Derry face trip to Linfield in Setanta opener

LINFIELD at home to Derry City in the first game of the tournament is the big talking point of this year’s Setanta Cup draw which also sees Cork City face familiar opposition in the form of Portadown and Drogheda United.

Dungannon Swifts complete the foursome in Group One while in Group Two Derry and Linfield are joined by Glentoran and Shelbourne.

Monday, February 20, is the scheduled date at Windsor Park for the meeting of Linfield and Derry, two clubs who last met competitively in 1971. Derry boss Stephen Kenny hailed Group Two as a great draw for The Candystripes.

“Derry will have support in abundance, both at home and away, for Linfield and Glentoran,” he said. “They are two of the biggest clubs in the Irish League and we’re one of the top two in the League of Ireland.”

On the issue of security concerns around the Windsor Park game, Kenny said: “I’d be lying if I said I knew all the answers to that but what I can say is that the Derry City supporters clapped the Linfield supporters into The Brandywell for a friendly game earlier this year. These are the kind of big games that you want - all the best football is built on rivalry thriving, and these games shouldn’t disappoint.”

There were some attacks on Linfield buses as they left Derry after that friendly game in February, incidents which Blues boss David Jeffrey sought to put into perspective as he too welcomed the draw.

“Unfortunately a group of hooligans who had nothing to do with football tried to ruin what was an excellent night,” he said. “But Derry City will be able to come to Windsor Park and there will not be any doubt about their security or about how they will be received. Absolutely none.”

Meanwhile, Cork City boss Damien Richardson admitted that, apart from Dungannon Swifts, there was a bit of a “same old” look to their opposition in Group One, as they take on last year’s opponents Portadown and FAI Cup winners Drogheda United.

“I would have liked to be in the group with Linfield and Glentoran I have to say, but you take what you get,” he said. “Either group is going to be difficult to get through, although the fact that two teams will come out of each group will make it a bit fairer than last year.”

That said, Richardson is concerned about the timing of the competition which opens about three weeks before the start of the eircom League.

“The last thing I want in pre-season is injuries,” he said. “When this competition kicks off we’ll really only be at three-quarters fitness and that’s something I’ll have to give due consideration to when selecting my teams.”

Dates of games may yet be moved, or kick-off times staggered, to avoid TV clashes, but the opening day’s fixtures as scheduled will see Portadown v Cork City, Drogheda v Dungannon Swifts, Linfield v Derry and Shelbourne v Glentoran on February 20.