Pat Hoban’s quick-fire ten-minute hat trick was the perfect start for Dundalk FC in their quest to book a place in the EA Sports Cup Final. In the end, the striker netted four times and has become the 17th Dundalk player to have netted four goals i
Pat Hoban’s quick-fire ten-minute hat trick was the perfect start for Dundalk FC in their quest to book a place in the EA Sports Cup Final.
In the end, the striker netted four times and has become the 17th Dundalk player to have netted four goals in a competitive fixture for the club, the last being Richie Towell in a league game against Drogheda United in a league fixture.
Hoban took home the match ball and was delighted to book a place in yet another final for Dundalk, his first final experience was in this competition in 2015 when they defeated Shamrock Rovers in the Final at a packed Oriel Park. It was the first trophy that was won in the Kenny era and possibly the first in the Perth era.
“I’m delighted to get through to the final, that was our goal since last year to be honest when we got knocked stupidly against Cobh. We let one slip last year because that made us not complete the treble and it’s not every year that you complete a treble and that's what we want to do and we set targets at the start of the year and now that is definitely one of them.”
With the final confirmed to be played in the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, Hoban will hopefully draw on good experiences at the venue in order to get the right result for the Lilywhites.
“We will see where the final takes us now as anything can happen on a final but we are raring to go to try and win that.”
Before they can lock eyes on September 14, they must travel to Derry this weekend in the FAI Cup, while some will see his as a preview of what is to come in the EA Sports Cup Final, Hoban knows it's going to be a tough task to progress through to the next round of Ireland’s Blue Ribboned competition.
“Derry are going really well but we will be going up trying to win first and foremost they are playing really well at the moment and its not going to be easy up there, I would be disappointed if we didn’t go there and get a win, coming out without a win but it won’t be easy as they are playing really well but we are playing really well too so I fancy us.”
Last years EA SPORTS Cup semi-final defeat against Cobh Ramblers means anything can happen in football, Hoban drew a reminder of the FAI Cup semi-final exit against Drogheda United to the unpredictability that football games can bring. Whatever happens, Dundalk will be ready.
“We want to win the league cup, we want to win the FAI Cup and we want to win the league so we are still in all three and we are still doing really well so we will see where it takes us on the day.”
“Anything can happen in finals, in 2013 we were down to ten men or was it nine men (in the FAI Cup Semi-Final) so anything can happen in these games we are in it to try and win a treble this year and hopefully that was on step closer to that.”
