Surrounded by a swarm of journalists with recording devices pressed close to his chin, David McAllister was asked just how important this year's EA SPORTS Cup Final is. The Shamrock Rovers midfielder didn't even need to pause as he had already tackl
Surrounded by a swarm of journalists with recording devices pressed close to his chin, David McAllister was asked just how important this year's EA SPORTS Cup Final is.
The Shamrock Rovers midfielder didn't even need to pause as he had already tackled the same question in his own mind as well as with team-mate Michael O'Connor during a training session.
"I think it’s the biggest game of my career, because I was over in England but didn’t get to any finals," stated McAllister, who is taking Saturday's clash with Dundalk at Tallaght Stadium very seriously indeed.
Rovers have home advantage for a game that kicks off at 15:00 - and will be live on eir Sport - but they will not be expecting much luck to fall their way as Dundalk chase their sixth victory in this competition.
The Hoops do have memories of lifting the Cup in Tallaght Stadium when they overcame Drogheda United in 2013. Although a lot has changed since then and manager Stephen Bradley knows that they must earn everything they get in this game.
In the opposite dug-out, Stephen Kenny could become the most successful manager in this competition with one more victory. He led Derry City to success on four different occasions and brought Dundalk all the way as recently as 2014.
Aside from the honour of winning the first competitive trophy of the season, there is also a bit of a rivalry that has built up between these sides to contend with. Neither will want their pride to be dented when the battle commences.
As Kenny stated: "I don’t take for granted the opportunity to play in finals. Dundalk weren’t in a major final for 12 years and just because we’ve had a period of being in finals, we should never take it for granted. It’s the nature of football.
“We won’t be saying ‘win this cup to give us a boost for next season’. We want to win it on its merits. Every one of them could be your last because you never know in life."
It should be a cracking final, so don't miss it!
EA SPORTS Cup Final
Shamrock Rovers v Dundalk
Tallaght Stadium
KO 15:00
LIVE on eir Sport
