Soccer
Hoops set to ignite bid to win back FAI Cup
By Daire Walsh
SHAMROCK Rovers’ bid to regain the FAI Cup begins in the Tallaght Stadium tomorrow evening when First Division outfit Galway United pay a visit for an opening round clash (kick-off 8pm).
After bridging a gap of 32 years to claim this coveted piece of silverware with a penalty shootout win over Dundalk in 2019, the Hoops subsequently relinquished their title to the same opposition in a crowdless Aviva Stadium last December.
Having fought so hard to secure their 25th Cup success two years ago, Rovers boss Stephen Bradley will be hoping the 2021 edition of the competition can be every bit as profitable for his troops.
It certainly helps that the vast majority of their starting line-up from the 2019 victory remain pivotal members of the current Hoops set-up.
Only Jack Byrne and Aaron McEneff – now at APOEL Nicosia and Hearts respectively – have moved on to pastures new in the intervening period.
Interestingly, two of the Dundalk team from that game (Sean Gannon and Sean Hoare) are now part of the Rovers line-up. Additionally, recent recruit Richie Towell was an FAI Cup winner with the County Louth outfit in 2015.
The Inchicore man scored the crucial goal in extra-time to guide the Lilywhites past the challenge of John Caulfield’s Cork City. Incidentally, Caulfield will be in the away dugout tomorrow, having first taken charge of the Tribesmen in August 2020.
The New York-born coach brings a considerable pedigree to the FAI Cup – both as a player and a manager.
A champion on the field of play with Cork in 1998, he guided the Leesiders to back-to-back final victories in 2016 and 2017.
With Clondalkin native Lisa Fallon on hand as head coach, Galway’s league form in the second-tier has been impressive of late.
Since being heavily defeated by Shelbourne on May 28, the westerners have garnered 16 points from a possible 18.
Still, with Rovers currently leading the way in the Premier Division and having the experience of playing at a higher grade on a week-to-week basis, they will undoubtedly be favourites to progress to the last-16.