FAI CUP: St Pat's CY -v- St Pat's
Credit:
ST PATS CY
St Patrick's CYFC play in the Leinster Senior League in the top Sunday Division. The team were involved in a relegation battle for much of the season but they lost just once in their last eight league games to quite astonishingly finish in 6th place.
Pats CY could potentially only have three players on the bench for tomorrow night's game as Warren Behan and Daniel Yannile will miss definitely miss out, while there will be a late fitness test on first team regular, Thomas Nolan.
Their manager, Derek Bowden, spoke to extratime.ie ahead of the clash;
“It's a huge opportunity for the lads, they've put in a hard season. This is our last game so we have many knocks and bruises. We're all looking forward to the break as we have been fighting relegation for so long and the last couple of weeks we hit a bit of form and got ourselves out of it. It's a great reward for the lads themselves
“They're (St Patrick's Athletic) playing in the Champions League this year and we're entered in the Charlie Cahil Cup. They are the gaps but we've done okay against League of Ireland sides in the last few years.”
ST PATS
St. Patrick's Athletic are in impressive goal scoring form having scored 11 goals in their last two games, defeating Derry City 5-2 and Drogheda United 6-0. It is a feat they will look to continue as they take on non-league side St. Patricks CY in their opening match of this season's FAI Ford Cup.
The Saints will be without Derek Foran as he continues to recover from a knee injury, however, the central defender is expected to return to training next week. Good news for manager Liam Buckley as influential midfielder Greg Bolger is available for selection following his return from injury.
Speaking to stpatsfc.com, Liam Buckley had this to say:“We’ve had St Pat’s CY watched twice recently and they’ve been impressive.
“We’ll respect them and give them their dues on Friday, so we won’t be taking this game lightly at all. They’ve got some impressive results against League of Ireland sides in recent years, having only lost 1-0 against Shamrock Rovers in the Leinster Senior Cup final two years ago.
“The FAI Cup would be one of the competitions along with the league that we would really be looking to progress in, so we’ll be giving it everything to get through to the next round.”
Referee: Robert Rogers
MATCH STATS
St Patrick's CY beat Sacred Heart, Glenville, Carrigaline United and Mayfield United in the Intermediate cup to get here. However, they lost 5-0 to fellow Leinster Senior League side, UCD, in a semi-final round replay.
St Patrick's Athletic have not won the FAI cup since 1961
St Patrick's Athletic have lost in seven FAI finals since last winning the cup, including a 3-2 defeat in extratime at the hands of Derry City in 2012
BETTING
St Patrick's CYFC 25/1; Draw 9/1; St Patrick's Athletic 1/16
PREDICTION
Non-League St Patrick's CY have just finished a long grueling season and may only have 14 available players for tomorrow night's game. On top of that, Liam Buckley's men are in formidable goalscoring form. I predict a comfortable 3-0 victory for St Patrick's Athletic
St Patrick's CYFC
Injured: Warren Behan, Daniel Yannile
Doubtful: Thomas Nolan
Suspended: None.
St Patrick's Athletic
Injured: Derek Foran
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.
