Dunne to field strongest side for visit of non-league opponents in FAI Cup
GALWAY United boss Tommy Dunne insists he will be fielding the strongest side possible when they face non-league opposition North End United in their first game in the FAI Cup at Eamonn Deacy Park this evening, Friday (7:45pm).
Hosting a non-league outfit, the temptation might be to rest a number of players ahead of their Premier League match against a high-flying Cork City next week but Dunne stresses United’s focus is wholly on this game.
“No, we would be looking to play the strongest team that is available to us on Friday,” the United manager told Tribune Sport earlier this week. “We will worry about Cork when Cork comes around the following week. There won’t be one eye on Cork or anything like that. It is solely on this game this week.”
This evening’s fixture is the 14th time United have been drawn against non-league opposition, with the cluyb winning 12 of their previous outings, drawing one – their tie against Fanad in the 1986/87 season went to a replay – and losing just once. That was against Cobh Ramblers, then a Munster League side back in the early 1980s.
For their part, North End United qualified for the FAI Cup through their progression in the FAI Junior Cup, where they were eventually beaten 2-1 by Liffey Wanderers in the semi-final last month.
However, it was enough to secure their place in this competition and in their first outing against UCC – the same side that had won the Collingwood Cup in Galway in February – they ran out comfortable 4-0 winners, with Paul Murphy (2), Jason Murphy and John Fenlon netting the North End goals.
Other than that though, Dunne knows very little about them. “I wouldn’t know a huge amount about them to be truthful. Just a couple of the players, like Gary Dempsey. Overall, I wouldn’t have a huge knowledge on them so we will just have to do our homework and get as much information as we can before Friday.
“Obviously, we are looking to progress as far as we can in the Cup. We look at it as an option of us picking up a trophy but, also, it is important that we try to get on good Cup runs for the club and the supporters.”
Certainly, you couldn’t argue with United’s Cup form this season, given they have already qualified for the semi-finals of the EA Sports Cup, for which the draw was made earlier this week. They pulled league leaders Dundalk – to be played at Eamonn Deacy Park on Monday, August 3.
“It is a tough semi-final draw against Dundalk but these are the games that the lads want to play in. Friday night is also a home draw but it is still a tough game. So, we have to make sure we are up and ready and motoring as best we can to try and get ourselves into the next round. That is really what we are looking to do.”
That said, hosting non-league opposition this evening, is there a danger of complacency? “No,” states Dunne. “To be honest with you, I never found it difficult when I was playing. The mindset is always the thought of getting into the next round. Good pros play the same against any team they play against. And that is what I am hoping from our group.”
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.