EA Sports Cup Preview: Dundalk -v- Shelbourne

• Ciaran Fisher
• Tue, Apr 07 2015




 

DUNDALK

Being champions makes you the team that everyone wants to beat, but when champions are in a good vein of form they are often the team nobody wants to play. SSE Airtricity First Division side Shelbourne have the unenviable task of making the short trip up the M1 to Oriel Park to play current EA Sports Cup holders and SSE Airtricity Premier League of Ireland champions Dundalk in a knock-out match in Round Two of the EA Sports Cup.

 

The Lilywhites juggernaut like start to the season lost some momentum on Saturday evening, when a last gasp goal from Limerick meant both teams took a point apiece from the tie. On the balance of things it might have been a fair result but the mood in the Dundalk camp was that it was two points dropped, perhaps owing to the timing of the equaliser. Shelbourne have to contend with playing in Oriel against a team that is smarting from a below par performance. Though it is not clear what team manager Stephen Kenny will field.

 

Stephen O’Donnell recovered enough from his knee surgery to make the bench against  Limerick on Saturday and he could feature in this match. His return will no doubt be a welcome selection option for the manager and a huge boost for the team. The Town squad-sheet has a clean bill of health, with no players reported injured. A number of youth players, who have represented the club in the Leinster Senior Cup campaign, are poised to make an appearance too.

 

This is a very congested period for teams and Dundalk are in the middle of a seven day period which features three competitive matches. On Friday they will prepare for the Louth derby versus Drogheda United. Captain, Andy Boyle, in a press release from Dundalk FC, was adamant that a Louth Derby didn’t detract from the more immediate task at hand: 

 

“Shelbourne is a big game for us. They will be really up for it too and it’s a big test for us. We are defending the trophy which from our point of view is fantastic and we want to win every game. It’s a big test for us but we’re all looking forward to it and ready for the game. It’s a big week for us and hopefully we can come out on the right side of it.”

 

Kick off is at 7:45pm and it will be a knock-out tie.

 

SHELBOURNE

Shelbourne face their second away trip to Louth in the EA Sports Cup this season when they take on Dundalk FC. Their last outing, in the first round, saw them run out 1-0 victors over Drogheda United. They will be hoping for similar success in the Wee County when they visit its administrative capital but know that this trip might just be a wee bit more difficult.

 

Like Dundalk, Shelbourne come into the game on the back of a draw in the league. They drew 2-2 with Waterford United on Good Friday and are currently in fourth place in the SSE Airtricity First Division.

 

Despite a rather mediocre start to the season, there will be plenty of positives taken from the response of the The Reds in that match. Two nil down at half time, they left it until the final ten minutes to snatch a point. Gareth Coughlan scored the first goal direct from a free kick in the 81^st minute. Craig Walsh followed this up by scoring his first competitive goal for the Reds in the 84^th minute, when he headed Daire Doyle’s precise corner to the net.

 

Shelbourne have a few injuries limiting their selection choices ahead of this game. The trio of Simon Dixon, Paul Andrews and Dylan McGlade were unavailable for the Waterford league match and remain out ahead of this one. They are joined by Sean Heaney and, potentially, goalkeeper David Ryan who picked up a knee injury.

 

Referee: Robert Harvey

 

 

MATCH STATS

Dundalk have won the last five competitive meetings of these two sides. Shelbourne’s last win came from a 0-1 away win in September 2012

 

The Lilywhites are on a 15 match unbeaten run and if they can avoid defeat it will see them go unbeaten in 16 – equaling a run last made in 1988

 

There will be a few familiar faces on the Dundalk bench for Shelbourne fans. Former Shels players include: Andy Boyle, Darren Meenan and Gary Rogers while goalkeeping coach Steve Williams was net-minder for one of the most successful eras in the Reds history.

 

 

BETTING

Dundalk 1/5; Draw 9/2; Shelbourne 13/1.

 

PREDICTION

Dundalk 2–1 Shelbourne

 

 

Dundalk

Injured: None.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.

 

Shelbourne

Injured: Simon Dixon, Paul Andrews, Dylan McGlade and Sean Heaney.
Doubtful: Dave Ryan (Knee)
Suspended: None.