CLEARER WATER IRISH CUP
BANGOR v DUNGANNON SWIFTS
SEAVIEW, SATURDAY, 5.30pm
BANGOR’S promotion push takes a backseat, at least for a couple of days, as the Seasiders prepare for an Irish Cup semi final this weekend.
Saturday evening’s semi-final at Seaview means that Lee Feeney’s men are just 90 minutes away from an Irish Cup final, and they can book their spot in a showpiece final for the first time since 1994 if they can see off Dungannon Swifts.
Rodney McAree’s Swifts side will be big favourites ahead of the meeting in north Belfast. The Stangmore Park side have secured their first ever top half finish in the Premiership, and sit just four points off second spot.
But Bangor will look to their performance against Glentoran in the quarter-finals when the Seasiders blew the Glens away with a stunning first half performance at a sold out Clandeboye Park.
And now with more than 1,500 Bangor supporters selling out their allocation at Seaview, Lee Feeney wants to put on another performance to be proud of.
“We are all really looking forward to the semi final,” he said.
“It’s a nice distraction from the pressure of the league as the Irish Cup is a free hit for us.
“Nobody expects us to challenge in this competition and we’ve done well to get this far.
“But we have a chance, and we will be giving it a crack. We will need to have some really good performances across the pitch if we want to cause an upset.
“We’ve shown our supporters what we are capable of previously and now we need to do it again.”
Feeney will be without the suspended midfield duo of Tiarnan Mulvenna and Robbie Garrett, while defender Jack Reilly is cup-tied having played for Newington against the Seasiders in round five of this season’s competition.
Bangor will also be without goalkeeper Patrick Solis Grogan. The 20 year-old is on loan to Bangor from Dungannon Swifts, and IFA regulations prevent a player appearing against their own club.
But with a quick turnaround following Saturday’s cup match, Feeney can take some comfort that those players will be well rested ahead of Tuesday night’s north Down derby at Clandeboye Park (7.45pm) as Bangor embark on their final five Championship fixtures.
“We have four players who can’t play on Saturday, so they will all be well rested and fresh for Tuesday night,” explained the Bangor manager.
“We’ve got plenty of depth in the squad and there are lots of options there to change things.
“But at this stage it will be adrenaline that carries us through from now until the end of the season. There are big games ahead and everyone will want to be playing a part in them, so as long as we don’t suffer too many injuries then I’m confident we’ll have the legs to get us through.”
