Inchicore set for local derby against league giants St Pat’s
THEY were the fourth last team pulled out of the hat and with each passing draw for the first round of the Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup, the small band of Inchicore Athletic representatives became more and more convinced they would be paired with local Leinster Senior League rivals CIE Ranch. ‘That’s who I was waiting for,’ manager David Hyland admitted. Instead, they hooked a much bigger fish in St Patrick’s Athletic, their League of Ireland neighbours on Emmet Road. For Hyland, grandson of St Francis founder John, he admitted to mixed feelings about the game because of the strained history between Pat’s and Francis dating back to the early Noughties. ‘I’m a St Francis man all my life [because of] my grandad so there’s a bit of history, I wasn’t too happy with the amalgamation a few years ago so there will be a little bit of tension in my own mind about it. It’s great for the club, it’s great for Inchicore. We’ve never been there (Richmond Park) before and we just hope we can give them a game.’ While they were drawn to play at home, the tie, set for the weekend ending August 12, looks set to be moved to the Premier Division club’s ground as their new home in Bluebell, part of Dublin City Council’s regeneration project for the area, won’t be ready until later this year. ‘Well we’ll see what they offer us. Everything has a cost,’ club promotions officer Finbarr Nolan smiled. Inchicore returned to preseason training last Monday and Hyland hopes the lure of a FAI Cup clash with St Pat’s helps to attract new bodies to the club. ‘I think with that draw we’ll probably get a few more. It’s good for us. It will be tough, they’re one of the footballing teams in the league but we’ll make sure we’re fit anyway.’ Vice-captain Derek Roche was alongside his manager at the FAI’s suite in Aviva Stadium and informed his teammates of the draw they all wanted. The majority of the squad are locals, not to mention St Pat’s supporters, while Roche is from further afield in Blanchardstown. ‘I’m a blow in,’ the right full laughed. At 35, he is one of the oldest in the squad but is eager to make the most of a crack at the 2014 FAI Cup winners. ‘If I can make it through preseason I will! Having this game gives everyone an incentive and an early focus. This will be our first competitive game of the season so we’ll have to be ready for it. ‘For me it is very exciting to get a last chance against a League of Ireland club. We’ll just have to go and enjoy it,’ the veteran explained. From one local derby to another, Dublin Bus and CIE Ranch go head to head after they were the last pairings drawn by FAI president Tony Fitzgerald and former Ireland international Damien Duff. Neither side will want to park the bus in that one while some of the other non-league teams will have no option but to stem the tide. Among them, Home Farm welcome holders Cork City, Limerick’s Pike Rovers travel to UCD, Blarney United have a home draw against struggling Derry City and Newmarket Celtic of Clare face Cabinteely. Cockhill Celtic host Limerick, Waterford are away to Skerries Town while either Maynooth University Town or Leeds AFC (Cork) will progress from their clash.