Countdown to big cup game
The biggest game in Meath soccer circles for a number of years will kick-off (1.0) at Dunboyne's compact Summerhill Road ground on Sunday next. Dunboyne, relatively new to this level, will be attempting to record a third successive win in the FAI Intermediate Cup following away victories against Glebe North and Postal Utd. The task facing them is immense and a win will earn a place in the first round of the 2012 FAI Senior Cup. Ulster Senior League (USL) side Kildrum Tigers will make the journey to Dunboyne early on Sunday morning from the village of St Johnston. They completed their season a couple of weeks ago as Ulster plays a summer season from March to early November. The Donegal side finished a disappointing third in the 11-team USL according to Alan Foley of the Donegal Democrat. "Fanad Utd and Cockhill Celtic had to play-off for the title and that game attracted a crowd of about 1500, but Kildrum missed out on forcing a three-way play-off when they failed to win their last game of the season," he added. Managed by local businessman Raymond McDaid, Kildrum Tigers made it to the semi-final of the Intermediate Cup in 2007 and apart from this year, have either won or finished second in the USL since 2004. The current panel includes former Finn Harps duo Ronan Coyle and Garrett Callaghan and former Celtic player Declan Boyle who won a FAI Cup medal with Sligo Rovers in 1994 before making the move to Scotland. It is not confirmed if any or all of those players will be in the starting 11 on Sunday. Dunboyne fine-tuned their preparations with a hard-earend 2-1 LSL Div 1A win on Sunday and the performance pleased manager Vernon McAllorum. "St James' Gate made us work hard for the points, they're battling for their lives at the moment and I was pleased with the attitude of the players, especially after conceding a fairly soft goal," said the manager. "I'm fairly sure that Kildrum Tigers will make it difficult for us next Sunday, but we will be going into the game with plenty of belief in our own ability. "We were promoted last season and so far we have adapted well to a higher grade, our first priority will be to consolidate our league position. "We are doing well on that front at the moment and Sunday's game will be a big test of where Dunboyne, as a club, is at the moment in terms of overall development for the future. "Hopefully the people of Meath will come out and give us a bit of support, it would be great to have a big crowd here for the game and I'm confident that the players will give it 100 per cent in an effort to win the game in 90 minutes," added the manager. Sunday's game will kick-off at 1.0 and will be played over 90 minutes, there will be no extra-time in the event of a draw. Dunboyne will have to travel to Donegal if the game ends level and the replay will be subject to extra-time and penalties.