FAI Cup Preview: Bohemians -v- Shelbourne

BOHEMIANS

Bohemians will be looking to kick-start their season when they welcome Northside rivals Shelbourne to Dalymount Park on Friday evening (kick-off is at 7.45pm).

There will be plenty of familiarity between the two sides, but Keith Long’s side are unlikely to allow that to faze them in front of what could be a sold-out Dalymount.

The Gypsies come into the game off the back of a desperately disappointing one-nil defeat away to Finn Harps in Ballybofey last time out.

Harry Ashcroft’s winner was enough to be the difference between the two sides as Bohs went the month of July with only one win to their name.

Daniel Mandroiu is now the club’s equal top scorer along with injured forward and talisman Dinny Corcoran with Ryan Swan having four goals to his name also.

James Talbot is the Bohemians player to feature in every league game so far this season, with his impressive form and quality shining through.

Bohs have not released team news, but captain Derek Pender is suspended following the fracas at the Belfield Bowl.

Pender will be forced to sit out one more game after the cup tie against the Reds.

SHELBOURNE

Sitting top of the First Division, Shelbourne make the short trip from Drumcondra to Phibsborough ahead of their FAI Cup first-round clash.

The Reds were defeated on their travels last time out in Cobh and will be looking to improve on a poor display against their bitter Dublin rivals.

Speaking to his club’s media team, Shels boss Ian Morris is hopeful that the Reds support can help his side create an upset against their Premier Division opposition.

 “We want the fans to keep doing what they’ve been doing and bring that atmosphere for the full 90 minutes,” Morris said. 

“The pressure is on Bohs. They’ll expect to win, and we’ll set ourselves up to cause an upset. We’ve got a really good squad with everyone reaching peak fitness which is giving me a bit of a selection headache.

“As soon as the draw was made, you felt as if it was bound to be the draw, we’d get with a lot of players having played for either side along with myself and Jason McGuiness.  

“It’s a huge game with a lot of excitement there. We’ve prepared like we would any other game, watched our stuff on Bohs and prepared as well as we can.”

Shels will be without defender John Ross Wilson while midfielders Ryan Brennan and Denzil Fernandes are both doubts heading into Friday’s cup game. 

Referee: Robert Harvey.

MATCH STATS

This will be the second meeting between the sides in the 2019 campaign. Bohemians won the first encounter in the Leinster Senior Cup at Tolka Park by four goals to one.  

There are currently eight Shelbourne players who have once played for their crosstown rivals. Reds boss Ian Morris is also a former Bohemians player, lining out for the Gypsies as recently as last season.

Bohemians reached the semi-finals of the 2018 FAI Cup before being knocked out by eventual runners-up Cork City via a replay.

BETTING

Bohemians 2/5; Draw 14/5; Shelbourne 13/2.

PREDICTION

Bohemians 2 - 1 Shelbourne

Bohemians

Injured: Unavailable.

Doubtful: Unavailable.

Suspended: Derek Pender.

Shelbourne

Injured: John Ross Wilson.

Doubtful: Ryan Brennan, Denzil Fernandes.

Suspended: None.