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Sporting, Seagulls put Premier hopes on the line
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Sporting, Seagulls put Premier hopes on the line
November 13, 2009
While Ireland-France dominates the headlines, another vital first leg is taking place this weekend with Sporting Fingal hosting Bray Wanderers in the promotion/relegation play-off final (Friday, Morton Stadium, 7.45pm).
At the end of their second season in football, Sporting are aiming to secure promotion to the top flight before lifting the FAI Ford Cup when they take on Sligo Rovers next week.
Liam Buckkey’s side eased past Bray in the Cup semi-finals, when there was no way back for the Seagulls after conceding three goals in the first half.
That game, which took place just three weeks ago, will ensure that Bray will not be short of motivation as they attempt to bounce back from their Premier Division play-off defeat to Drogheda United on Tuesday.
The second leg takes place on Monday evening before Fingal’s focus switches to next weekend’s FAI Ford Cup final against Sligo at the Tallaght Stadium, and Buckley is looking forward to a busy finale to the League of Ireland campaign.
He said: “These are our biggest games of the season. Our aim at the start of this season was promotion and we’ve two games now in which to achieve it. Eddie Gormley and his Bray team will be as eager as us to win this fixture, with the ultimate prize of top-flight football at stake.
“A good victory over Shelbourne on Tuesday puts us in good spirits, though we need to be equally, or a bit more, on form to emerge through this play-off. These are busy times for us but we’re not complaining. This time last year, we were finished our season but to have two more play-off matches and an FAI Ford Cup final to contest over the next ten days shows we’re progressing well.”
In team news, Sporting are without left back John Frost (hamstring) while Alan Kirby is a doubt with a foot injury. On the plus side, key midfielder Robert Bayly and forward Robbie Doyle are available again after suspension kept them out of their side’s First Division play-off win over Shelbourne three days ago.
Bray boss Eddie Gormley, meanwhile, has urged his side to show their true colours after a leaden-footed second half display against Drogheda, but he admits the task is difficult against a Fingal side he believes have the players to challenge for top flight honours.
"We started well [against Drogheda] and did okay in the first half but we never came out for the second half,” he said. “I was very disappointed, and we didn’t deserve anything from the game with our second half performance. Friday will be another tough game, in my opinion Fingal are a top four side in the Premier Division with the players they have.
“We have to go out and improve on our Cup semi-final performance, that game was over before it started. We need to give ourselves a chance by bringing them back to Bray with something to play for on Monday.”
Gormley is without the experienced former Newcastle United, Shelbourne and St Patrick’s Athletic utility defender Stephen Brennan and young striker John Mulroy, both of whom serve suspensions this evening.
Promotion/relegation play-off final, first leg:
Sporting Fingal v Bray Wanderers, Morton Stadium, 7.45pm
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