Shamrock Rovers -v- UCD
Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
After their historic result in Belgrade last Thursday, Shamrock Rovers return to terra firma on Monday night to face UCD in the fourth round of the FAI Ford Cup. (Kick off, 8pm)
Rovers will no doubt receive a hero’s welcome when they step out onto the Tallaght pitch on Monday evening but manager Michael O’Neill will be keen for his side to demonstrate their ability to focus on the matter in hand. With a series of mouth watering Europa League ties lying ahead it will be crucial for the Hoops to maintain concentration on domestic affairs too.
“This game is just what we need after the week just gone”, O’Neill said. “It will help us re-focus and get our minds back on domestic affairs. We trained this morning (Sunday) and all the players had their minds completely on the game, which was great to see.”
Rovers are on a run of six unbeaten games. not having lost since the home leg against FC Copenhagen in the Champions League. Five of those six games were won with one ending in a draw against Partizan Belgrade, a sequence which included a 6-0 league win over their Cup opponents UCD.
In fact, Rovers’ three league outings against the Students have yielded 15 goals with only 2 conceded. It is a record which should lend as much self confidence to the home side as it will trepidation to the visitors but, predictably, O’Neill has no intention of allowing his players to take the Students lightly.
“UCD will be coming to try and cause an upset”, he said, “as that’s how a win for them would be seen. But the cup is a big priority for us, especially after we were beaten in the final last year. Our two big wins against UCD this year will probably make them even keener to beat us. Every team has a sense of pride and I think that pride will be a factor in the game; they will want to beat us”.
Rovers will be without four first team members on the night with Ken Oman, Dean Kelly and Conor McCormack missing out through injury, while Karl Moore is cup tied having played for Galway United in the third round.
UCD boss, Martin Russell, may have a full squad to choose from but must wait on Ciaran Nangle and Robbie Creevy who are doubts with shin and back complaints respectively. His side have not won any of their last five games and have won only one of their last 13 league outings.
Russell will probably be hoping that the Hoops have had their heads turned by their European success and, given his side’s record against Rovers this season, that may represent their best chance of securing a positive result.
“Rovers have done magnificently in creating history”, Russell said. “They deserve a big crowd on their domestic return. This game is a fantastic challenge for us. We are looking forward to attempting something special ourselves.”
The Students have twice conceded six goals against O’Neill’s men this season, and it may take some post-Euro fatigue if Russell’s team are to realise that ‘something special’ on Monday night.
Shamrock Rovers
Injured: Dean Kelly, Ken Oman, Conor McCormack.
Doubtful: None.
Cup Tied: Karl Moore.
Suspended: None.
UCD
Injured: None.
Doubtful: Ciaran Nangle, Robbie Creevy.
Suspended: None.
Referee: Tom Connolly.
Paddy Power Odds: Rovers 1/5/ Draw 5/1; UCD 10/1.
Extratime prediction: Rovers to nick it 1-0.
Rovers will no doubt receive a hero’s welcome when they step out onto the Tallaght pitch on Monday evening but manager Michael O’Neill will be keen for his side to demonstrate their ability to focus on the matter in hand. With a series of mouth watering Europa League ties lying ahead it will be crucial for the Hoops to maintain concentration on domestic affairs too.
“This game is just what we need after the week just gone”, O’Neill said. “It will help us re-focus and get our minds back on domestic affairs. We trained this morning (Sunday) and all the players had their minds completely on the game, which was great to see.”
Rovers are on a run of six unbeaten games. not having lost since the home leg against FC Copenhagen in the Champions League. Five of those six games were won with one ending in a draw against Partizan Belgrade, a sequence which included a 6-0 league win over their Cup opponents UCD.
In fact, Rovers’ three league outings against the Students have yielded 15 goals with only 2 conceded. It is a record which should lend as much self confidence to the home side as it will trepidation to the visitors but, predictably, O’Neill has no intention of allowing his players to take the Students lightly.
“UCD will be coming to try and cause an upset”, he said, “as that’s how a win for them would be seen. But the cup is a big priority for us, especially after we were beaten in the final last year. Our two big wins against UCD this year will probably make them even keener to beat us. Every team has a sense of pride and I think that pride will be a factor in the game; they will want to beat us”.
Rovers will be without four first team members on the night with Ken Oman, Dean Kelly and Conor McCormack missing out through injury, while Karl Moore is cup tied having played for Galway United in the third round.
UCD boss, Martin Russell, may have a full squad to choose from but must wait on Ciaran Nangle and Robbie Creevy who are doubts with shin and back complaints respectively. His side have not won any of their last five games and have won only one of their last 13 league outings.
Russell will probably be hoping that the Hoops have had their heads turned by their European success and, given his side’s record against Rovers this season, that may represent their best chance of securing a positive result.
“Rovers have done magnificently in creating history”, Russell said. “They deserve a big crowd on their domestic return. This game is a fantastic challenge for us. We are looking forward to attempting something special ourselves.”
The Students have twice conceded six goals against O’Neill’s men this season, and it may take some post-Euro fatigue if Russell’s team are to realise that ‘something special’ on Monday night.
Shamrock Rovers
Injured: Dean Kelly, Ken Oman, Conor McCormack.
Doubtful: None.
Cup Tied: Karl Moore.
Suspended: None.
UCD
Injured: None.
Doubtful: Ciaran Nangle, Robbie Creevy.
Suspended: None.
Referee: Tom Connolly.
Paddy Power Odds: Rovers 1/5/ Draw 5/1; UCD 10/1.
Extratime prediction: Rovers to nick it 1-0.
About Simon O'Gorman
Simon O'Gorman began reporting for Extratime in 2010. He remembers Milltown and Flower Lodge and, back in the mists of time, saw Diego Maradona play at Lansdowne Road. He now lives in Co Kildare and … View Full Profile