| Cork bid for league and cup double
By David Thorpe
Cork City v Drogheda United, FAI Cup Final, Sunday, 3.15pm, Lansdowne
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Cork City will be bidding for an historic league and cup double when
they take on Drogheda at Lansdowne Road at the weekend.
Fresh from their first league triumph in a decade the Leesiders will
have a full squad including John O’Flynn who had his first game back from
injury in the league decider with Derry and should be fully match-fit for
the Cup final.
Cork boss Damien Richardson has spoken of the need for new faces if Cork
are to progress in Europe next season so many of his charges will be playing
for their futures and will not lack commitment.
Richardson will be spoiled for choice going forward with O’Flynn, Neale
Fenn and Willie Bruton competing for the starting berths. Given their recent
good form Fenn and O’Flynn look the most likely options.
Drogheda finished a highly respectable fourth in the league, and have
guaranteed themselves UEFA Cup football next term but their ultra-ambitious
manager Paul Doolin will want to bring some silverware back across the Boyne.
The Drogs have cobbled together a squad which blends the experience of former
Middlesbrough and Bradford player Jason Gavin and other old heads like Simon
Webb with the youthful endeavour of star striker Glen Whelan.
In Graham Gartland the Louth outfit have a man whose been here before,
having lifted the cup with Longford last year. The Drogheda squad is at
full strength for this one and while they look solid at the back the key
question for Drogheda fans is whether the Louth lads can create enough chances
to trouble the excellent Cork defence.
Both are well-organised sides who concede few goals and it will be further
up the field where this contest will be won and lost. Particularly crucial
will be how Drogheda cope with Cork’s midfield which is the best in the
Eircom League with Joe Gamble doing the spadework for Irish U-21 internationals
Liam Kearney and Roy O’Donovan.
Cork look to have more strength in depth squad-wise, with the likes of
Billy Woods and Denis Behan capable of being sprung from the bench, while
Drogheda can introduce veteran striker Paul Keegan.
With Cork still hungry for further success they could complete a league
and cup double to continue the celebrations.
Promotion-Relegation Play-Off Second-Leg
Ireland’s most famous soccer club Shamrock Rovers have been relegated
from the Eircom Premier division following defeat in a two leg-play-off
with Dublin City.
Rovers lost the first leg 2-1 on Wednesday night last and could only
manage a 1-1 draw in the return to send the famous Hoops out of Ireland’s
top football tier for the first time in their history.
In the wake of their relegation, Rovers have parted company with manager
Roddy Collins who had already been suspended by the club. He will be replaced
by Tony Cousins.
Several experienced players, including Brian Shelley and Tony Sheridan
are expected to leave the Hoops for pastures new in the close season.
Rovers had endured a turbulent season and the eight points they were
docked for financial irregularities was a major factor in their relegation.
The club were only minutes from going out of business earlier in the
season before being rescued by a consortium of fans. They now expect to
be enconsced in a new stadium in Tallaght within two seasons.
Dublin City rejoin the top tier of Irish football having been relegated
last year. They are a club who owe their roots to the old Home Farm amateur
club on Dublin’s northside and are managed by Dermot Keely.
Robbie Collins was the Vikings goal scoring hero on the night taking
advantage of some slack Rovers defending to fire into the net and seal promotion
for his side.
Veteran midfielder Derek Tracy replied almost instantly for the Hoops
but that was all Rovers could muster on the night and trailing 2-1 from
the first leg they went out of the league.
Roll of honour
Eircom League Premier Division Champions: Cork City
Eircom League First DivisionChampions Sligo Rover
League Cup winners: Derry City
Setanta Cup winners: Linfield
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