Bohs motivated by glory, not cash, says Fenlon

PAT FENLON says winning the FAI Ford Cup is about the glory for the players rather than the prize money the club would receive.

Injury and suspension-hit Bohemians host holders Sligo Rovers at Dalymount tomorrow (3.30pm, RTÉ Two) hoping to cause an upset against a side that’s not beaten them so far this season.

“I don’t think it’s important, from a money point of view,” said Fenlon in regard to the €50,000 prize cash-strapped Bohemians would get for winning the cup. “The finalists receive nothing in addition to that, regardless of the size of the crowd. I was speaking to people who were involved in last year’s final and I was staggered to hear the amount of money that they got out of it. Considering that there were 38,000 people at it, I don’t think they got too much money out of it. From my point of view and the players’ point of view, this cup semi-final is about getting to a cup final and playing in the Aviva for the younger players, even some of the older lads who never would have played in it, and picking up a medal because at the end of the day, that’s really what it’s about for them.

“They’re not earning big enough money to be thinking about the money end of things. From that point of view it’s important that we try to get to the cup final because it gives everyone an experience that sometimes you only sample once in your playing career.”

And some of those youngster will get to play, as suspension has robbed Fenlon of the experience of defender Liam Burns and main strikers, Anto Flood and Christy Fagan, while defenders Mark Rossiter (calf), Aidan Price (dead leg) and key midfielder Killian Brennan (ankle) are struggling with injuries.

“We’ve a tough draw although we’re at home and that gives us a better chance,” added Fenlon, whose side lost to Sligo at the same stage last year. The suspensions and the injuries will hinder us, but I want a better performance than last year because it was a bad way to lose and I want to try to rectify that. It’s not about revenge, but it would just give us a performance that would go with the rest of the season, the way it has gone.”

With no injury or suspension worries, Sligo travel at full strength.

Meanwhile, Championship promotion-chasers Brighton are set to table a bid for Derry defender Daniel Lafferty.

Gus Poyet’s ambitious Seagulls are also believed to be interested in Candystripes’ winger Stephen McLaughlin and striker Paddy McEleney. Brighton’s scouting team of Adie Cooper and first team coach Charlie Oatway watched former Northern Ireland U21 international left-back Lafferty in Derry’s 1-0 defeat to Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium on Thursday night. It’s believed Brighton are prepared to offer an initial fee of around £125,000 (€142,548) for 22-year-old Lafferty, a former Celtic trainee. They are also keen to take McLaughlin and McEleney on trial at the end of the League of Ireland season.