St. Patrick's Athletic -v- Shamrock Rovers

SAINT PATRICK’S ATHLETIC

St. Patrick's Athletic welcome Shamrock Rovers to Richmond Park on Tuesday with the prize of a place in the semi-final of the EA Sports Cup up for grabs.

Last Friday, the Saints left it late to beat Bohemians in the Dublin Derby thanks to Christy Fagan’s two late goals.  Pat’s manager Liam Buckley spoke about that game to stpatsfc.com and said “Friday was a great win and a big three points for us.  However, we’ve got to move on and now we’re going out and try and beat Rovers.

“This game is a quarter-final of one of our major domestic competitions, so it’s a big game and one that we want to win. Rovers go into most of their matches as favourites so we know it’ll be huge test for us. That being said though, we believe we can go out and win.”

Pat’s have virtually a full squad to call on according to Buckley.  “While one or two of the lads have a few bumps and bruises from the Bohemians game, we’ve the same squad to choose from and that’s a big plus for us.”

It is nine years since the Inchicore outfit last won the League Cup trophy, when they beat Longford Town 1-0 in the final, and Pat’s player James Chambers is looking forward to the opportunity of making it one step closer to a cup final. “The game is another chance to get a final,” said the 25 year-old midfielder. “You play in the league for 10 or 15 years maybe and there’s not that many people who can say that they’ve played in or even been to a cup final.

So it’s another chance to go one step closer, but we know that Rovers are league champions and the game won’t be easy. Hopefully though, we’ll get a result.”

SHAMROCK ROVERS

Like St Pat’s, it is back-to-back Dublin derbies for Shamrock Rovers who overcame Shelbourne 3-2 last Thursday night in the Airtricity League with Gary Twigg getting the 79^th minute winner.  For Tuesday’s EA Sports Cup quarter final, Rovers will be hoping to knock St Pat’s out of another of this season’s cup competitions.  Last month, they defeated the Saints 3-0 in the quarter final of the Leinster Senior Cup in a game played in Tallaght Stadium.

Rovers progressed to this quarter-final by beating SD Galway in Terryland Park and played a reasonably strong side in that game.  They will expect to do likewise in Inchicore on Tuesday before they take on Bohemians in the league on Friday evening. 

Hoops boss Stephen Kenny, speaking ahead of the match, noted the number of key games that are facing Rovers, starting with Tuesday’s quarter-final.  “This is a big two weeks for us. We have five Dublin derbies in the space of just two weeks. We started that period well against Shelbourne on Friday night, by getting the win. And we want to keep that going. Winning becomes a habit and that is important for us at that stage."

MATCH STATS

The last time these sides met at Richmond Park, St Pat’s ran riot over Rovers winning 5-1 in the Airtricity League in front of the live TV cameras.

St Pat’s knocked Rovers out of the EA Sports Cup last season on penalties after the game ended 1-1.  Scorer for Rovers last season was Dean Kelly who of course is now playing with Pats.

Gary Twigg has scored 83 career goals to date for Shamrock Rovers with four of them coming in the League Cup having made only two substitute appearances in this competition.

BETTING

St Pat’s 6/4, Draw 11/5, Rovers 6/4

PREDICTION

Shamrock Rovers to use the experience of their two penalty shoot out wins already this season to progress after extra time.

St. Patrick’s Athletic Injury News: Mark Rossiter

St. Patrick’s Athletic Suspension News: None

Shamrock Rovers Injury News: Ciaran Kilduff, Sean Gannon

Shamrock Rovers Suspension News: None