FAI Cup success figuring high on Kenny's current wish-list

TOMMY DUNNE’S suggestion that the Ford-sponsored FAI Cup now represents Shamrock Rovers’ best hope of lifting a trophy this season will be recognised as an uncomfortable truth by most at Tallaght but Stephen Kenny insists the competition remains a worthy target in its own right – especially for a club that feels it is long overdue a victory in it.

“It’s well documented that it’s 25 years since Rovers have won the cup,” he says, “and everyone here will want to make it to a final at Lansdowne Road and then win to end that run. It’s been far too long.

“For the moment, though, we’ve got to concentrate on reaching the quarter-final, which won’t be easy. They’re a good side and they’ll come here looking to take us back to Turner’s Cross at the very least.”

Kenny has plenty of competition for places despite a couple of injuries and the suspension of Ken Oman but dismisses the idea that he will rest regulars in order to give others a run out. “No,” he says, “we have a bit of momentum after the last few weeks and we want to win again. We’re not in a position to rotate like that.”

Cork’s Dunne must again cope with the absence of several players with the likes of Colin Healy, John Dunleavy and Cathal Lordan injured while Keith Quinn is one of three to be cup-tied.

The only other all-Premier tie is at Belfield, where UCD will look to bounce back from a hefty enough defeat in Sligo against a Derry City side that has shown a bit of improvement of late.

Graham Rusk is still out for the students as is Dean Clarke (hip) while Sean Russell (groin) is considered a doubt. Martin Russell’s men struggle to keep clean sheets and they may be slightly relieved that the visitors will arrive without Rory Patterson (hamstring) while Mark Farren is considered a major doubt with a calf strain.

Malahide United might reckon they, of the non-league sides, have the brightest hopes of progressing given they are at home and facing a Dundalk side without a win since they beat St Patrick’s CY in the last round about three months ago.

Darius Kierans describes the tie as a potential “banana skin” and he will be without the likes of Liam Burns, Paul Whelan and Stephen Maher as he picks a side to face opponents with their share of league experience.

Wexford Youths might just fancy their chances of springing a surprise at Drogheda too. The First Division outfit will be on a bit of a high after beating Waterford United away last weekend and they catch United at a time when they have lost two on the trot in the league for the first time since the start of the league campaign. Mick Cooke is not helped either by the fact that his former Monaghan United contingent are all cup-tied.

Waterford, meanwhile, will look to pick themselves up by beating Mervue United at the RSC.

Their record against the Galway club suggests they are a reasonably safe bet to do so with the visitors having managed just two draws in 12 league meetings with tonight’s opponents.

United’s Paul O’Brien, though, could be better fixed ahead of this evening’s tie with Willie John Kiely suspended and two of his centre backs, Séamus Long and Craig Burns, ruled out by suspension and injury respectively.