PREVIEW: Parkvilla hoping to lead the Artane boys on a merry dance

MATCH OF THE WEEK
Friday 19th October - 8pm
FAI Junior Cup 
Parkvilla v St Paul's Artane 

NEFL Div 1 side Parkvilla welcome Athletic Union League Premier A team St Paul's Artane to Claremont Stadium this Friday in the FAI Junior Cup third round for our feature match of the week and it should be a very entertaining game as both sides play fast attacking football, writes Justin Burke.
Though Parkvilla would be classed as the underdogs for this match they would be very confident coming into the game as they now sit on top of the Div 1 table after a fine 2-1 away win last week at Albion Rovers and with three games remaining they are on course for a place in the top tier of the NEFL after returning from a stint in the LSL. 
St Paul's last game out was in the Leinster Junior Cup where they eventually lost out on penalties to Ardmore Rovers despite leading 2-0 until the 80th minute before finishing 3-3 AET. 
Derek Coogan will wait on news from his coaching staff to see if a couple of his players have recovered from knocks in the last game against Albion. 
St Paul's manager Alan Lindsay has midfielder Paddy Ashmore out long term from an injury and he awaits news on twins Ryan Fitzsimons (ankle) and Gavin Fitzsimons has only returned to training after he broke three ribs. 

 

Parkvilla manager Derek Coogan

Parkvilla lost out in this competition last season to another AUL side Kilmore Celtic, but they have a new manager in this year with Coogan having all the experience in the FAI Junior Cup after he guided Navan Cosmos to the last eight only a few seasons ago. 
Coogan is a manager who loves this competition and he thrives as the underdog, and knowing that he has a good record against the Dublin sides he will plot another scalp for Friday. 
St Paul's Artane will be looking for a better run this year after they were beaten in the last 32 last season by fellow AUL side Usher Celtic on penalties. 
Parkvilla have plenty of strikers in their squad for Friday with prolific goal scorer Lar Ivers knowing where the net is having proved it with Navan Cosmos, Trim Celtic, Tolka Rovers and now Parkvilla. 
Jamie Blake returned to the Navan club for this season and is back scoring for the club he loves while Dylan Regan and Ciaran Rogers have also been adding to their goals. 
St Paul's will pose a threat to Parkvilla's defence with top scorer Alan Talbot in flying form with nine goals so far this term, former Waterford midfielder Peter Keegan has chipped in with goals also and Graham Sullivan normally starts to score his goals for his club at winter time so he could cause problems. 
Key players to watch out for with Parkvilla will be Lee Fahy and Pierce Challenger who have been outstanding in midfield with experienced players like Chris Kennedy and Andy Williamson holding up the backline. 
Midfielder Joey Moran has all the pace of Usain Bolt and the tricks of George Best to supply the prowess in front of goal for Lar Ivers, Jamie Blake and Ciaran Rogers. 
St Paul's key players will be their front line of Alan Talbot, Graham Sullivan and Peter Keegan will look to dictate the midfield battle while Paul Morgan is a strong centre-half. Nathan Donohue can also score goals from the wings so Parkvilla will need to marshal him well. 
Parkvilla signed goalkeeper Euan Niven from Drogheda United under-17/19s to bolster their growing squad, while youth players have been promoted to senior football all term under this management with players like Dylan Tighe, Lee Williamson and Dylan Kavanagh all featuring this season. 
St Paul's have also looked to youth this season with Shane Murphy, Jack Keegan, Ryan and Gavin Fitzsimons, Cian Lindsay and Gerard Keating all promoted to senior football for this season. 
Coogan said this week that he expects your typical Dublin team performance on Friday night.
"They like to play the game the right way, fast pace, full of possession football and it's always a tough game against this type of opposition, but I've a good record against Dublin teams and hopefully that continues Friday in a competition I like entering," said Coogan.
St Paul's Artane manager Alan Lindsay said he "doesn't know much about his opposition but knows it will be a tough match and very physical and hopefully they will do their talking on the football pitch."

Prediction - This will surely be Parkvilla's toughest test so far this season and if they can score first, the pressure will be on the opposition which could expose them more. If it goes to penalties Parkvilla should be more confident given St Paul's previous experiences from 12 yards out. Verdict - Home win.