FAI Cup Preview: Bluebell United -v- Cabinteely

• Dave Donnelly
• Fri, Aug 25 2017




BLUEBELL UNITED

Bluebell United make the 20km trip across south Dublin to face Cabinteely after they were disappointingly stripped of home advantage for the tie (kick-off 7pm).

 

Andy Noonan's side had hoped their Red Cow base would prove sufficient to host First Division Cabo, as it was for the first round visit of Sheriff YC.

 

The FAI has insisted on stricter standards for the next round, however, and they game has been switched to Cabo's home turf at Blackrock College rugby club.

 

Bluebell made light work of Sheriff in Round One as a brace by Karl Seary and a third from the returning Dean Ebbe saw them breeze past junior football's top dog.

 

Also in the team was former Ireland international Keith Fahey, who recently came out of retirement to line out for the Bell, and ex-League players like Keith Quinn and Dave Scully.

 

That experience in the ranks means there will be little to fear for Bluebell as they face a younger squad in Cabo, which includes Quinn's nephew Karl Byrne (who is suspended).

 

Cabo's oldest player, striker Jason Byrne, has a foot in both camps as he also has a coaching role with Bluebell, although he wasn't involved in this week's preparation.

 

 

CABINTEELY

Cabinteely breezed into the second round of the Cup as they overcame UCD for just the second time in their history at Stradbrook Park two weeks ago.

 

Former Students Marty Waters and Ryan Swan scored either side of an Anto Dolan striker, while ex-Cabo man Ben Hanrahan also scored in a 3-1 victory for the home side.

 

Cabo were handed a huge boost in a closely-matched tie when the original away draw was switched around to Stradbrook (although they will occupy the away dressing rooms).

 

Their preparation has been less than ideal, however, as Pat Devlin's side fell to a shock 2-0 defeat to Wexford in the league last Friday.

 

A brace from Thomas Croke handed Cabo successive defeats to the league's bottom side, who jumped above Athlone for the first time since March as a result.

 

Devlin will be without Karl Byrne, Kevin Knight and Jack Watson after each received their fifth yellow card of the season on Friday.

 

 

Referee: Andrew Mullally.

 

 

MATCH STATS

Cabinteely have met Bluebell United in cup competition as recently as last year, when they met in the fourth round of the Leinster Senior Cup.

 

The sides were evenly matched at the end of the 90 minutes at Stradbrook Park before a Graham Zambra strike in injury secured Bluebell's passage to the semis.

 

Cabinteely weren't Bluebell's only league victims last year as just a week later they beat Drogheda United on penalties in the EA Sports Cup.

 

Bluebell faced Limerick in the second round of the 2016 FAI Cup only to be defeated 5-2.

 

 

BETTING

Bluebell United 16/5; Draw 3/1; Cabinteely 4/6.

 

PREDICTION

Bluebell United 1 – 3 Cabinteely

 

 

Bluebell United

Injured: Unavailable.

Doubtful: Unavailable.

Suspended: None.

 

Cabinteely

Injured: Unavailable.

Doubtful: Unavailable.

Suspended: Karl Byrne, Kevin Knight, Jack Watson.