Fairview Rangers Eye FAI Senior Cup Progression against Athenry

Fairview Rangers will be hoping to progress to the second round of the FAI Senior Cup on Saturday evening when they face Galway outfit Athenry at the Fairgreen (6pm).

Both sides qualified for the senior cup by virtue of their appearance in the last four of the FAI Junior Cup in 2020. In fact, the Limerick side got the better of their Galway counterparts in a penalty shoot-out on a rainy day at the Fairgreen.

Fairview went on to win the FAI Junior Cup at Eamon Deacy Park thanks to a 1-0 victory over Usher Celtic with current Treaty United player Clyde O’Connell scoring the winning goal 10 minutes from time.

It has been all systems for the club during the Covid pandemic with new floodlights, dugouts and a seated stand being built and installed at the club grounds. The junior A team will now play the majority of their homes games at 7pm on Saturday evenings.

Chairman Derek Whyte was very pleased with the progress the club have made off the pitch in the last 18 months and he is looking forward to Saturday’s encounter.

“I am sure that every player either for Fairview or Athenry will be desperate to reach the next round. Everybody wants the likes of Dundalk or Shamrock Rovers at home or even our own Treaty United at home. Back in the day when Dermot (Finnan) was managing the club, we had marquess at the top of the club and at the bottom pitch and they were great memories. We would certainly like to get that back again.”

In the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, Fairview were the dominant force in the FAI Junior Cup, winning the competition 6 times over an 8 year period and this allowed the club to attempt a number of giant killings in the senior cup.

The most famous of those victories was a 4-1 demolition of then League of Ireland side Dublin City in 2003 who were flying high in the Eircom League First Division at the time.

Manager Jason Purcell has added some new blood to the squad ahead of the new season with former Aisling Annacotty duo Kennedy N’dip and Conor Coughlan agreeing to sign and Jason Cross has made the move from Prospect Priory. Coughlan had previously turned down the opportunity to sign for Treaty United in February.

The Galway club will have a big fitness advantage heading into the game as they have played up to 7 competitive games in the Galway District League who decided to continue the 2020/2021 season with a shortened fixture list.