A face
25/08/2003, 4:48 PM
Form sides meet in first Cup final
The two form sides of the eircom League, St Patrick’s Athletic and Longford Town, meet in this evening’s League Cup final at Richmond Park (7.45pm), when the first piece of silverware of the summer season is handed out.
The Saints are aiming for their fourth straight victory in competitive matches, having overcome Dublin City in the FAI Cup and taken successive league victories, over UCD and reigning champions Bohemians, to move into a close third place in the table, just two points behind leaders Shelbourne.
However, if the Saints are in top form, the same can surely be said of their opponents this evening.
Alan Matthews’s Longford are also aiming for a fourth consecutive win, and have taken victories in six of their last seven matches. Indeed, the only occasion in that spell in which they have failed to take maximum reward was the league meeting with the Saints at Flancare Park on the second day of this month.
The sides played out a 1-1 draw in front of the Longford followers, while their other meeting this season, at Richmond Park in May, also ended 1-1. With 17 draws between them from 36 league games this season, extra-time looks a distinct possibility this evening.
Longford’s Shane Barrett has emerged as one of the league’s most potent attackers this summer, breaking into Matthews’s first XI and quickly becoming his side’s key player.
The Meathman’s pace has seen him become an integral part of the midlanders’ side since breaking up the largely misfiring partnership of Eric Lavine and Sean Francis this season.
The Saints will be hoping that their key attacker - Tony Bird - is fit to play after missing Friday night’s league victory over Bohs with a neck strain. Bird also missed his side’s previous outing, against Dublin City in the FAI Cup, through suspension.
In his absence, big Englishman Jamie Harris has stood in to good effect, scoring one and making another against Bohs three days ago, and he will deputize once more if Bird fails to recover in time.
Pats second-string goalkeeper James Gallagher, who has been an ever-present in this competition as manager Eamonn Collins opted to use his fringe players, is likely to miss out this time with a hip complaint, so first-choice Chris Adamson is expected to remain in goal.
Right back Stephen Quigley, another of the Saints’ fringe men, is doubtful, as is first-choice right back Barry Prenderville, so Trevor Croly could come in.
For Longford, midfielder Philip Keogh returns after suspension, but centre half and captain Barry Ferguson needs a late fitness test on a knee injury and Sean Prunty, Tom Silke and recent signing Stephen Paisley are all doubtful. Winger Brian Byrne, meanwhile, serves a suspension and so misses tonight’s decider.
Manager Matthews is adamant that his side will be intent on taking a rare piece of silverware back to the midlands. "It’s of great significance to us," he said. "It’s an opportunity to springboard the club to the next level by winning a trophy and increasing our profile."
www.eleven-a-side.com (http://www.eleven-a-side.com/leaguecup/story.asp?newsid=7157)
The two form sides of the eircom League, St Patrick’s Athletic and Longford Town, meet in this evening’s League Cup final at Richmond Park (7.45pm), when the first piece of silverware of the summer season is handed out.
The Saints are aiming for their fourth straight victory in competitive matches, having overcome Dublin City in the FAI Cup and taken successive league victories, over UCD and reigning champions Bohemians, to move into a close third place in the table, just two points behind leaders Shelbourne.
However, if the Saints are in top form, the same can surely be said of their opponents this evening.
Alan Matthews’s Longford are also aiming for a fourth consecutive win, and have taken victories in six of their last seven matches. Indeed, the only occasion in that spell in which they have failed to take maximum reward was the league meeting with the Saints at Flancare Park on the second day of this month.
The sides played out a 1-1 draw in front of the Longford followers, while their other meeting this season, at Richmond Park in May, also ended 1-1. With 17 draws between them from 36 league games this season, extra-time looks a distinct possibility this evening.
Longford’s Shane Barrett has emerged as one of the league’s most potent attackers this summer, breaking into Matthews’s first XI and quickly becoming his side’s key player.
The Meathman’s pace has seen him become an integral part of the midlanders’ side since breaking up the largely misfiring partnership of Eric Lavine and Sean Francis this season.
The Saints will be hoping that their key attacker - Tony Bird - is fit to play after missing Friday night’s league victory over Bohs with a neck strain. Bird also missed his side’s previous outing, against Dublin City in the FAI Cup, through suspension.
In his absence, big Englishman Jamie Harris has stood in to good effect, scoring one and making another against Bohs three days ago, and he will deputize once more if Bird fails to recover in time.
Pats second-string goalkeeper James Gallagher, who has been an ever-present in this competition as manager Eamonn Collins opted to use his fringe players, is likely to miss out this time with a hip complaint, so first-choice Chris Adamson is expected to remain in goal.
Right back Stephen Quigley, another of the Saints’ fringe men, is doubtful, as is first-choice right back Barry Prenderville, so Trevor Croly could come in.
For Longford, midfielder Philip Keogh returns after suspension, but centre half and captain Barry Ferguson needs a late fitness test on a knee injury and Sean Prunty, Tom Silke and recent signing Stephen Paisley are all doubtful. Winger Brian Byrne, meanwhile, serves a suspension and so misses tonight’s decider.
Manager Matthews is adamant that his side will be intent on taking a rare piece of silverware back to the midlands. "It’s of great significance to us," he said. "It’s an opportunity to springboard the club to the next level by winning a trophy and increasing our profile."
www.eleven-a-side.com (http://www.eleven-a-side.com/leaguecup/story.asp?newsid=7157)