EA Cup: Shamrock Rovers -v- Cork City

• John O'Shea
• Mon, Jul 21 2014




SHAMROCK ROVERS

Shamrock Rovers are the current holders of the EA Sports Cup and they will be hoping to retain the trophy they won in the final against Drogheda United last year.

 

Holders Rovers host Cork City in Tallaght tonight, having lost to City in both of their league encounters this season.

 

That defeat to have been crucial as that leaves them six points behind the top two of Dundalk and City.

 

In this year’s competition, they qualified for the least eight with a 2-1 win over the same opposition at United Park.

 

Rovers manager Trevor Croly could rotate his side for this game, as he did in the previous round. However the Hoops boss still will put a side out who will be competitive.

 

Speaking ahead of the game, Hoops assistant manager John Gill says his side are determined to hold on to the EA Sports Cup this season.

 

“We’ll play a strong team as its a quarter final and we want to do well. We owe it to ourselves as Cork beat us twice in the league so there is professional and personal pride at stake”

 

Trevor Croly’s squad still looks set to be without Rob Cornwall due to a hamstring injury and Stephen McPhail who is still suspended following his sending off for a head butt against Pat’s earlier in the month. Ryan Brennan is a doubt due to illness.

 

CORK CITY

Cork City come into Monday’s EA Sports Cup Quarter Final on the back of a 2-1 league win over UCD, a result which keeps City right in among the title contenders.

 

To qualify for this stage of the competition, John Caulfield’s side recorded  a 4-0 over Limerick and a 2-0 victory over Waterford United in the last round.

 

Cork will also take confidence from the fact that they were victorious on their last visit to Tallaght Stadium. That was on the 13^th of June, when City were very impressive in a 2-0 win thanks go goals from Mark O Sullivan and Gearóid Morrissey.

 

Caulfield will use the game as a chance to give some players an opportunity to break their way into his starting eleven , and speaking ahead of Monday’s game he said,“We will make changes. To be fair to quite a few of the guys, they need games. The priority for us is to qualify for Europe, and while it is a quarter final and we want to give it our best shot, there are guys on the bench who need games. Also, some of the guys find it hard to play three games in a week, and we have another huge game against Bohemians next Friday night.”

 

“There are opportunities there for guys to start a game and we will certainly make four changes, maybe five. These players need to get games because they haven’t played and they need to be ready if they are called on next week or the week after. At the same time, it is a cup quarter final and I still feel we can go there and win.”

 

As well as long term  absentees Michael Rafter and Darren Murphy  Cork will  be without Gavin Kavanagh and Cillian Morrison, who are both cup tied. Gearóid Morrissey will miss out with an ankle injury, but captain John Dunleavy returns from suspension. Caulfield also hopes that Iarfhlaith Davoren will be available after recovering from a hamstring injury.

 

Referee:  Paul Tuite

 

 

MATCH STATS 

Cork City are unbeaten in their last 5 away games.

 

Both sides have played each other twice in the league so far this season. Cork won the first game 3-0 at Turners Cross and they followed that up in June with a 2-0 win in Dublin.

 

Shamrock Rovers are the current holders of the EA Sports Cup. Goals from Gary McCabe and Thomas Stewart saw Shamrock Rovers lift their second trophy of the season as they beat Drogheda United in the Cup final at Tallaght Stadium

 

 

BETTING   

Shamrock Rovers 6/5; Draw 11/5; Cork City 11/5

 

PREDICTION    

Shamrock Rovers 2-1 Cork City

 

Shamrock Rovers

Injured: Rob Cornwall.

Doubtful: Ryan Brennan.

Suspended: Stephen McPhail, Shane Robinson.

 

Cork City

Injured:   Darren Murphy, Michael Rafter, Gearóid Morrissey

Doubtful:  Iarfhlaith Davoren

Suspended:   None

Cup Tied : Cillian Morrision , Gavin Kavanagh