PREVIEW | FAI Junior Cup Final
St. Michael's AFC v Newmarket Celtic
Newmarket Celtic are all set for their first-ever FAI Junior Cup final against St. Michael's AFC on Saturday, April 29th at Jackman Park, Limerick.
Tipperary club St. Michael's will be gunning for their fourth success in the famous competition whilst Clare club Newmarket prepare for their first ever Junior Cup final.
Match Details
Competition: FAI Junior Cup Final
Fixture: St. Michael's AFC v Newmarket Celtic
Date: Saturday, April 29th
Kick-off: 5pm
Venue: Jackman Park, Limerick
Tickets: €10 adults | €5 children | On the gate
TV: Live on FAITV | Link to Stream here
Programme: Download the Match Programme here
Match Officials
Referee: Alin Suteu
Assistant Referee 1: John Hanney
Assistant Referee 2: Paul Shelley
Fourth Official: John Thornton
St. Michael's AFC - Route to the Final
Round One - Tipp Southern DL & North Tipp DL
St Michael's AFC 2-0 Two Mile Borris St Kevin's FC
Round Two - Tipp Southern DL & North Tipp DL
Clonmel Celtic FC 0-1 St Michael's AFC
Round Three - Tipp Southern DL & North Tipp DL
St Michael's AFC 3-1 Cashel Town
Round Four
St. Michael's AFC 1-0 Portlaw United FC
Round Five
Howth Celtic 1-3 St Michael's AFC
Round Six
St Michael's AFC 3-1 Hibernian FC
Quarter-Final
Buncrana Hearts FC 0-1 St Michael's AFC
Semi-Final
Gorey Rangers AFC 1-2 St Michael's AFC
Newmarket Celtic - Route to the Final
Round One - Clare DL, Kerry DL & Limerick Desmond
Mastergeeha FC 1-4 Newmarket Celtic FC
Round Two - Clare DL, Kerry DL & Limerick Desmond
Newmarket Celtic FC 4-0 Classic FC
Round Three - Clare DL, Kerry DL & Limerick Desmond
Newmarket Celtic FC 3-0 Shannon Town
Round Four
Shelburne United 1-4 Newmarket Celtic FC
Round Five
Raheny United FC 1-3 Newmarket Celtic FC
Round Six
Regional United 0-1 Newmarket Celtic FC
Quarter-Final
Newmarket Celtic FC 2-0 Crumlin United FC
Semi-Final
Newmarket Celtic FC 2-1 Ballynanty Rovers AFC
What he said - St. Michael's AFC manager John Cremins
"It's fantastic. We're absolutely delighted to be in the final after such a long run to the final and thoroughly looking forward to it.
"There has been a real up-tick in the last week or so, plenty of bunting going up around the town and around Tipperary as well, we're getting a lot of goodwill across the county and it has been really great to see all of the good luck signs going up all over Tipp Town.
"It has taken a lot of hard work and a lot of commitment from the boys. Last August seems like a long way ago now but when we came back for the season, we spoke about the Junior Cup and our ambitions in the competition. Every year, you go into it and you hope but like you say, it is such a difficult competition and long run to the final, you just hope things go right and thankfully, they have this year."
WATCH FAITV INTERVIEW HERE
What he said - Newmarket Celtic manager Paddy Purcell
"It has been a long road to the final, so many changes along the way, not just on the pitch but off it. The club has done it right though, we said at the start of the year that we would try and do everything right and give ourselves the best chance," continued Purcell.
"We've had a lot of away trips but we've stayed overnight when we've had to and that's been really important. We've had to manage things in games as well, had a man sent off in our match in Kerry, so like I say plenty to deal with.
"We've got a lot of young players as well who've been able to learn about the standards we expect from ourselves around these big matches and it has gone a long way to getting us where we are today. It's going to be a tough match against St. Michael's who've been at the top table of Junior Football for a long time now but we'll be prepared for that."
WATCH FAITV INTERVIEW HERE
Player View - St. Michael's AFC striker Jimmy Carr
"It is really exciting, this is where we want to be and this is where the players want to be, no better to be involved in than a FAI Junior Cup final.
"Newmarket have plenty of quality and I've played with Eoin (Hayes) since 2015, he's a really sound lad and we get on really well when we're on trips with Ireland together. He's a really good player and we'll have to be playing well to keep him quiet on the day.
"They're flying high in Clare and doing great things across the competitions so it is going to be a massive ask for us but it is one we're prepared for and can't wait to get going on Saturday."
WATCH FAITV INTERVIEW HERE
Player View - Newmarket Celtic striker Eoin Hayes
"I've played in a lot of big games down the years but I think this absolutely one of the most special moments and I can't wait to get going. Newmarket, the village that I'm from, would be very well known in soccer circles up and down the country but we've never got to a Junior Cup final before," said Hayes.
"We've knocked on the door a few times, got knocked out in the semi-finals against Pike Rovers a few years ago and that is something we've always looked back on with a bit of regret but it is great to get back there.
"This is my childhood club. I went on to play for the club all my life and it's been a massive journey."
WATCH FAITV INTERVIEW HERE
St. Michael's AFC - Squad List
Goalkeepers: Adrian Walsh, Robert McGrath
Defenders: Sean Murphy, Donagh Hickey, Denis John Cremins, Paul Breen, Adam McGrath, Chris Higgins, John O'Brien
Midfielders: Colin Bargary, Joey Mulcahy, Edmond O'Dwyer, William O'Dwyer, Shane Ryan,
Liam McGrath, Antonia Rea, Rodrigo Goncalves, Michael Nash
Strikers: Danny O'Brien, Russell Quirke, Rhys Bryon, Ashley Kelliher, Jimmy Carr, David Slattery
Newmarket Celtic - Squad List
Goalkeepers: Shane Cusack, Dermot Gannon
Defenders: Darren Cullinan, Harvey Cullinan, Ethan Fitzgerald, Eoin Kelly, Stephen Kelly, David O'Grady, James Fahy, Billy McNamara
Midfielders: Kevin Hartnett, David McCarthy, Cathal Hayes, Jack Kelly, Conor McDaid, Gearoid O'Brien, Aaron Rudd, Eunan Doherty, Alan Kelly, David Lennon, Lee Cregan, Sean Perrill
Forwards: Eoin Hayes, Dean Hegarty, Gary Higgins, Darragh Leahy, Ronan McCormack, Tadhg Noonan, Martin McCarthy, Jashar Aliu
