FAI CUP SEMI-FINAL Shelbourne v St Patrick's Athletic:AFTER A long five years in the First Division following the financial collapse which saw them demoted after winning a third title in four years, all at Shelbourne are hoping they're on the cusp of a rebirth.
A recent blip has seen them nudged off the top of the First Division table, though winning their game in hand at home to Finn Harps on Monday night will see Alan Mathews’ side leapfrog back to the summit and well placed for promotion.
First, though, a cup final at the Aviva Stadium stares Shelbourne in the face as they get a taste of what they’ll soon hope to expect on a more regular basis when they host St Patrick’s Athletic tonight.
Their absence from the top table of Irish domestic football was illustrated by the fact tonight’s game is Shelbourne’s first on live television since the run-in to that 13th title.
“We have a lot to play for,” said Mathews of their potential double of promotion and a cup final appearance. “That could become a reality. That’s one side of the coin. The other side is it won’t happen.
“I was just talking to Pat (Fenlon) and the last time Shelbourne were on the television, he was in charge, when they were winning the league in 2006.
“For the club and the people who put in the hard work in keeping it alive, it’s a good reward for them. We just want to push it and get to the final day.”
Shelbourne, with their main priority promotion, are happy to be the underdogs at home in a Dublin derby tonight.
“There is no pressure on us going into this situation. We’re here,” said Mathews. “There is talk everywhere about Pats and it being 50 years since they last won it. That expectation is going to sit on their shoulders. There is no expectation in our dressingroom. Expectation comes from the pressure we put on ourselves to produce a performance. It’s a game that we want to try to go and win. We want to get to the final.”
A knee ligament injury rules out experienced left back Lorcan Fitzgerald, while right back Gareth Matthews is suspended.
Mathews is confident winger Conan Byrne, like Fitzgerald a cup winner with Sporting Fingal two years ago, and striker Karl Bermingham will be passed fit to feature while he insists Seán Byrne and Barry Clancy are able replacements for his absentees.
St Patrick’s will give midfielder Dave Mulcahy a fitness test today on his hamstring injury, while defender Shane Guthrie and the O’Connors, Seán and John, are cup-tied.
“There is a bit of pressure on us to win due to the time since the club’s last cup success. This is something which everyone is well aware of,” said manager Pete Mahon of the half-century wait.
“We’ve been told how much of a great experience it is to play at the Aviva Stadium, and we want to cap off a very good season by reaching the final, but we face very tricky opposition in Shelbourne. We have faced First Division opposition in previous rounds, Waterford and Cork, and if we get to the final we will have done so without facing a Premier Division side.
“We have a good away record in recent cup matches and I hope after tomorrow we will have one more in November.”
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