Rovers seek home comforts in cup tie

SHAMROCK ROVERS mark another milestone in a new era for the club this evening when the all-time specialists in the competition host their first FAI Cup game at Tallaght Stadium, with Drogheda United providing the opposition (kick off 7pm).

“It’s another momentous occasion for Shamrock Rovers and for the supporters it’s bridging a gap of 22 years,” points out manager Michael O’Neill. “Hopefully that will mean a very good atmosphere and that will help the players to put on a performance and get the right result. We’re certainly looking forward to it.

“Shamrock Rovers have a fantastic overall record in this competition and hopefully this game will mark the beginning of the current side contributing to that history.”

However, although Drogheda United still shore up the Premier Division of the League of Ireland, the Hoops boss isn’t take anything for granted tonight.

“It’s a cup game, so anything can happen,” says O’Neill. “We know what Drogheda are capable of after playing them twice already, home and away, with both games ending up draws.

“They’re at the stage where they’re moulding much better, which is understandable given they had pretty much no pre-season. We expect a very difficult tie against them.”

In a Munster cup derby, Carrigaline United travel to the RSC to take on First Division Waterford United (kick off 7pm).

Carrigaline might have endured a disappointing season in the Munster Senior League but their 1-2 away win over Cobh Ramblers in the second round of the FAI Ford Cup means they won’t be without confidence going up against a previously high-flying Waterford side who go into the game on the back of successive defeats to Wexford Youths and Shelbourne in the league..

“Every team in every league goes through sticky patches but we have the players here in the club to come out the other side and continue our quest for trophies,” says Blues boss Stephen Henderson. “We need to put the last few games behind us, start fresh and drive ourselves to compete in every competition we play in starting against Carrigaline.”

“(Carrigaline manager) Canice Kennedy is in the middle of putting a very good young team together so I can assure you we will not be taking this game for granted. The Cup is all about shocks and after the week we have just had it is important we get back to basics and ensure we are not involved in a shock result.”

Elsewhere in the cup tonight, Finn Harps host Galway United at Finn Park (7.45pm) and Kildare County face Athlone Town at Station Road (7.30pm). And tomorrow Cherry Orchard welcome Monaghan United to the Red Cow (3pm) and Wexford Youths take on Longford Town at Ferrycarrig Park (6pm).