'Mount hoping two-in-a-row doesn't fall by the Wayside

HOLDERS Rockmount and Wayside Celtic will be in search of their third Pat O'Brien Cup when they meet in the FAI Carlsberg Intermediate Cup Final at Turners Cross on Sunday (ko 2.30pm).

This is Rockmount's third final in a row. Belgrove defeated the Munster Senior League side in 2003 before Ross O'Callaghan got the winner against Bluebell last year. They also beat Garda in the 1999 final.

Wayside Celtic will be making their fourth appearance in the final having last tasted Intermediate Cup success in 2001 when they defeated Ashtown Villa in the final.

Rockmount have scored 20 goals on the way to this year's decider and only conceded two, with last year's hero Ross O'Callaghan chipping in with five goals. Amateur international Ruairi Beechinor brought his tally to four with two goals in the semi-final win over Belgrove.

The Cork side were surprised to bow out of the FAI Carlsberg Senior Cup in the first round to Lissadel after reaching the quarter finals last year, while on the other hand Wayside Celtic are safely through to face Cobh Ramblers in the second round.

Wayside will be looking for big performances from Gary Smith and FAI Amateur Player of the Year Award winner, Ian O'Callaghan, who have been excellent this season

Rockmount's manager, Billy Cronin and Wayside's Peter Lennon can call on full strength squads and it looks set for an enthralling encounter in Cork.

ROCKMOUNT: from: Slattery, Cassidy, Busteed, O'Mahony, Byrne, Weldon, Hoey, O'Callaghan, Keane (C) Doyle, Hurley, Deasy, Beechinor, Coker, Martin, Oldham, Ryan, Kelly.

WAYSIDE CELTIC: from: Dowd, Barcoe, Simpson, Sharkey, O'Neill, Martin, Gill, Callaghan, Kavanagh, Webb, Hyland, O'Neill, Dunne, Thain, Callaghan (C), Smith, McHugh, Smith.