Preview: Saints V Drogheda

  • Mon, Apr 23, 2007 @ 11:44

The clash of St. Patrick’s Athletic and Drogheda United tonight in the first semi-final of the Setanta Sports Cup is certain to generate a lot of excitement at Richmond Park.

The game will kick-off at 8.05 pm and will be screened live on Setanta Sports and should prove to be an early season highlight.

St. Pat’s go into the game on the back of the best possible start to the season – five wins and one draw in the Setanta Sports Cup, six wins and a draw in the eircom League of Ireland !

Drogheda have been just as impressive. Their only defeat of the season so far was a 0-1 loss to Linfield at United Park in the opening match of the season.

They are locked together with St. Pat’s on the same points total at the head of the eircom League of Ireland and just behind them on goals difference. The teams are already seven points clear of the chasing group.

St. Pat’s will go into tonight’s match as favourites for two reasons – they will be playing at home before their own committed supporters and their injury worries are not as critical as are Drogheda’s.

Drogheda’s latest concern revolves around their goalkeeper, Mikko Vilmunen. He turned his ankle late in the win over Shamrock Rovers at Tolka Park and is a doubt.

The big problem for manager Paul Doolin is that regular goalkeeper Dan Connor will not be fit for quite a while. The only other goalkeeper on Drogheda’s books is Cian Byrne, a youngster of 16 years who helped Drogheda overcome Castlebar Celtic at the week-end to reach the final of the FAI U17 Cup.

St. Pat’s looked very comfortable when they overcame Sligo last time out even if three of their four goals came from a penalty and two ‘own goals’.

They were without midfielder Joseph Ndo in that match and he has been a big influence on their season. He should be fit to return and alongside Alan Kirby and Keith Fahey he will give St. Pat’s a measure of strength in central midfield and will test Drogheda.

Drogheda will have Glen Fitzpatrick available for the match even though he was sent off against Shamrock Rovers. His suspension for that offence will be applied in the eircom League and not in the Setanta Sports Cup but regular centre-forward Declan O’Brien will again be missing because of injury.

St. Pat’s will look to Gary O’Neill, Mark Quigley and Anthony Murphy to provide the goals for them but there is scoring potential right through the team.

Shane Robinson opened his season’s account for Drogheda in timely fashion against Shamrock Rovers and his pace on the right wing will stretch St. Pat’s defence.

Fitzpatrick and the marvelous Ollie Cahill are others who will carry a lot of Drogheda’s hopes but, one way or another, this contest between the top two teams in the country promises to set the standard for all others to emulate. It should be cracker.


Next Fixture

Drogheda United / March 29th @ 7:45pm
Competition: League
Venue: Weavers Park
 
Team Pld Pts
Shelbourne616
Derry City611
Sligo Rovers69
Waterford FC68
Galway United FC67
Bohemian FC57
Shamrock Rovers56
St Patrick's Athletic66
Drogheda United54
Dundalk52