Sligo Rovers v Cork City

By @bit_red

Sligo Rovers

Sligo Rovers are at home to Cork City tonight in the FAI Cup quarter-final. They are without David McMillan who is cup-tied and his brother Evan who is suffering from a knee injury and will be out for up to 4 weeks. They are also without Ross Gaynor who is suffering from a knee injury and Iarfhlaith Davoren who has picked up a calf injury.

Ian Baraclough gave his view to sligorovers.com ahead of the game: 

“We are hoping to have a long run and prosper in this competition. We’re fully aware of what it means to supporters and our history and association with the FAI Cup. A good run would give us a boost for the rest of the season. It is a home game and I can’t imagine Cork are relishing the long trip up to the North-West. We have to make that count on Saturday. Hard work and the right approach to the game will get us a long way.”

“Cork have moved into the top half of the Premier Division and I feel this is the tie of the round. We have to be at it from the off. The club were cup holders for two years prior to an early exit last season and I would very much like to do well in it again.”

  

Cork City

Cork will be without the services of Daryl Horgan who is suspended. He was influential in the Cork win over Sligo earlier in the season. Garry Buckley is also suspended, while Ciaran Kilduff is cup-tied. Both Kevin Murray and Darren Dennehy are still sidelined with long term injuries and Dave Ryan is out with a groin complaint. Finally, Gearoid Morissey is a doubt with an ankle injury.

Cork’s caretaker boss Ashton acknowledged the extent of their injury list but remained hopeful nonetheless. Speaking to corkcityfc.ie,  Ashton comments :

“It’s a cup tie, so it’s a change and a game without the pressures of the league. I think both will welcome the break from the league and will go out to play football and enjoy the game. It has the potential to be a real cup tie, with both teams going out to win it. It is our only realistic chance of winning silverware this season and I’m sure Sligo will be looking at it is a competition they can win also.”

“Hopefully we can win the game on the night but if not, a draw would be a great result if we can bring it back to Turner’s Cross and try to finish the tie there. We are going up there to win the game but we won’t be stupid and risk throwing it away. The downside for us is the number of players we are missing and from that point of view we will have to do a bit of re-jigging. That said it is up to the players who come in to show their worth, show they are in the squad in the first place and step up to the plate” 

Match Stats:

Both teams have beaten each other this season. Sligo first beat Cork 2-0 at home but Cork came back with a 3-1 win at Turner’s Cross. The last time the sides were drawn together in the FAI Cup was in 2009. In the first game that year, Cork City took the lead twice (through Shane Duggan and Denis Behan), but were pegged back both times taking the tie to a replay in Sligo.  This time Cork’s Guntar Silagilis put the Leesiders ahead but Raffaele Cretaro sent the game into extra time. Cretaro gave the Bit O’Red the lead in extra time, but when Danny Murphy missed a penalty in the 111th minute, Cork City saw their hopes of FAI Cup success disappear. (via corkcityfc.ie). 

Betting:

Sligo 2/4 Draw 3/1 Cork City 7/1

Prediction:

Sligo Rovers 2 - 1 Cork City