Four games drawing my interest in the FAI Cup

Ok---it is about time I checked in on my favorite little league. Dundalk is still out in front, just like last year with Cork City FC nipping at their heels. Dundalk FC was just tied last week end to make matters interesting. So lets take a look at the FAI Cup 2015.

The Cup winner gets a Europa League spot and badly needed finances if they qualify, not to mention the only excitement many supporters feel, when they realize they are out of the league title race.

Round 3 is August 23 and lets take a look at a few matches.

Cork City FC vs Saint Patrick Athletic @ Turners Cross

The biggest match will be played at Turners Cross which pits 2^nd place Cork City against 3^rd place and current FAI Cup Champion; Saint Patrick’s Athletic. This game will get the most coverage because of the popularity of these famous Premier League clubs. Cork will rely on the trio of Billy Dennehy 9 Karl Sheppard 9 and Mark Sullivan 8 to score. City also has the best defense in the league conceding only 11 goals, lowest in the league. The Saints are in great form right now, best in the league. They are on a 5 game winning streak and the have scored 3 goals in each of their last 4 games. The Saints have Chris Forrester who has scored 11 goals, 3 short of League leader for the season. The Saints also can boast of 2014 Player of the year Christy Fagan, who has scored 5 goals this year.  Ohhhh when the Saints –come marching ing in –oh when the Saints come Marching in! The Saints should be feeling good since they just knocked off their Dublin Rival Shamrock Rovers at home.

  

Bohemians FC vs Bray Wanders @ Dalymount Park

                This pits the 5^th place club against the 6^th place club. Both are out of the League race at this point so the Cubs are the tournaments that matter. Bohemians FC are the surprise team for me.  They have one of the smallest budgets but yet find themselves in 5^th place behind their arch Rival Shamrock Rovers.  Both Bray and the Boh’s have good teams…they both know to  the FAI Cup is their realistic glory for 2015. Dalymount Park will host another big game to add to the history.

Derry City FC vs Drogheda United F.C @ Brandywell

                This game pits the 8^th place teams against each other. Derry just found their offence against Galway, scoring 4 goals. This game will be at the Brandywell which is always a bonus. Droghs need something this season and another Cup viscory would go a long way.

Dundalk FC v Galway FC

                This will pit the current league Champions and current League leaders Dundalk FC against Galway FC.  Dundalk can boast goal scoring leader Richie Towell who has 15 goals. Galway will counter with the young (23 year old) Enda Curran who currently leads Tommy Dunn’s Tribesmen with 10 goals himself. Galway as you know just beat Dundalk FC Aug 3^rd in the semi-finals of the League of Ireland Cup. This game went to a penalty shoot out. Dundalk will be looking for payback – however the fans at Edmond Deacy park will be ready to host another great event.

Ranking the League of Ireland Stadiums

Ranking the League of Ireland Stadiums

Ranking the League of Ireland Stadiums
Rank	Stadium	Tenant	Capacity	Avg fans 2014	Built/redeveloped
1	Turners Cross	Cork City	7,365	3,777	2009
2	Tallaght Stadium	Shamrock Rovers	6,000	2,319
3	The Showgrounds	Sligo Rovers	4,500	2,087
4	Deacy Park	Galway United	5,000	970
5	Richmond Park	St. Patrick’s Ath.	5,340	1,359
6	Brandywell	Derry City	7,700	1,298
7	Dalymount Park	Bohemians FC	3,193	1,480
8	City Calling Stadium	Longford Town	6,850	693	2001
9	Carlisle Grounds	Bray Wanders	7,000	855
10	Oriel Park	Dundalk	4,500	2,534
11	United Park	Drogheda United	2,000	1,023
12	Market's Field	Limerick FC

1.      Turners Cross in Cork redeveloped their stadium in 2009. The Cross seats 7,365 and is the only stadium that has covering for all the seats (the other being Aviva Stadium). Cork City F.C. led the league in attendance before Tallaght was built. Cork also had the highest attendance last year with 3,777.  This view is from the newest St. Ann's End. This end seats 1,600, The main stand to the right is the Donie Forte Stand which seats 1,900 and is the biggest section. Directly across from the Main stand is the Derryane stand (1,185) where supporters gather. The other end zone which is straight across from this picture is the Curragh Road Stand (1,500). The record attendance was in 1991 with 12000. 

2.      Tallaght Stadium was built and owned by the South Dublin County Council.  The Shamrock Rovers are their main tenant. Tallaght is the newest LOI stadium for soccer. Shamrock Rovers have had the best attendance in the league since Tallaght Stadium opened in 2009, until last year. The Stadium is new, clean and has room for expansion.Each stand has capacity for 3,000 spectators and runs the length of the pitch. They have lighting for night games and meets all EUFA requirements. Once they close in the end zones with stands, this will make for a great cozy feeling. There is room on the land for expansion near the stadium and room for stadium expansion itself. 

3.      Sligo Rovers F.C. play in the very comfy stadium called the Showgrounds. The main stand is where this pic was taken from. It holds 1,853. The  recent development of the Showgrounds was the new Volkswagon Bank End stand with 1,300 seats, pictures to the left. This replaces the former railway End terrace. The cost was 200,000 Euro’s and this increases total seating to 4,000. The opposite stand is the Jinks Av Stand with a capacity of 847. The other end of the stadium behind the net does not have any stands. This stadium has been built one stand at a time, as the need arose. Sligo is a very well run club and attendance shows.

4.      Deacy Park is the home field of Galway United. Galway United have a really nice stadium set up that has stands on 3 sides. The far end has a 10 to 12 foot cinder block wall where fans stand in front of to watch game.  The new largest stand was built in 2007 with 1,500 seats.  The opposite side is the older stands that fortunately run the length of the pitch. The other end zone has a few row of seats. Deacy Park also has one of the best pitches the players like to play on. It is always well groomed and it is hard to find a better pitch.

5.      Richmond Park is the home field for St. Patrick’s Athletic Club located in Inchicore, Ireland. There are 2 good stands, The main stand that holds 1,800 fans. The hard core fans have traditionally meandered in the opposite end under the Shed. However many of these vocal fans have moved to the newer stand at the far end of this picture. This new end stand seats 1,000 and is known as the West or New stand. Unfortunately it is uncovered. The opposite side does not have seating sort to speak but could have standing room if the need arose. The opposite side of the main stand has standing room but this seems to work for the Saints fr big games capacity can increase.

6. Brandywell Stadium is located in the north and has an old dog track around the field. The stadium looks pretty cool with the curve of the stadium but fans want to be closer to the pitch. Derry City has received funding to redevelop the stadium but  there are always problems in Ireland when it come to building.

7. Dalymount Park built in 1901 has been redeveloped the ground to some extent. In 1999 the old main stand was replaced by a modern structure with 2,742 seats, known as the "Jodi Stand". This was at a cost of £1.1 million.  Half of the terrace on the opposite side was knocked down, the remainder had seats installed on the terracing (pictured on your right)is closed due to health and safety concerns. This is a big eye sore for Bohemians, The League of Ireland and the fans. The old "Shed End", now called "The Des Kelly Carpets Stand" has similarly had seats added and now has a capacity of 1,485. The terrace behind the opposite goal (or "Tramway End") has been sold and is therefore closed. The modern capacity of Dalymount that is in use is 3,193. There is no designated stand for away fans with traveling support accommodated in different stands depending on the numbers expected. 

8. Calling City Stadium is the home to newly promoted Longford Town. This stadium is similar to Oriel Park, in the fact that it has one main stand and an enclosed field surrounded by a very small seating section. has an odd looking shape. It has one big stand, but it has seating around the entire field. I do not know how comfortable these seating are.

9 Carlile Grounds is the field for Bray Wanders. It has a long stand that has a roof over it. one the left side. There is a newer stand on the opposite side with no roof.

10 Oriel Park is the home to Dundalk, the reigning Champions of the League of Ireland. Oriel Park  has one big stand and is surrounded by stands on each side. The stadium this resembles Longford Town's  Calling City Stadium.

Aerial Park 

11 United Park  home to Drogheda United seems to have a patch work of stands and building that surround the field.Below is the main stand. IT is covered.

  .below is the opposite side of United park..there seems to be a missing section in the best part of the field. This club need a new stand however attendance doesn't dictate the need. 

12. Markets Field will soon be the home of Limerick FC. This spiritual home need a lot of work. The pitch looks great however there is only one stand. This could have a similar set up as Longford Town and Dundalk's stadium. Markets field still does not have the surround seating that makes for a better atmospheres.  This stadium just needs seating and get by safety issues and Limerick will be in business.