LET’S MAKE IT DUNSHOCK Ramblers land short straw but boss says they can rock the Lilies in cup semi
STEPHEN HENDERSON must wonder if the footballing gods are conspiring against him.
The Cobh Ramblers boss does not believe his First Division side have had much luck this season.
And just to copperfasten that theory, they go and land Dundalk in two cup competitions – twice in a week.
The fact the Lilywhites are smarting after a chastening 4-0 Europa League defeat in Cyprus on Thursday makes the challenge all the more tricky.
Cobh host Dundalk this evening in the EA Sports Cup semi-final at St Colman’s Park before they head to Oriel Park in the FAI Cup first round on Friday.
But Henderson is just taking it one step at a time, insisting his Ramblers are daring to dream against one of the heavyweights.
Urging fans to turn out in force, Henderson said: “It’s going to be very difficult but that’s cup football.
“It evokes dreams and shocks do happen. Can it happen here? Of course it can but it’s important we stay in the game for as long as possible.
“We’re up against one of the best teams in the country, a full-time outfit and they’ll be seething after what happened in Europe.
“Does that change Stephen Kenny’s thinking on his team, will it be the lads who started in Cyprus or others coming in?
“It makes no difference really because the lads coming in will see
what happened over there and view it as a chance for them.”
Henderson has labelled today’s showdown as Cobh’s biggest game in decades and urged his young players to make their own luck.
“We’re building for next year and it’s about giving the players a better understanding of the game at this level,” he continued.
“We’re not getting the luck this year but you make your own luck in this game and to be in a national semi-final is fantastic.
“This club is in the league 35-odd years and all we have to show for it is a First Division title and a Munster Senior Cup.
“There’s been some great promotions along the way but not enough appearances in finals. We want to see if we can reach a final, that would be fantastic, but we need a crowd behind us for it to happen.”
Dundalk are the cup holders and will be hot favourites today whatever team Kenny puts out.
The likes of Gabriel Sava, Georgie Poynton, Karolis Chvedukas and Ronan Murray are likely starters but new striker Georgie Kelly is cup-tied and Pat Mceleney is out with a groin injury.
Kenny said: “The players are very hungry and determined to finish the season strongly. There’s a great hunger, a real determination.”