Unfancied Avondale aiming to shock Crumlin

IF Avondale are to take back the FAI Intermediate Cup they last won in 2007, they will probably never have surmounted a greater set of obstacles.

Their opponents in tomorrow’s FAI Umbro Intermediate Cup final at Dalymount Park (3pm) are holders Crumlin United who are laden down by favourable statistics.

Even Dale goalkeeper and trainee solicitor Brendan O’Connell doesn’t shirk away from what is a strong case for the defence of the coveted trophy by a side that hasn’t been beaten since December, a run of 26 games without defeat.

“People are talking to me all week about Crumlin,” O’Connell admitted this week. “They keep telling me what a threat they’ll be, that they beat the best team in Cork in Rockmount in the semi-final, they’re the holders, they’re playing in their home town, their team is littered with Irish internationals...

“So it’s going to be very difficult, we’re under no illusions. The bookies have us as massive underdogs and I suppose it’s justified.”

However, in the Cork side’s favour is a core of six or seven survivors from the valiant two-in-a-row of 2006 and ‘07 while they have already beaten the odds just getting to the final.

“We had a tough run and we discussed that at training (on Thursday),” said O’Connell. “We had Everton and UCC in the early rounds and they were both sticky ties.

“It went from bad to worse then getting Fanad United away and we were down to 10 men after a half an hour. We still dug out a 2-1 win which was fantastic. We drew 0-0 with Tolka at home and we were written off by everybody which was fair enough but we went up there and got the win.”

The Irish amateur international needs no introduction to his opposing vice-captain, Daniel Loughran, man-of-the-match in his side’s 2-0 victory at Rockmount last month.

Loughran, a nephew of the Crumlin manager Martin, is a tidy central midfielder who has established himself with O’Connell at amateur international level.

“Every squad I’ve been involved with, Brendan has been involved with too,” said the midfielder. “So I know him well. I’ve been on a few trips away with him. He’s a good lad. He’s a good player to have around the dressing room, he’s a good talker, sometimes he talks a little too much,” he adds laughing.

“But he’s probably one of the best keepers around at any level in Ireland.”

Clear at the top of the Leinster Senior League Premier Division, Crumlin go into tomorrow’s game buoyed by a midweek victory over Mount Merrion and Loughran is keen to join a select band of clubs that have retained the Intermediate Cup.

“After winning it last year, it’d be nice to defend it, not many teams have done it. Avondale have, so it’d be nice to equal them but we’ll see how it goes on the day.”

Being champions, Crumlin haven’t exactly enjoyed a smooth run to Dalymount either.

“It was a tough game (against Rockmount). It was a bad pitch. We stopped them playing – I don’t think they expected us to come at them the way we did. Not many teams go to Rockmount and actually attack the way we attacked, we took them by surprise.

“The quarter-final against Bluebell, we drew 0-0 with them and we were down to nine men for the last half hour. That was back-to-the-walls stuff but we got through it and beat them in the replay 3-2. They had their chance and they didn’t take it.”

O’Connell, who joined Avondale in 2007 and has yet to know a season without a medal having won two leagues in-a-row, is full of praise for Loughran: “Dan’s a good player. He’s been a mainstay for Ireland any time he’s been available. He was hampered by injury last year I think. But he’s a good player, he’s a very busy player around the middle and he’s definitely one we’ll have to keep an eye out for.

“It’s my first Intermediate Cup final. A lot of the lads were involved three years ago but it’s something that we have been subconsciously building up to all year. We won two league titles on the trot and the Intermediate Cup eluded us during that time.

“Avondale have never lost a final so we have a huge incentive.”

Both sides are untroubled by injuries. Avondale’s Thomas Hughes was carrying a knock but he trained on Thursday night and will be available.