EA Sports Cup Preveiw - Shamrock Rovers -v- St. Patrick's Athletic

• Gareth O'Reilly
• Mon, Jul 22 2013




SHAMROCK ROVERS

The Hoops welcome Liam Buckley’s St. Patrick's Athletic to Tallaght on Tuesday night in the EA Sports Cup Quarter-Final. (Kick-off 8pm)


 

Rovers head into this tie on the back of a disappointing draw with UCD in the league on Friday night. The Hoops are currently experiencing a bit of a fixture congestion which has seen this quarter-final clash postponed for three weeks.


 

Trevor Croly is going to have to plan for this League Cup game without long term absentee David Elbert whilst Conor McCormack and Thomas Stewart are both injury doubts.


 

In some better news for Shamrock Rovers fans, Barry Murphy is back training after suffering bruised ribs two weeks ago although the shot stopper is still expected to sit this one out as he attempts to regain match fitness in the coming days. Despite this, Rovers boss Trevor Croly was looking forward to a game which is a distraction to their recent patchy league form.


 

“This is the quarter-final of a competition we’d certainly like to win, so we’re looking forward to the game. A big semi-final fixture awaits the winners, and we want to be there. We know it will be a tough game, St Patrick’s Athletic are doing well, but we’ll be going out to win the tie.”


 

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC

The Saints will be hoping to continue their quest to win the League Cup having not got their hands on the silverware for the past 10 years.


 

It was this time last year when Pats were knocked out by the Hoops after a penalty shootout. In 2011 it was the Saints that emerged victorious, however once again a penalty shootout was required to separate the sides. Shane McFaul was involved in that tie and is therefore very much aware of how much this tie means to the clubs fans.


 

“We set our aims out at the start of the season to do certain things and going well in the EA Sports Cup was one of them. We want to win every game, every competition we’re in. There’s a great incentive for us to try and get a home semi-final, and with it being a local derby, it’ll be a great test.


 

“Any game between Pats and Shamrock Rovers is always really tight, so we’ll be looking to edge this one. I thought we performed really well in Sligo the last day so hopefully we can carry on from that as to go well in this competition would be great for the club and especially for our great fans.”


 

Killian Brennan and Kenny Browne are both once again available for selection having served their respective suspensions. However Liam Buckley’s squad have been hit by a number of suspensions Tuesday night's game. Greg Bolger, Ian Birmingham and Anto Flood have all been handed bans having accumulated too many yellow cards.


 

Also missing from the match day squad will be Philly Hughes who is cup tied having already played a part in the EA Sports Cup while at Shels earlier on in the season. Speaking to Pats official club website Buckley stated how his players now felt revived having had over a week off since their 1-1 draw with Sligo Rovers in the Showgrounds.


 

“It’s been a good week off and now we’ve a quarter-final of a cup, so it’s a big match. If we can get past Rovers, we’d only be one game away from a final so we’ll go to Tallaght and try and get through. Games out there between the two sides are always a good occasion so we’re looking forward to it.”


 

Referee: Unconfirmed


 

MATCH FACTS

Due to various different competitions that both clubs have been involved in this tie is taking place three weeks after the other three quarter final clashes.


 

The winners of this game will have home advantage for their semi final game against Sligo Rovers.


 

Rovers beat Dundalk in the last round of the competition while Pats beat Salthill Devon to progress.


 

BETTING

Shamrock Rovers 23/20 Draw 21/10 St Patrick’s Athletic 23/10


 

PREDICTION

Shamrock Rovers 2-1 Pats


 

Shamrock Rovers

Injured: David Elbert (calf),

Doubtful: Barry Murphy (only just after resuming training), Thomas Stewart (calf), Conor McCormack (quad)

Suspended: None


 

St Patrick’s Athletic

Injured: Philly Hughes (Cup Tied)

Doubtful: None

Suspended: Greg Bolger, Ian Birmingham, Anto Flood