Soccer

Cup final set to be classic says Dundalk ace Patrick McEleney

Dundalk midfielder Patrick McEleney of Dundalk races away from Derry City's Jamie McIntyre at McGinn Park, Buncrana
Dundalk midfielder Patrick McEleney of Dundalk races away from Derry City's Jamie McIntyre at McGinn Park, Buncrana Dundalk midfielder Patrick McEleney of Dundalk races away from Derry City's Jamie McIntyre at McGinn Park, Buncrana

Midfielder Patrick McEleney feels Dundalk versus Cork City rivalry is a good thing, as they prepare to complete their trilogy of FAI Cup finals, tomorrow, at the Aviva Stadium.

Prior to last season's cup success, the Rebel Army were Dundalk's bridesmaid in both the blue ribbon cup competition and the the Airtricity League Premier Division title.

However at the third time of asking John Caulfield's men have turned that all around, as they deservedly claimed the championship and are aiming to complete the double, by retaining the FAI Cup, but McEleney is hoping the Lilywhites can secure a EA Sports and FAI Cup double.

“There's a bit of rivalry there now and that's good,” he stated.

“I think it's because we have been the top two teams these last few years and I don't think there's anything wrong with the rivalry to be honest.

“It's a good thing to have and I don't think anyone would be that interested in the game if both teams just rolled over for each other. We'll do anything we can to win and I think we have both showed that in the past.

“They came up to Oriel in the league decider last year and they did everything they could but we won, but to be fair they beat us in the cup final last year with the last kick of the game.

“It has always been really tight and went to the wire and I think that's down to how much we really want to beat each other.”

The ex-Derry City man feels the cup final has the potential to be a classic and should be a good game for the neutrals watching.

“It's all set-up for it now,” he said

“They won the league and our back start killed us, but it's going to be a great game, as both teams will be doing everything they can to try and win on Sunday.

“I think it's the way they play and it has proven to work to be fair to them. They keep it really tight and they don't concede goals and that's there first thing, but we aren't going to change the way we play, I think everybody knows that.

“We'll try to play football, try to win and take the game to whoever we play and I feel both sets of style will make it an interesting game and it should be good for the neutrals watching.

The Derry man will be competiting in his fourth FAI Cup final and he admits by his own very his standards he really hasn't showcased his talents on the big day in his previous experiences at the Aviva.

This season the 25-year-old has had a goal of the season contender virtually every month and he admits another wonder goal in tomorrow's final would be a nice way to finish the season and it would bring two pieces of silverware back to Oriel Park.

“I would love to score on Sunday and although I scored a goal in the League Cup Final, I need to do it at the Aviva,” he added.

“I think I have been sort of disappointed in a lot of the games that I have played there and to be honest I put that pressure on myself, so hopefully I can get the winner or just contribute really well for the team so that we can go on and win it.

“We as a side are only going to be judged on what we win.

“We have won the League Cup and have come second in the league, which is not good enough for us, we need to be winning everything, so we need to win on Sunday and I'm sure that pressure is on us because of who we are and what we are expected to do but I think there's no better team to do it.”

First Round - Dundalk 4-0 Derry City

Second Round - Crumlin 1-3 Dundalk

Quarter-finals - Dundalk 4-0 Drogheda United

Semi-final - Dundalk 1-1 Shamrock Rovers

Semi-final - Shamrock Rovers 2-4 Dundalk (Replay AET)

First Round - Bray Wanderers 0-1 Cork City

Second Round - Cork City 7-0 Athlone Town

Quarter-finals - Longford Town 1-4 Cork City

Semi-final - Cork City 1-0 Limerick