FAI CUP SEMI-FINAL PREVIEW: ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC V DUNDALK
By Daire Walsh
St Patrick’s Athletic will be seeking to reach their first FAI Cup decider in seven years when defending champions Dundalk visit Richmond Park for a mouthwatering semi-final encounter tomorrow evening (kick-off 7.45pm).
Since last winning the competition back in 2014 with a 2-0 success over Derry City, the Inchicore men have rarely found themselves in the reckoning for the biggest day in the domestic soccer calendar. Aside from a last-four reversal at the hands of eventual winners Cork City in 2016, the Saints have generally exited the Cup in the early rounds.
Last year saw them bowing out to Finn Harps in the opening phase, but 2021 has been far kinder to Stephen O’Donnell’s charges. Bray Wanderers, Cork and Wexford have already been accounted for and now the three-time victors have Dundalk in their sights.
Despite seeing their league form deteriorating in the past couple of seasons, the Lilywhites have remained a potent force in the FAI Cup. Having missed out on a domestic treble in 2019 by losing to Shamrock Rovers on penalties, the Co Louth outfit bounced back to get the better of the Hoops in an empty Aviva 12 months later.
Filippo Giovagnoli was in charge of the squad for last year’s success, but Tallaght native Vinny Perth is now back at the helm. It is the one trophy he didn’t accrue during his original stint as manager, albeit the club did win it on two occasions when he was assistant to Stephen Kenny.
This is actually the first of two games between these sides in the space of four days with Dundalk returning to Inchicore for a league encounter on Monday evening (kick-off 7.45pm). While that fixture holds an importance for both teams, the chance to line out in another FAI Cup showpiece will be on their minds for the time being.