Blog: Dundalk and Hoops set to advance

By Alan Cawley

Regular readers of this blog will know just how much affection I have for the FAI Cup.

It is the most distinguished cup competition on our shores.

Semi-final weekend is upon us and the unbelievable opportunity for two clubs to secure their place in the Aviva Stadium for cup final day.

We couldn't have asked for two more intriguing and exciting matches.

The fierce local derby between Drogheda United and Dundalk starts the day and an extremely tasty encounter between arch-rivals Sligo Rovers and Shamrock Rovers follows.

Lets start with the Louth derby. Home advantage is always important in big games but I think it's even more crucial in this tie because of Dundalk's artificial surface in Oriel Park.

If Dundalk has been drawn out of the hat first. I would have had them down as strong favourites primarily based on their pitch and also on the great form this season.

But the fact that it is Drogheda that will be the home side on Sunday makes it a much more even affair in my eyes.

Drogheda were the surprise package throughout the whole of last season and in some ways Dundalk have replicated that this year, flying high in the league.

There are so many parallels in the jobs managers Mick Cooke and Stephen Kenny have done since arriving at each club, bringing the glory days back to the natives of both Drogheda and Dundalk.

Kenny's troops go into the game still smarting from the league defeats to St Pat's and Limerick last week which all but ended their chance of winning the title.

They did get back on track with a convincing win against Derry on Monday so that should give them plenty of confidence for Sunday.

They have been magnificent all year and we are running out of superlatives for the job Stephen Kenny has done.

It would be fantastic for Kenny and his players if they to finish off the season in the Aviva Stadium on cup final day.

His opposite number will have plenty to say about that though.

There are strange circumstances surrounding Drogheda United at the moment with Cooke and his contract situation. I hope it doesn't overshadow the game on Sunday and I'm sure Cooke will not allow it to.

He would love nothing more to walk away on a high.

He can certainly do that as it is, but with an FAI Cup winners medal in the back pocket, his departure would be all the sweeter in an odd way.

The game will be won in the midfield exchanges.

In Richie Towell and Stephen O Donnell Dundalk have two of the finest midfielders in the league.

If Drogheda can get amongst Towell and not allow him to get on the ball and dictate the play, they will have a good chance.

He is in cracking goal scoring form so his breaking runs from midfield must be watched closely. On the other hand David Cassidy is another fine player and on his day can be a match winner.

Mick Cooke will expect a lot from him and Ryan Brennan is another young player that has had a good season.

Up front the wily old fox Fabio O Brien will have to be watched, an experienced player who has scored goals all his career.

To counter that Dundalk have Patrick Hoban who has had a remarkable first season in the Premier Division and Kenny will be hoping he has his shooting boots on Sunday.

All in all I'm expecting a typical blood and thunder local derby with a massive reward for the winner. It is a tough one to call but I'm going to go for Dundalk to shade it with a 2-1 win.

If that game turns out to be a mouth-watering starter, well the main course may be even better.

Sligo Rovers and Shamrock Rovers facing off has the potential to be the game of the season.

All eyes will be on team selection for me because Ian Baraclough and Trevor Croly have tinkered with their teams all year.

They both have fantastic squads and have every right to use each player, but I prefer a consistent and steady line up week in, week out.

I think this is the main reason Shamrock Rovers have been doing so well of late because Croly has settled on a first XI consistently, winning five out of their last six.

In the match they lost to Limerick, he made wholesale changes to the line-up.

I was critical of him earlier in the year in both his inconsistency in team selection and also his formation.

I felt with the personnel available they'd be much better served playing 4-4-2.

Following the addition of Richie Ryan he has since gone with it or almost a 4-4-1-1 and they have looked very good.

Gary McCabe is playing just ahead of Ryan and Robinson and he has been unplayable at times the past few weeks.

This is where Sligo need to be very vigilant, if they allow Ryan time and space he will kill them.

If the former Dundee United midfielder is allowed to supply the ammunition to McCabe, Sligo could be in for a long afternoon.

Tommy Stewart is also a very willing runner up front and having also found his shooting boots, he must also be watched.

It brings me to Sligo Rovers and my earlier question of the line-up.

Baraclough has really chopped and changed the last few weeks but it has worked to an extent with a great winning run.

But that streak came to an end last Monday, drawing with Cork and their league hopes may have gone with it.

I'm not sure which players he will go with Sunday because of the many changes recently but one thing I'd love to see from him in his line-up is positivity.

There will be a packed house and a cracking atmosphere and I'd love to see them really have a go from the start, get the crowd behind them and not let Shamrock Rovers settle into the game.

If they do this, the home side have the players that can cause the Hoops defence problems like Kieran Djalali, Danny North, Raffaele Cretaro and Aaron Greene.

This game is also very difficult to call but it's one I'm really looking forward to. I feel Shamrock Rovers will advance.

It promises to be a fantastic match and a fantastic weekend of cup football, one which just can't come quick enough.

Live television coverage of both FAI Ford Cup semi-finals from 13:30 on Sunday 6 October on RTÉ Two and RTÉ.ie (Worldwide excluding Britain & NI).

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