FAI Cup Preview: Inchicore Athletic -v- St Patrick's Athletic

• Dave Donnelly
• Fri, Aug 10 2018




INCHICORE ATHLETIC

Inchicore Athletic are the nominal home side on Friday in their all-Inchicore FAI Cup first round tie with St Patrick's Athletic at Richmond Park (kick-off 7.45pm).

The Leinster Senior League third-tier surprisingly beat out Crumlin United – who reached the second round last year – only penalties in the preliminary round.

Substitute Ger Marshall slotted the decisive penalty to separate the Pearse Park rivals, the match having ended 1-1 after 120 minutes.

Jay Donnelly had opened the scoring for Crumlin before Daniel Geraghty levelled in the second minute of injury time.

Inchicore will have to do without manager David Hyland due to family commitments, so his assistant and former Saints player Stephen Quigley will take the reins on Friday.

“I keep winding him up telling him it's his testimonial out there,” Hyland told extratime.ie after the draw was made.

“It's going to be extremely difficult. You've a full-time professional football club against an amateur team. I do believe we'll be fearless.

“We're going to have to have an extremely lucky night and they'll have to have an off-night, but I wouldn't be fearing it in any way.”

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC

St Patrick's Athletic have home advantage despite being drawn away in this professional-amatuer Inchicore derby.

The Saints are in the unenviable position whereby anything less than a comfortable win will be seen as a failure against a side several runs below them in the pyramid.

Nevertheless, the derby aspect of the clash and the Pats links of many in the amateur side's squad will make for nothing less than an intriguing battle.

“It's funny how the Cup draw works out sometimes as this tie is great for the local community of Inchicore to see the two sides meet,” Saints boss Liam Buckley told the club's website.

“Hopefully a good crowd will be in attendance to support both sides.

"We had a good win the last day out against Bray so we're hoping to build on that and put together a good run of results between the league and Cup over the next few weeks.

“We've done our homework on Inchicore Athletic and know the had a great win over Crumlin United in the previous round so we know to expect a really tough game."

Pats will be without the injured Christy Fagan while Thomas Byrne is suspended, but Ian Bermingham is back from a ban while Michael Barker could return from an ankle injury.

 

Referee: Ben Connolly.

 

MATCH STATS

St Patrick's Athletic have beaten non-league opposition in each of the last two seasons.

Last season saw the Saints overcome Portmarnock 2-0 at Paddy's Hill thanks to a goal from Christy Fagan and an own goal.

The previous season saw Pats beat Pike Rovers 8-0 at Richmond Park, with Graham Kelly bagging a second-half hat-trick.

 

BETTING

Inchicore Athletic 13/1; Draw 11/1; St Patrick's Athletic 1/18.

PREDICTION

Inchicore Athletic 0 – 4 St Patrick's Athletic

 

Inchicore Athletic

Injured: Unavailable.

Doubtful: Unavailable.

Suspended: None.

St Patrick's Athletic

Injured: Christy Fagan.

Doubtful: Michael Barker.

Suspended: Thomas Byrne.

a