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There are FAI Cup quarter-finals and two First Division play-offs by decision, as this short Irish League season heads to an intriguing climax.
Extra.ie FAI Cup quarter-finals
Athlone Town v Shelbourne, Athlone Town Stadium, 3:00 pm (Live on WatchLOI)
Athlone closed their First Division campaign on Tuesday with a 1-0 loss to Bray Wanderers that left them second from the bottom, but Adrian Carberry’s team showed signs of progress in the short season.
This is their first appearance in the last eight since 2006, when they were beaten 2-1 by Shamrock Rovers.
Shels arrived from the last heard of the First Division, but they face a nervous climax in the league season as their struggle to survive reaches the end. A resurgent Finn Harps could still condone Ian Morris’s men to the promotion / relegation tiebreaker.
This is a welcome distraction from the routine.
Team news
Athlone City: Lee Duffy is suspended. Other than that, Carberry has no major worries.
Shelbourne: Georgie Poynton, Karl Sheppard and Lorcan Fitzgerald are unavailable due to injury. Luke Byrne is suspended.
What they say
Adrian Carberry (Athlone Town boss): “These are the games that you want to play, these are the games where you go to bed at night saying ‘what if’ and ‘if I just apply myself right here, there’s a chance that I get a chance to impress on a big stage and possibly get a move, ‘”he told Extra.ie. “Our players have to be looking towards that, to always improve and improve their game.”
Ian Morris (Head of Shels): “I want to get to Aviva and take this team to a final. It’s very important and we want to be in the mix there. The players have been fantastic to me, it’s a brilliant group. The higher you get in football, the the levels go up, and the players are responding to that. ”
SSE Airtricity League First Division Play-off Semifinals
Bray Wanderers v Galway United, Carlisle Grounds, 3:00 pm
What a week it has been for Galway United.
It appeared their season was over Tuesday night after they drew 2-2 with UCD to finish out of the play-off spots. However, Wexford’s successful appeal against a decision that had been sent to an ineligible player in four games changed the complexion of the table dramatically.
Cabinteely had benefited from the initial decision that saw four teams clinch 3-0 victories, but once it was ruled out, Cabo slipped to seventh place, with Galway breaking into the top five to enter this play-off semifinal. off.
They travel back to the Carlisle Grounds for the second time in a week to face Gary Cronin’s team, which just won the First Division title on the final day of the season against Drogheda United.
Team news
Bray Wanderers: Darragh Lynch, Gary Shaw and Luka Lovic will have late physical fitness tests.
Galway United: Josh Smith, Conor Melody and Micheál Schlingermann are all out, while there are doubts about the fitness of Jack Lynch, Carlton Ubaezuonu and Enda Curran. The trio will undergo late physical fitness tests.
What they say
John Caulfield (Galway United): “We have a second chance now through the play-offs and we are really looking forward to the game. It was a phenomenal effort from the players to get to the play-off. We got 21 points from 10 games, which is an incredible comeback. It’s a final. Cup for us and Bray to see who can progress, it will be a very close match.
UCD vs. Longford Town, the UCD Bowl, 3:00 pm
UCD finished one point ahead of Longford in the regular season and thus won home advantage for this matchup.
The Estudiantes drew 2-2 against Galway earlier this week to guarantee their place in the play-offs, while Longford suffered a poor loss to Wexford in their final game of the regular season.
Team news
UCD: Jack Keaney is back from suspension.
City of Longford: Aodh Dervin and Mick McDonnell are back from suspensions. Shane Elworthy is a doubt, as is Dean Byrne, who is suffering from ankle pain.
What they say
Daire Doyle (Longford boss): “We finish fourth; you always finish where you deserve,” he told The Longford Leader. “We know what it takes. Anything can happen in play-off matches and you have to be prepared. We have an opportunity and we have to grab it with both hands and make the most of it.”
SUNDAY ACCESSORIES
St Patrick’s Athletic v Dundalk, Richmond Park, 5.45pm (live on WatchLOI)
Finn Harps v Shamrock Rovers, Finn Park, 7.45pm (live on WatchLOI)
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