FAI Cup Preview: St Patrick's Athletic -v- Pike Rovers

• Mark Quinlan
• Sat, May 21 2016




St. Patrick’s Athletic host amateur Limerick club Pike Rovers in an enthralling encounter at Richmond Park in the 2^nd Round of the Irish Daily Mirror FAI Senior Cup on Saturday afternoon (kick-off 3pm).

 

ST. PATRICK’S ATHLETIC

St. Patrick’s Athletic will be hoping to put aside their recent patchy home form in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division when they will take on non-league Pike Rovers in the 2^nd round of the FAI Senior Cup. St. Pat’s brought much needed comfort to the home fans with an emphatic 4-0 triumph over Finn Harps on Tuesday night, having drawn 3-3 with Longford Town and lost 0-1 against Derry City in their two previous home league games.

 

St. Pat’s manager Liam Buckley is fully aware of Pike Rovers’ cup pedigree with the team reaching the FAI Junior Cup Final recently. Buckley told www.stpatsfc.com, “We’re expecting a very competitive game against Pike Rovers on Saturday. I saw them play in the FAI Junior Cup final only last weekend and they were impressive. That should stand to them and they have proven that they are they’re one of the leading sides in the country at junior level.”

 

Saints boss Buckley is hoping for a good cup run and that his side can emulate the team who ended their 53 year wait for an FAI Cup win in 2014 telling www.stpatsfc.com, “The start of an FAI cup campaign can set the heart racing and you always hope to reach that big day at the end of the season. But the players know well enough that we’ve got to take one game at a time and try to progress past each round.”

 

Saints’ boss Buckley is still without the injured trio Darren Dennehy, Christy Fagan and Conan Byrne with Ian Bermingham facing a late fitness test to determine his availability. Goalkeeper Conor O’Malley has returned to full training this week and is available for selection.

 

 

PIKE ROVERS

Pike Rovers will make the trip to the capital for Saturday afternoon’s fascinating cup tie at Richmond Park. The Limerick club side have ambitions of a potential cup upset and will be aiming to be competitive and make life as difficult as possible for their illustrious hosts.

 

Pike Rovers have a decent cup record this season so far with their junior teams impressive FAI Junior Cup run where they went down narrowly 1-0 to Sheriff YC in the final last Sunday afternoon at the Aviva Stadium.  The Limerick side produced a gallant display and were unlucky to be returning to the South with runners up medals.

 

Pike Rovers will go into the game knowing the pressure will be on the home side to win and will aim to give a good account of themselves and enjoy the occasion.

 

Referee: Andrew Mullally

 

 

MATCH STATS

St. Patrick’s Athletic have won the FAI Senior Cup on three occasions previously with their most recent triumph being in 2014.

 

Pike Rovers have won an FAI Junior Cup in 2011 and an FAI Youth Cup in 1950.

 

St. Pat’s have an impressive record against non –LOI sides with 27 wins from 29 games and two draws but have had mixed results against Limerick clubs in the FAI Senior cup with 5 wins, 2 draws and 3 defeats in the 10 matches.

 

 

BETTING

St. Patrick’s Athletic 1/33 Draw 10/1 Pike Rovers 50/1

 

PREDICTION

St. Patrick’s Athletic 3-0 Pike Rovers

 

 

St. Patrick’s Athletic

Injured: Darren Dennehy, Christy Fagan, Conan Byrne

Doubtful: Ian Bermingham

Suspended: None

 

Pike Rovers

Injured: Unknown.

Doubtful: Unknown.

Suspended: None.