolka Park (7.00pm)
Easter Monday night sees Bohemians as visitors to Tolka Park for an EA Sports Cup Round two fixture.
After last week’s game at the RSC in Waterford manager Alan Mathews described himself as “delighted with the commitment and the effort the players produced. We didn’t do ourselves justice last week [against Monaghan United] and I got the excellent response from the team – that I knew I would. We made a couple of changes. Unfortunately, we were down to ten men for more than half the game and we really had to dig in. They responded - as I knew they would – but to get the three points in the manner they did was excellent. A really good strong team performance. I’m very happy with it.”
Alan Mathews has indicated that he would like to give some of the players who been on the bench a bit of game time. He hopes to have Stephen Paisley fit again and be able to make a contribution to this game.
Man of the Match in Waterford last Thursday, Lorcan Fitzgerald, is a doubt for the Bohemians game, still suffering the effects of the tackle at the end of the Waterford game, which earned the Blues player a straight red card.
Again, Shels have no suspensions for this game, Mulhall’s red card taking effect from next Friday.
Ulster Senior League side Cockhill Celtic face the biggest game in the club’s history when they host holders Sligo Rovers, as the Bit O’Red begin their defence of the EA Sports Cup. Managed by former Derry City and Finn Harps midfielder Donal O’Brien, the Inishowen side shocked Galway United in the previous round. Sligo are without suspended Richie Ryan while Raffaele Cretaro and Alan Kirby are doubts because of illness. Matthew Blinkhorn continues his return from a back injury.
Derry City v Mervue United, Brandywell (3.00pm)
Nine time winners Derry City host First Division Mervue Utd in their third round EA Sports Cup at the Brandywell on Monday with an early afternoon 3 p.m. kick-off.
Derry defeated Mervue’s Galway City neighbours, Salthill Devon, in round two needing extra time to see off the First Division bottom side eventually advancing with a 4-2 win. Since then Stephen Kenny’s side have won three of their league games and drew with St Pats at home on Friday night to climb to third in the Premier Division.
Mervue also took extra time to depose of Finn Harps in round two as a Rory Gaffney penalty eventually saw them through at Fahy’s Field. An exciting 5-3 win over Wexford Youths followed that, but two defeats on the bounce to Limerick and Athlone have followed since.
These two sides have met four times in LOI games and have previous cup history when Mervue, then a non-league club, travelled to the Brandywell in December 2001 in the second round of the FAI Cup but the game was won 2-0 by the home side. The other three meetings were in last season’s First Division campaign which Derry also won all three.
The Candystripes boast one of the best records in the League Cup with nine successes in all, including a four-in-a-row from 2005 to 2008, so the home side will be hoping to improve that record by advancing to the fourth round.
Mervue on the other hand will be hoping to beat Derry in a competitive game for the first time at senior level but will face a stiff task against the Premier Division high flyers. Johnny Glynn’s side have got off to a solid enough start this season and will be looking to bounce back from Friday night’s 1-0 defeat away to Athlone Town.
Both sides have no suspensions to worry about as both managers may use the game to give some of their squad a run out and some competitive action as both will be placing more importance on league matters.Mervue will be missing Damien O’Rourke (ankle) and Mike Tierney (knee) through injury.
Drogheda United v UCD, Hunky Dorys Park (7.45pm)
Drogheda United are still looking for their opening league win of the season but they caused one of the surprises of the previous round when they eliminated Bray Wanderers. UCD travel to Hunky Dorys Park looking to build momentum after an impressive performance against Shamrock Rovers on Friday that ultimately ended in an unfortunate 3-1 loss. UCD have twice reached the final of this competition in the last ten years. Drogheda United won the competition in 1984. Sean Russell is added to the Students squad but Cillian Morrison remains out with an ankle problem.
Limerick v Waterford United, Jackman Park (2.30pm)
An under pressure Waterford United travel west to face Limerick at Jackman Park on Monday in the EA Sports Cup. Neither side will treat this as a less important fixture for different reasons. (Kickoff 2.30 p.m.)
The timing of this fixture couldn’t come at a better time for either side. Limerick will go into this fixture having just had their bye week, and will look to treat this as their league match for routines sake, while Stephen Hendersons’ men need this to revive belief into the camp and fans alike.
Although the cup isn’t a main aim for any club, the Waterford boss admits it’s starting to become a more treasured competition than in recent years. “The profile of the competition has grown, especially here. We got to the final two years ago, and to the quarter final last year, so we enjoy it and we will be doing our best to have another good run in it this year”.
Limerick and Waterford matches always have an extra edge, and with a knockout tie thrown into the mix, the match itself should be a highly competitive fixture. Henderson agreed. “The fact it's a derby adds more significance, mainly to the supporters of both clubs. It would be nice to give our fans a lift, considering the last few results in the league.”
While only four points separate the sides in the league table, Stephen Henderson finds himself under far more pressure in this tie, not only for the results, but for the performances of his side in the last while. The Blues boss agrees with the blame being landed on his doorstep however. “There is always pressure on football managers, and not the players. That’s the way it should be. I want our lads to enjoy their football and to give it a real go on Monday against a very good Limerick side.”
While both managers want the result, it somehow filters across that the performance is more important, while the result is merely an insignificant scoreline. “A win would be a good boost for our lads ahead of Wexford Friday, but the main thing is to get them back enjoying their football” admits Henderson.
Waterford will be without Willie John Kiely (Knee) whilst Limerick will be missing Garry Sheahan (broken leg) and Thomas Lyons (ankle ligaments).
Monaghan Utd v Dundalk, Gortakeegan (3.00pm)
Monaghan United were beaten in the final of this competition last year but this is their opening tie of the 2011 series after receiving a bye in the last round. Included in last season’s run to the final was a defeat of Dundalk, who have a poor record at Gortakeegan. Monaghan continue to operate without injured defender Alan Byrne. Dundalk are still without Greg Bolger (thigh strain), Stephen Maher (torn groin muscles), Eoghan Osborne (fractured tibia) and Shane Guthrie (blurred vision & concussion) while Colin Hawkins is a doubt.
St Patrick's Ath v Shamrock Rovers, Richmond Park (3.00pm)
St Pat’s will be looking to build on Friday’s draw away to Derry City when they host champions and league leaders Shamrock Rovers at Richmond Park. Pete Mahon’s side won this competition for the second time in 2003 while the Hoops have remarkably lifted the cup just once – in the 1976-77 season. Rovers are in buoyant mood having clinched their place in the Setanta Sports Cup final last week.
Wexford Youths v Cork City, Ferrycarrig Park (6.00pm)
Wexford Youths were the fairytale side of the EA Sports Cup in 2008 when they went all the way to the final, where they were eventually beaten by Derry City. Youths have got off to a slow start in the First Division this season but pushed Monaghan United close on Friday. Cork City are top of the division and have scored ten goals in their last two games. Cork City FC have lifted this cup three times.
Shelbourne v Bohemians, Tolka Park (7.00pm)
Easter Monday night sees Bohemians as visitors to Tolka Park for an EA Sports Cup Round two fixture.
After last week’s game at the RSC in Waterford manager Alan Mathews described himself as “delighted with the commitment and the effort the players produced. We didn’t do ourselves justice last week [against Monaghan United] and I got the excellent response from the team – that I knew I would. We made a couple of changes. Unfortunately, we were down to ten men for more than half the game and we really had to dig in. They responded - as I knew they would – but to get the three points in the manner they did was excellent. A really good strong team performance. I’m very happy with it.”
Alan Mathews has indicated that he would like to give some of the players who been on the bench a bit of game time. He hopes to have Stephen Paisley fit again and be able to make a contribution to this game.
Man of the Match in Waterford last Thursday, Lorcan Fitzgerald, is a doubt for the Bohemians game, still suffering the effects of the tackle at the end of the Waterford game, which earned the Blues player a straight red card.
Again, Shels have no suspensions for this game, Mulhall’s red card taking effect from next Friday.
