Setanta Cup First Round - Team News

After what seems like an eternity, competitive football makes it’s welcome return to League of Ireland grounds tonight in the form of the Setanta Cup First Round.

In what is nothing more than a coincidence, all League or Ireland clubs have home advantage for the first legs, while their northern counterparts will have home advantage for the second legs.

Extratime.ie brings you a team news for all of tonight’s League of Ireland representatives below.

Cork City vs Cliftonville

Cork City make their return to the Setanta Cup this evening with a tie against Danske Bank Premiership pace-setters Cliftonville.

Tommy Dunne will send the Leesiders out with a new look attack with new signings Danny Furlong and Daryl Kavanagh likely to start in place of the departed Vinny Sullivan (Waterford United) and Davin O’Neill (Cobh Ramblers).

Brian Lenihan remains sidelined while John Dunleavy misses out through illness. Denis Behan will have to wait to make his second debut for the Rebel Army, as he picked up an injury in Saturday’s 6-1 friendly win over Longford Town.

Speaking to CorkCityFC.ie ahead of the game, Cork City manager Tommy Dunne said that his side will face a tough test: “I have watched Cliftonville a number of times, and they are a very good side. As we know, they are the strongest team in the Irish League and they are a very well-balanced side.

“They are physically strong throughout the side, they can play, they are very solid at the back and they are scoring plenty of goals too.”

“There is often a lot of talk about the merits of playing away from home in the first leg, but looking at it from where I stand and where the team is at, I think being at home first is not a bad thing.

“If we can play well and keep the tie alive going up to Belfast, then we will be in a good position for the second leg when we will be fitter and have a couple of games under our belts.”

Live updates of Cork City versus Cliftonville can be found here.

Drogheda United vs Portadown

Drogheda United welcome Portadown to Hunky Dorys Park tonight without the services of captain Alan McNally who is out for six to eight weeks with a knee injury.

Defender Brian Gannon is also on the injury list as Mick Cooke looks to carry the momentum from last season into 2013 and the Setanta Cup.

“This is my first time in the competition and I'm very much looking forward to it. I was at Portadown's cup game yesterday and they are a very good side. Physically they are a very big side also.

“I would have liked to have one or two more games under our belt, but we've won both our friendlies and kept two clean sheets. Training is very competitive and ultimately everyone is looking forward to getting back to competitive football.

“The Setanta cup is a competition I'll be doing my best to stay in for as long as possible and hopefully we can exit as winners.”

Live updates of Drogheda United versus Portadown can be found here.

Shamrock Rovers vs Coleraine

Trevor Croly takes charge of his first competitive match as Shamrock Rovers manager as Coleraine make the journey to Tallaght.

Shamrock Rovers are ranked joint favourites for this year’s Setanta Cup most bookies, but they will have to kick off their campaign without Richard Brush (groin), Billy Dennehy (ankle) and Lorcan Shannon (quad) who are all ruled out through injury. New signings Barry Murphy (groin) and Danny Ledwith (knee) are both doubts for the game.

New Hoops boss, Trevor Croly said: “I’ve seen Coleraine twice now, including their game on Saturday, and they’re a good side. They scored a late goal to win that game which shows they are fit and hungry to get results. It will be a tough game for us, but it’s one we’re very much looking forward to.

“We had a good game on Thursday against Longford. I think you could tell on Thursday night that the players’ minds were very much on this Setanta Cup game. Training is all well and good, but it’s all about games and the players are really looking forward to getting back to competitive action.”

Live updates of Shamrock Rovers versus Coleraine can be found here.

St Patrick’s Athletic vs Glentoran

Glentoran are the visitors to Inchicore and St Patrick’s Athletic tonight in their televised encounter at the earlier time of 7:30pm.

Liam Buckley’s squad includes seven new signings with former Setanta Cup winner poised to make his debut for the Saints.

Buckley will have to plan without the services of John Russell however who misses out through suspension following his red card versus Cliftonville in last year’s competition. Jake Kelly and Greg Bolger are both doubts with thigh strains.

Speaking to stpatsfc.com ahead of the game, Buckley insisted that The Glens are a much better side than their position in the Danske Bank Premiership suggests.

"Glentoran will be a tough test for us on Monday as they play some great football at times. They’re sixth at the moment with a game in hand, but they’re definitely up there with the best sides in their league."

"I watched them last week against Portadown, they won 1-0 with 10 men and were very impressive. In a game with a lot of recognised players, especially for League of Ireland fans with the likes of Gary Twigg playing, they showed they are a very good side technically. 

"We’ll have to make sure our retention of the ball is very good as they will pose a serious test."

Live updates of St Patrick’s Athletic versus Glentoran can be found here.

All ties will kick off at 7:45pm with the exception of St Patrick’s Athletic and Glentoran which starts at the earlier time of 7:30pm. Extratime.ie will also have match reports shortly after the fulltime whistle as well as exclusive post-match reaction.