Shelbourne's Smith has point to prove

A week after the nightmare in Oriel Park and Dave Smith is nervous that he might have to cope with another major setback. It's nothing new for the 24-year-old, of course, his last four years at Tolka have consisted of a cycle of breakthroughs and disappointments. This time, though, he feels he has done enough to take a place in Shelbourne's Harp Lager FAI Cup final team on Sunday.

The only question now is whether manager Damien Richardson agrees with him or not. A couple of months ago the chances are that he wouldn't have. Smith had enjoyed a few decent spells in the first team but usually due to one of the more regular choice full backs being ruled out by injury.

With both Greg Costello and Declan Geoghegan taking their share of knocks this season the stand-in has seen more action than usual, but it is only since the series of Cup games against St Patrick's that his place has started to feel a little more secure.

Smith was outstanding in those games and contributed as much as anybody in the side to the fine run of league results that followed. That contribution was recognised by Richardson when Geoghegan returned to fitness a few weeks ago with the younger man retaining his place in the side, and if there was not the possibility of widespread changes in the wake of last Friday's crucial 2-1 defeat by Dundalk then his name would be virtually a certainty to be included in the team that Richardson decides upon tomorrow.

"We didn't play up there (in Dundalk) and I have to take responsibility for that as much as anyone else," he says now, "but I'd like to think that over the course of the other games I've played this year that I've shown that I deserve a place in the side.

"Up to now the normal situation has been that when Greg and Declan are both fit then I'm the one to lose out but I don't really know what's happening at the moment, I just have to keep working away this week and hope that I get to start."

Greg Costello's injury may yet decide matters, with the first choice right full back still suffering from a groin strain that could rule him out and Smith's flexibility - he's right footed and says that that side of the defence is his best position - offers Richardson welcome options. Even if Costello is declared fit to start, however, Smith's form over the run-in should be enough to secure his place and give him the opportunity to settle a score or two with Cork City's Ollie Cahill.

"It's probably fair to say he destroyed me that day," says Smith of the 4-4 draw in Cork when pretty much every defender on the pitch had a nightmare and the wingers must have thought, well, it was the season of good will.

"I only came on that day after Greg got injured, though, and since then I've been in the team a bit more and I'd be a bit more used to the pace of it all now. In the draw up here he did all right but not nearly so well I thought and I'd like the chance to have another go at him on Sunday."

If it comes to pass, it could be one of the key tussles of the game. Cahill, Smith concedes, is one of those players capable of turning the game in City's favour and he will have to be closely watched. Taking him out of the game would surely bring Smith the wider recognition he feels he deserves.

"It's funny that, because people are more aware of players like Tony (Sheridan), Stephen (Geoghegan) and Dessie (Baker), it always registers with them how they play in a game, whether it's good or bad. Sometimes it feels like I can play well or badly and it doesn't really get noticed one way or the other because I'm not so well known. That's started to change a bit this season, especially because so many of our games have been on television, but if I got to play on Sunday it would probably help a lot."