Shamrock Rovers -v- St Pats CY

SHAMROCK ROVERS

Shamrock Rovers are looking to win the Leinster Senior Cup for the first time since 1997 when they welcome St. Patrick’s CY to Tallaght Stadium tonight.  Rovers have lost just once at Tallaght Stadium this season (against Derry City in the Setanta Sports Cup semi-final) and are heavy favourites to win the game against the team from the Leinster Senior League.  Stephen Kenny’s men are on an unbeaten domestic run of 11 games.  Last Friday in the Airtricity League they won for the first time in Turner’s Cross against Cork City in a decade with goals from Ronan Finn and Gary McCabe earning the win having conceded an early first half goal.

Rovers were able to cope without their talismanic striker Gary Twigg on Friday who missed the game due to a hip injury and it is doubtful Twigg will be risked tonight with two big Dublin Derbies to come over the next week against Shelbourne and Bohemians. 

Missing tonight will be Graham Gartland and Stephen O’Donnell.  Aaron Greene and Sean Gannon are back in training but it remains to be seen will they make the match day squad.  Stephen Kenny has strength in depth in his squad and has used the Leinster Senior Cup to rotate his playing squad. As a manager Kenny has a reputation as a cup specialist but this is a competition he has yet to win.  Rovers fans will be hoping that whatever team Kenny puts out will win the club’s first trophy of the season.

ST. PATRICKS CYFC

St. Pats CY have overcome Airtricity Premier Division opposition twice on their run to the final in Tallaght Stadium tonight.  Having progressed through four rounds to qualify for the quarter final, they beat Bray Wanderers 3-0 thanks to a late first half goal by Alan Murphy and two further goals before the hour mark by Dean Young and Andy Doolan.  In the FAI Cup they were eliminated when they lost 1-0 to Dundalk in Oriel Park.  In the semi-final of the Leinster Senior Cup, they followed up the win against Bray with a fine away win over UCD in Belfield.  Trailing be a goal going into the last 11 minutes, two goals from substitute Thomas Dunne saw them win a remarkable game 3-2.  Those games were towards the end of their Leinster Senior League season which runs from August to May. Therefore it will be a tough task in Tallaght tonight for John Young’s team, who have only just begun their season, to play against the champions of Ireland who are in the final third of the season and in excellent form.

St. Pats CY, who will play in their green and white hooped shirts tonight, have had a poor start in the top division of the Leinster Senior League.  They finished fifth last season but currently are lying third from bottom having only picked up one point from their opening three league games.   That was a 1-1 draw away to Edenderry Town.  They lost 2-0 at home against to Crumlin United in their last game.

Referee: To be confirmed.

MATCH STATS

Shamrock Rovers have won the Leinster Senior Cup on 16 occasions and won this competition four years in a row during the 1950’s. 

St. Pat’s CY have two former Shamrock Rovers players in their squad.  The Roche brothers, Lee and Aidan, both made a small number of appearances for Rovers back in 2005.

Tonight will be a battle of Ringsend as St. Pat’s CY like Shamrock Rovers were founded in Ringsend.  St. Pat’s, unlike Rovers, still play in Ringsend and their home venue is Irishtown Stadium.

BETTING

Home  1/6, Draw 11/2, Away 10/1.

PREDICTION

3-0. Airtricity League champions Shamrock Rovers to have too much quality for Leinster Senior League side St. Patrick’s CY.

Shamrock Rovers Injury News: Graham Gartland, Stephen O’Donnell.
Shamrock Rovers Suspension News: None.

St. Patrick’s CY Injury News: None.
St. Patrick’s CY Suspension News: None.