Sporting Fingal Vs Shamrock Rovers Preview

Record crowd expected in Morton Stadium today

Sporting Fingal will do battle with Shamrock Rovers in today’s early kick off in the Premier Division of the Airtrictiy League. Last season Fingal pulled off a spectacular victory over Rovers in the FAI Ford Cup, first drawing at home and then winning in style in Tallaght which paved the way for Liam Buckley’s men to win the competition. Its needless to say that Mick O’Neils army will have revenge on their minds this afternoon.

Keith Quinn’s shoulder injury makes him a doubt for Fingal. Quinn suffered the knock late on in Friday’s draw at St. Patrick’s Athletic and will undergo a pre-match fitness test. Lorcan Fitzgerald remains out with a fractured cheekbone but midfielder Ronan Finn, who was halted for the Inchicore stalemate due to flu, is available, and apart from that manager Liam Buckley admitted he had a very strong squad to choose from.

For the Hoops, the injury crisis seems to be mounting. Gary Twigg (calf), Dessie Baker (broken arm), Pat Sullivan (knee), Stephen Bradley (wrist) and Paddy Kavanagh (hamstring) remain sidelined. With that said Michael O Neil looks set to field the same team that drew 0-0 with UCD on Friday.

Morton Stadium

Fingal hold a numerical advantage in third place in the table, but Rovers who are currently seventh, can join Buckley’s men in third with a win today as they are only three points behind. The weather may play some part today as overnight gale force winds and rain looks set to continue for most of the day. Action gets underway in Santry at 3.

Daniel "Pitchside" Pitcher Twitter: @DanFM104Sport About: Dan "Pitchside" Pitcher provides insight and commentary as the chief soccer and rugby correspondent for Sportspeak.