Sunday 8th December
St Brendans Park Fc (Kerry) v Carrick United (Waterford)
Kick off; 2.00pm
Venue; Christy Leahy Park , Tralee .
By. Tommy Naughton
In one of the ties of the round St Brendans Park will welcome Carrick United to Tralee. This certainly has the making of what could be a great game with two good footballing sides. At present both would be among the top sides in the respective leagues with a place in the last 32 for the winner, both will give their all on Sunday.
Speaking to The JSP, a Carrick Utd representative said “Carrick go into next Sunday’s match in good form. We currently lay second in the Waterford and District Junior League, three points behind leaders Southend at the half way mark. Carrick’s progress so far in this season’s FAI Junior Cup includes wins over fellow Premier league teams Piltown, St Saviors and Villa FC, while also defeating first division Dungarvan in round three.”
“To date Carrick have scored 16 goals and conceded just one, with FAI Junior International of Year and player manger Adrian Walsh excelling in marshalling his defence. Carrick will be looking to Ian Clery and the inform John Murphy to provide a threat up front. While confident we are wary of traveling the long distance to Tralee as have huge respect for St Brendan’s Park especially looking at last seasons FAI Junior Cup effort in reaching round seven and defeating our rivals Tramore in the Munster Champions Trophy Semi Final last season. We know we will be in for a tough battle and a nursing a few knocks after a bruising local derby last Saturday night.”
New St Brendans Park Joint Manager Adrian Quirke also spoke to The JSP and said he is “very happy with their start to the new season although only having played four league games we are still undefeated. I feel the team are well up for the game on Sunday although we will start as slight outsiders. I know the tradition of Carrick United know how tough the Waterford league is with the club having played Tramore twice in 2012.”
Although confident, Adrian hopes the advantage of playing at home might help them and hopes for a big home support to push the team onwards.
St Brendans have got to this stage by beating Kerry Premier A side Dingle Bay Rovers in the first round before putting Clare sides Bridge Untied and Rineanna Rovers out of the Competition. St Brendans will look to Kerry Oscar Traynor players Con Barrett, Mark O’Sullivan and Fergal to get them in to the next round.
