Carroll relishing Galway challenge after FAI Cup draw
COLLINSTOWN manager Kevin Carroll believes his side is well capable of taking another League of Ireland scalp when his side welcomes Galway United to Clondalkin for their FAI Cup first round clash on the weekend-ing August 11.
The Clondalkin side are no strangers to cup upsets having previously beaten the likes of Shamrock Rovers and Bray Wanderers in Leinster Senior Cup action back in 2016 and Carroll is relishing the prospect of facing off against more Airtricity League opposition next month.
Republic of Ireland Under 21 manager Stephen Kenny draws Collinstown during the FAI Cup First Round Draw.
“We were looking for a home draw first and foremost so we’re happy with that” Carroll told The Echo.
“I was looking at Galway’s form and we’d be confident we can put it up to them.
“When it comes to cup games there’s a different buzz around the club and when we’re up against big sides on a big pitch we seem to play better.
“We usually are underdogs for these type of games, but that label doesn’t bother us.
“I’m sure they [Galway] won’t fancy playing us. Having to come to Clondalkin is the first hurdle and then if we can hope-fully get a good crowd there it will make it even more difficult for them. This game ticks all the boxes for us” he insisted.
Collinstown have enjoyed another good season, securing promotion to the Senior 1A ranks of the Leinster Senior League after finishing up third in 1B.
The draw has also seen newly-crowned Leinster Senior League champions Crumlin United pitched against Malahide who finished some 28 points behind them in fifth place.
Crumlin, who also captured the Metropolitan Cup and made the final of both the FAI Intermediate and Charlie Cahill Cups, will be hoping to maintain the momentum they generated in that hugely successful season.
Another of the league winners in the LSL, Lucan United will face off against a Killester Donnycarney outfit who were the closest challengers to Crumlin in the top ranks, albeit 16 points off the pace set by the champions.
Lucan had just one point to spare over second place finishers Skerries Town in their march to the Senior 1A crown and will need to serve up another big display against a side who were operating two divisions above them this season.
Shamrock Rovers, meanwhile, will be hoping to chalk up a fourth victory over Finn Harps this season when the two meet in the FAI Cup first round next month.
Indeed the Hoops do appear to have the number of their Donegal rivals having hit seven goals against them without response in those last three encounters although Stephen Bradley’s side did have to a rely on a late strike by Greg Bolger to edge them out 1-0 at Ballybofey back in March.
St Patrick’s Athletic will welcome Bray Wanderers to Richmond Park for their respective first round fixture.
Keeping themselves in the race for a European berth in the Premier Division, the Inchicore side will not want to slip up against a Bray outfit currently sitting sixth in the First Division table.
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