Shields wary of Drogs’ threat
HAVING been part of a relegation-threatened Dundalk side that shocked Bohemians with a 1-0 victory at the quarter-final stage of the FAI Cup in 2012, Chris Shields knows more than most not to take Friday night’s opponents Drogheda United for granted.
A massive 38 points might separate the County Louth rivals in the table and Dundalk might have won the last meeting between the sides 6-0 at United Park, but Shields insists that will count for nothing when Pete Mahon’s men visit Oriel Park.
‘The cup is massive for us this season and it’s a big prize for us now in the second half of the season,’ he said.
‘It’s great to have that bit of rivalry going into the cup games. It should make it a special game on Friday. They don’t come around too often any more.
‘We’ll be fully focused on Drogheda. They have nothing to lose going into the cup. I’ve been where they have been, fighting relegation, so the cup can be a good distraction.
‘We’ll have to be wary of them because they will be going for broke. It will be an interesting contest.’
Shields was controversially sent off when the sides last met in the FAI Cup at United Park in October 2013. His challenge on Declan O’Brien on 31 minutes saw him join Darren Meenan on the sidelines and Gavin Brennan slotted home the winning goal from the spot despite a brave effort from the nine-man Lilywhites.
It’s a memory he doesn’t like to recall but it’s firmly in the past now.
‘You want to get to as many cup finals as possible because you never know when the trophies are going to stop coming.
‘Getting to the Aviva is our main aim as well as the EA Sports Cup Final. We’ve only two more games to get to the Aviva again and it’s something we want to achieve because apart from anything they are special days out for family, friends and supporters.
‘It’s just a great day to be involved in and we want to be there for the third time in a row.’