Sligo Rovers will look to progress to a first Sports Direct FAI Cup semi-final since 2020 as the Bit O’Red take on Kerry FC at Mounthawk Park in Tralee, in what will be an historic night for both clubs.
This last eight tie, which kicks off at 7.45pm, will be the first senior competitive game between the clubs at men’s senior level as John Russell continues his mission to guide Rovers to a first FAI Cup decider in twelve years.
Rovers find themselves in the quarter-final following defeats away from home of both Dundalk and Bohemians as we continue our cup odyssey on the road.
Colin Healy’s Kerrymen saw off Athlone Town in the second round following an extra-time win over their First Division rivals, before the men from the Kingdom beat promotion hopefuls Cobh at home in the following round.
Rovers are unbeaten in their last three and have taken wins from three of their last five in all competitions. While our opponents are also in a solid vein of form and are unbeaten in their last four having also taken three victories from their last five.
In team news, Rovers are without vice-captain Will Fitzgerald who is suspended having been booked in both the second and third round. Both Cian Kavanagh and Kyle McDonagh will be assessed closer to the game.
Midfielder Jad Hakiki returns from a successful stint on international duty with the Irish under-21s.
Approximately 300 Rovers fans are set to take the trip south with the away end selling out in minutes two weekends ago. The home end is also a sell-out.
The limited capacity of Mounthawk means only a small number of tickets were available to the Red Army, but manager Russell is looking forward to seeing the colour and noise which the Rovers fans will bring.
“I think if there were three times the amount of tickets available, the Rovers end would have still sold out such is the appetite for a cup run amongst our supporters”, he says.
“They’ve been superb everywhere we’ve been and we expect more of the same on Friday. It’s a new experience and a new ground for us so I’m sure it’s a tie they’re all looking forward to.”
That following will be needed according to Russell who was in Tralee last week to watch Kerry draw with Munster rivals Cobh.
“We’re going up against one of the most experienced people in Irish football when it comes to Colin Healy’s CV. He’s seen it all really and will know what it takes to cause an upset.
“We’ve studied them and Kerry can play and will look to bring the game to us on Friday so we need to be on our toes from the off. They have pace and know how to open teams up so we’ll have to be ready for them.”
Rovers have already seen off First Division leaders Dundalk in the second round of this year’s tournament. Russell’s charges will no doubt go into Friday’s tie the favourites given we are the Premier Division outfit. But the boss is expecting a tight game and a lot of hard work needed if his side are to progress to the final four.
“We were favourites against Dundalk at Oriel and won but then we were underdogs against an in-form Bohs at Dalymount a few weeks later in the next round and won, so we’ve seen it from both sides”, he continues.
“It’s inevitable that we’ll be fancied to go through but if we think at any stage that we can take our foot off the gas, then we’re out of the competition, simple as. But the boys know that. We dealt well with the favourites tag in Dundalk and we need to do it again this weekend.”
David Goulden