news-engine

In theory, both Bohemians and St Patrick's Athletic harbour double ambitions, but the reality suggests that cup glory offers the best route to domestic silverware. The Dublin rivals occupy joint-second in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division table, but trailing Shamrock Rovers by five points with seven games to play - and eight for Rovers - means the league leaders look set to continue their domestic dominance. The clubs meet at Richmond Park on Saturday (live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player) with a place in the last four of the Club Orange FAI Cup at stake. The Gypsies, without a victory on the biggest day of the League of Ireland calendar since 2008, have lost two of the last five finals at Aviva Stadium, both coming at the hands of the Saints. Since their spirited 2026 European adventure came to an end with a 3-2 defeat away to Danish side Midtjylland, Alan Reynolds' side dispatched Longford in the third round of the cup and plundered eight goals in defeating Derry City and Sligo Rovers. While that form should stand them in good stead when they cross the Liffey to take on St Pat’s, Reynolds was asked by RTÉ Sport’s Tony O’Donoghue if the club is set to put all its eggs in the cup basket in order to restock the trophy cabinet. "We’re here to talk about the cup, the league will look after itself. There are plenty of games left there," he said. The Waterford native - pictured above - is expecting a "lively and entertaining affair", and aside from the enforced absence of Sam Todd, has a full hand to choose from for the Richmond Park assignment. Key for Bohs is likely to be the contribution of Ross Tierney, who has sparkled into form in the second half of the season. His wonderstrike against Balkani in the Europa Conference League was a fitting way for the club to sign off from Dalymount Park as the famous stadium hosted its final European tie and is at the heart of a Gypsies attack that is purring. "I’ve started to chip out a few goals in the second half of the season. I’m finding a bit of form and hopefully I can keep that going," Tierney told RTÉ Sport. "We are more clinical in the final third, firing on all cylinders and if you can’t motivate yourself for a game like this, you are probably in the wrong sport." Motivation is never in short supply for a Dublin derby, but Tierney says that in a season where Dalymount Park is set for a refurbishment, the players are cognisant of marking the moment. "We spoke about it at the start of the season. Our goal was to leave with a bit of silverware." Watch two FAI Cup quarter-finals live on RTÉ 2 and RTÉ Player this weekend - St Patrick's Athletic v Bohemians from 3.45pm on Saturday and Derry City v Dundalk from 3.45pm on Sunday