‘Dundalk are the hardest team to beat’
SHAMROCK ROVERS have already beaten Dundalk twice this season but Stephen Bradley insists the Dublin side are still underdogs in today’s EA Sports Cup final. While the Hoops manager is adamant that, man for man, they can be the Lilywhites’ equals, he is bracing himself for a rip-roaring contest at Tallaght Stadium. They are the country’s two form sides in the country — Rovers have won seven on the bounce in all competitions while Dundalk’s winning run is just one game fewer. ‘The way they play their football, for me, the last three of four years they’ve been the best team in the country,’ Bradley said. ‘Stephen’s team play the way they play and we play the way we play. That won’t change and we’re now fully understanding how we want to play. It makes for a really open game. ‘Cork are obviously champions-elect and deservedly so because they’ve done it with such a large margin but in terms of football, they’re [Dundalk] the hardest to play against. They cause you issues that no other team in the league does, in terms of their movement and how they pass the ball.’ Rovers are beginning to come into their own under Bradley and while they’ve hit the net 16 times during that fine winning run, Dundalk have outgunned them with 23 strikes in six games and just one conceded. ‘Head to head we’re as good as anyone in the league but it’s inconsistency which has hurt us.’ Something has to give today. In other news for Rovers, the FAI has confirmed it will provide €180,000 to assist with the completion of the first phase of their academy, as well as the development of plans for a footballing building, 7-a-side pitch, outdoor gym and modular dressing rooms.