New stand to open in Tallaght Stadium as Rovers host St Pat’s
THE SCENE is set for the President’s Cup final in Tallaght Stadium this evening with Airtricity League champions Shamrock Rovers going head-to-head with FAI Cup winners St Patrick’s Athletic.
There is a crowd of over 8,000 spectators expected for the final with the new North Stand opening for the first time which The Echo understands will cater for 500 supporters.
The new stand can cater for 2,000 spectators when fully operational but it was decided by stadium management to have a reduced capacity, so everyone is familiar with the new setting.
Rovers season ticket sales have again soared to record levels so it’s another huge season ahead for fans and the group in 2024.
“It’s incredible. You only have to look at the President’s Cup game. It’s close to selling out, the season tickets sales are at an all-time high. With the new North Stand, our aim has to be to fill that as often as possible, to fill the ground as often as possible,” said Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley.
The scene is set for Presidents Cup Final in Tallaght Stadium this evening
“I’ve no doubt we can do that, with everybody around the club playing their part to make sure that happens and the team trying to play good football and winning games obviously will help.
“There’s a lot more that goes into it than that, but it’s positive all-round for the club on and off the pitch. But us as a group we’re just looking forward to getting going and we’re looking forward to the challenge of being better than we were last season.”
It’s the first match of the 2024 season and the game will give both sets of supporters an opportunity to see their new players with Rovers, bringing in Josh Honohan, Lee Steacy and former St Pat’s player Darragh Burns as well as the return of Trevor Clarke, Johnny Kenny and Markus Poom.
For tonight’s match, Richie Towell and Aaron McEneff are unavailable while Johnny Kenny is still doing some rehab.
On the other hand, St Pat’s manager Jon Daly will have new players Ruairi Keating and Brandon Kavanagh who were on target in a 3-1 victory at the UCD Bowl last week with fellow while new signing Cian Kavanagh scoring twice in the 2-2 draw away to St Mochta’s to secure progression to the LSC quarter-finals.
The view from the new North Stand in Tallaght Stadium. Photos William O’Connor
St Patrick’s Athletic manager Jon Daly said: “It’s the League winners against the Cup winners with lots of quality on both sides.
“We’re looking forward to the game, it will be a good test for both sides heading into the beginning of the league next week.
“We’ve got a huge crowd of 2,300 heading to Tallaght, which I’m told is our biggest ever away crowd going there, our supporters have been fantastic and we’re excited about playing in front of them again tomorrow night before going to Galway.
“Ourselves and Rovers have had really good games over the last couple of years, it’s the league winners against the cup winners with lots of quality players on both sides, so it”s great to have a competitive game like this so close to the new season.”
