Sport

St Patrick's 'crying out to win a cup'

SETANTA CUP FINAL: St Patrick’s Ath v Bohemians

Sat May 15 2010 - 01:00

SETANTA CUP FINAL:St Patrick's Ath v Bohemians

PETE MAHON thinks of the coincidence of the first time a cup final brought him to our attention 20 years ago this weekend. Then, his non-league St Francis took on Bray Wanderers at Lansdowne Road in the FAI Cup final, losing 3-0. Tonight, Mahon is in charge of St Patrick’s Athletic as they take on Bohemians hoping for a very different result. “It was the 13th of May, a Sunday. Same weekend, almost to the day, ironic the way things work out,” mused Mahon.

With the “Holy Grail”, as he calls it, of the FAI Cup not having been won by the club since 1961, Mahon has said before perhaps their best chance of some success this year would be through a cup competition. Scarcely three months into the season, they’re in a final. “It’s a great opportunity for us. It’s a cup final, it’s a derby match and being played in probably the best stadium we have in the Airtricity League. We have to try and win this cup on Saturday for the reasons we just said, Pat’s are crying out to win a cup.”

The sides drew 1-1 in the league early last month at Dalymount. “I don’t think that will have any bearing on this,” said Mahon. “It’s probably the one trophy Pat Fenlon hasn’t won. I don’t think there are too many Bohs players with Setanta Cup medals either.”

READ MORE

Bohemians captain Owen Heary, just returned from a hamstring injury, is determined to lead his side out as this is one medal that has eluded him to date. “It’s the one I don’t have,” said Heary who has 11 league and cup medals in total. “I’ve won all the other trophies from shield up.”

Winger Brian Cash is cup-tied while Derek Pender continues at right-back for St Patrick’s as their captain, Damian Lynch, is out with a hamstring injury. Otherwise Mahon picks from a full squad.

Whether Heary, who came through 120 minutes at Monaghan in the League Cup on Tuesday, starts is perhaps Bohemians’ manager Fenlon’s big call. Gareth McGlynn is suspended, and cup-tied anyway, along with fellow ex-Derry players Steven Gray, who is also out injured, and Ruaidhri Higgins.