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KILLARNEY CELTIC will make the relatively short trip down to south Cork to face Cobh Wanderers in the opening round proper of the FAI Cup tomorrow. The FAI Cup first-round game takes place at 4pm at Old Church Park, Cobh.

The Hoops earned their place in the prestigious competition thanks to their remarkable run to the last four of the FAI Junior Cup and subsequent qualifier victory over Boyle Celtic of Roscommon.

The club would have been hoping for a home draw against a League of Ireland side like Dundalk, Cork City or Shamrock Rovers but for that kind of dream tie to materialise now, they’ll have to see off Cobh first. Eoin Donnellan’s men will be well aware that they’ll have their work cut for them.

Cobh Wanderers currently operate in the Munster Senior League where they were runners up in the 2016/17 campaign. They also reached the final of the FAI Intermediate Cup and were unlucky to lose out to Liffey Wanderers (Dublin) in a penalty shoot-out.

They have a number of ex-League of Ireland players in their ranks and there will be at least one familiar face in their line-up: former Tralee Dynamos star Brian Fitzgerald is likely to feature in defence.

Celtic will be underdogs but that tag has suited them all year, and captain John McDonagh is confident that his team are ready to do battle. They’ll have to do it without their skipper, however, as he serves a one-match ban following his red card against Boyle.

“Preparations have been going well enough,” he said. “There are good numbers at training. It’s kind of hard because we only finished the season three weeks ago but it has been going well. I’m suspended but everyone else should be available.”

“It’s a massive game,” he continued. “It’s a League of Ireland cup and it’s a competition the club has never played in, so it’d be nice to get to the next round.”

The team has had great travelling support all year and McDonagh is hoping that the green and white faithful can help them to another famous win on Saturday.

“They have a supporters bus organised and there’s only a few seats left so that’s good to hear. It helps when you’re playing away. It makes a big difference when you get people up watching it. Hopefully we get the same support the next day.”
 

 
Above: Killarney Celtic striker Cathal O'Shea in action against Killarney Athletic in the Kerry District League Final last month. PICTURE: PAUDIE HEALY