Sligo Rovers v ShelbourneTHEIR CONTROVERSIAL reinstatement in the competition after Sheriff YC had included an ineligible player in the team that beat them and their dramatic fight-back against St Patrick's Athletic might suggest Shelbourne's name is actually already on the cup going into tomorrow's Ford-sponsored final at the Aviva Stadium. But the bookies would suggest otherwise and Sligo's strength makes it fairly hard to disagree with their verdict.
Joseph Ndo will have a fitness test before Paul Cook decides whether to start the midfielder who has been struggling with a hamstring problem in recent weeks, but it is the range of options available to the Rovers boss as he picks his team that really highlights the gulf between the two sides.
The likes of Raffaele Cretaro, Matthew Blinkhorn, John Dillon, Conor Powell and Alan Kirby could all very well miss out on a place in the starting line-up as Cook, with a virtually full squad to choose from, is likely to stick wit the bulk of the team that beat Bohemians in the semi-final in Dalymount Park a few weeks back.
Ndo, as he did in last year’s final, showed what a hugely positive influence he can be that afternoon and containing the former Cameroon international will be a priority for the Dublin club if, as seems likely, he is declared fit to play tomorrow.
Whether the Shelbourne defence can cope with the many ways in which Sligo poke and prod at opponents in search of a weakness they can exploit is one of the more intriguing questions ahead of the game.
Just as critical to the newly promoted side’s hopes of springing a surprise, however, will be whether an attack built around the movement and passing of stand-in skipper David Cassidy (who comes into the game off the back of an outstanding run of form) can sustain the pace at which they started the recent games against St Patrick’s Athletic and Cork City over 90 or even 120 minutes against opponents as good as this.
“They’re an excellent team,” acknowledges Alan Mathews. “Defensively they’re very, very good and they’ve been right up at the top of the Premier Division challenging all year but we know how it works.
“If there’s a trophy at stake then the chances are you’re going to have to beat a good side and our lads are great. They have a wonderful attitude and they to win every game. Sunday will be no different.”
Mathews has choices to make in several areas with Stephen Paisley looking to get back into the centre of defence, Colly James available after suspension and Conan Byrne in contention to start again.
Cassidy and the hugely prolific Philly Hughes are certain to be key figures, though, and the hope will be that they might cause problems for Jason McGuinness and Gavin Peers with the sheer pace at which they and their team-mates move the ball forward.
For Sligo, though, this is a third cup final in a row and having lost narrowly to Sporting Fingal two years ago before edging out Shamrock Rovers on penalties last time around they are, insists Cook, as hungry as ever to lift this trophy again.
“We’d be sick, we’d be devastated,” says the man who nearly moved to Scotland recently when asked what it would be like to end the season empty handed.
“But on the back of that you have to realise that desperation won’t win you the cup. It’s a competitive league and if we win the FAI Cup, we’ll have had to beat Shamrock Rovers and Bohemians to do it. But as everyone knows there are shocks in football. And Shelbourne beating Sligo wouldn’t be a huge shock.
“Shelbourne have a very, very strong team and good players. But like last year, if our lads can go there and perform on the day, do the things we’re good at, I’d like to think we would win the game.”
Logic would suggest he’s right but even if Shelbourne’s fighting spirit isn’t enough, they’ll be hoping fate really is on their side.
SHELBOURNE(probable): Delaney; Ryan, Boyle, Paisley, Byrne; McGill, Dawson, James, Clancy; Cassidy; Hughes.
SLIGO ROVERS(probable): Clarke; Keane, McGuinness, Peers, Davoren; Ryan, Ventre; Ndo, Russell, Greene; Doyle.
Referee: R Winter (Dublin).
