Rico relishing cup clash as ‘big two’ collide

DROGHEDA United may be lording it over the rest at this early stage of the league season, and Derry City may have been the club who came closest at the end last time, but there’s an inescapable sense of the eircom League’s “big two” colliding as Cork City host Shelbourne in the Setanta Cup semi-final at Turner’s Cross this evening (kick-off 8pm).

Partly that’s down to the traditional Cork-Dublin sporting rivalry, and partly it’s because City broke Shels’s attempt at three-in-a-row titles last season. Add in the fact that’s there’s no love lost between the two camps and you’ve got a recipe for a night of high-stakes cup drama at the Cross.

If further spice were needed, this is the first meeting of the two sides since Liam Kearney and Greg O’Halloran defected, as the faithful would see it, from Leeside to Liffeyside during the close season. O’Halloran is ruled out through injury and winger Kearney is likely to start on the bench for Shels, while Alan Bennett is rated 50/50 for Cork and striker John O’Flynn is struggling to overcome a groin strain.

Roy O’Donovan is out through suspension, but George O’Callaghan, who has been playing through an ankle problem which has restricted his training, sums up the anticipation of all concerned on both sides when he promises: “I’ll be flying for this one.”

Colin Hawkins is suspended for Shels but both Dave Rogers and Owen Heary are in line for a recall while another former Cork City man, Ollie Cahill, is expected to have recovered from a hamstring problem. However, Joseph N’do is a doubt for the Dublin side and will undergo a late fitness test.

Both sides go into the game on the back of victories in the league, Shels earning their first of the campaign with a 1-0 victory away to Waterford last Friday, while Cork were maintaining their second place status behind Drogheda with a 2-1 home win over Longford. Now, City boss Damien Richardson is relishing the prospect of hosting Shels in the knockout setting of a cup game which, if necessary, will go to extra time and penalties.

“The Setanta Cup is an important competition for many reasons and not least because it’s the first competition up to win this season,” he says. “I want a full house in Turner’s Cross and another big performance from the supporters as well as the players.”

For two clubs who failed to go all the way in the tournament last season - Shelbourne were beaten in the final by Linfield - a Setanta Cup semi-final has more than bragging rights at stake. For all the clubs involved - Linfield play Drogheda United in the second semi tomorrow night - the Setanta Cup holds out the prospect of a €150,000 windfall for the winners.

“I was mindful of the fact through the preliminary rounds of the competition that I wanted a home draw in the semi-finals because the club would make good money out of that,” reveals Richardson.

“I’m personally very grateful to the Setanta Cup,” says Richardson. “Last season we made a big breakthrough in this competition when, for the first time in 11 eleven games, Cork City beat Shelbourne, with a magical goal from Denis Behan.”

For his part, Shels boss Pat Fenlon prefers to recall the side’s other meeting in the same competition last season, when the Dublin side won through a controversial Jamie Harris goal.

“Games like this can turn on decisions like that,” says Fenlon. “You get very few chances against Cork and any we get at Turner’s Cross we’re going to have to take.”