FAI Cup Preview: Glebe North -v- Sligo Rovers

GLEBE NORTH

Leinster Senior League Glebe North welcome five-times champions Sligo Rovers to Market Green for their first-round FAI Cup clash on Friday evening (kick-off 7.45pm).

It’s the first time in 15 years that a league club has been hosted in the FAI Cup in Balbriggan, when Loughshinnie took on Galway United.

It’s been longer still since Glebe faced a league club at home and they’ll face a huge test in the form of the Bit o’ Red.

Sligo have lingered in the bottom half of the Premier Division this season but boast two full internationals in their fully-professional squad.

Glebe, who are still in pre-season, warmed up with back-to-back friendlies against Northern Irish side Glenavon.

The Lurgan Blues won 4-0 at Market Green before recording a 7-1 win at Mourneview Park last week.

Glebe reached this point by beating Midleton in the preliminary round after bowing out of the last 16 of the FAI Intermediate Cup to the same opponents.

“We wanted to avoid intermediate teams and the junior teams just because when you get this far you want to play against the top teams,” assistant manager Duane Crean told extratime.ie.

“It’s good to play against Sligo, who have good pedigree in the top league and cup competitions.

“Liam Buckley’s won it before with Sporting Fingal. It’ll be a good test and his brand of football is very nice as well, so we look forward to the challenge ahead.”

SLIGO ROVERS

Sligo Rovers begin their quest for a sixth FAI Cup crown with a trip to Glebe North in Balbriggan, north Dublin.

The Bit ‘o Red last won the competition in 2013, their third cup crown in four years, and will be hopeful of putting themselves in a good position to add to their trophy cabinet.

Liam Buckley’s side arrive in Dublin without a win in four games but three of those games have yielded draws, including their last trip to the capital against Shamrock Rovers.

With last week’s game with Dundalk called off due to the Lilywhites’ European exploits, their last tie was a 1-1 draw with Bohemians two weeks ago.

David Cawley struck to earn a share of the points for the Bit o’ Red after Danny Mandroiu had opened the scoring for the Gypsies.

“We give Glebe North due respect. Dave Campbell has been watching them on a couple of occasions in their pre-season,” Buckley told the club’s official website.

“I’m sure if they wanted to move the game to another ground or reversed it to Sligo they would have.

“But clearly they want to give themselves the best possible chance by being in their home ground and that tells you what you need to know on their approach.

“The Cup is different to the league, it’s a different momentum. The way I look at it is we are four games away from the Aviva Stadium and this is one of them.

“Sligo Rovers had a great history in the Cup in recent years particularly under Paul Cook and it would be great to be in the next round draw next week.

“In order to do that we have to go to do a job, we’re aware of what approach we need to bring to the game.”

Rónán Coughlan sits out the game with a one-game ban while Niall Morahan is out with a knee injury.

Referee: David Dunne

BETTING

Glebe North 14/1; Draw 15/2; Sligo Rovers 1/12.

PREDICTION

Glebe North 1 – 3 Sligo Rovers

Glebe North

Injured: None.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

Sligo Rovers

Injured: Niall Morahan.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: Rónán Coughlan.