Pat's v Bohs too close to call in FAI Cup quarter-final
RTÉ · Kian Lacchia · 2026-09-05T08:50:29+00:00 · nguồn gốc
Second and third place in the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division face off today in an exciting Club Orange FAI Cup quarter-final contest.
Both teams have put up a fight to Shamrock Rovers, but with just a few games left, time may be running out for either team to win a miraculous league title. All eyes are on the cup.
In the pick of the round, Bohemians make the short trip to Inchicore to face St Patrick's Athletic in Richmond Park, a trip that the Gypsies may have to get used to.
Between the Bohs men’s and women’s teams there are seven games left in Dalymount Park in their respective leagues. The men also have a friendly against Bohemians Praha 1905, and their future is yet to be decided in the FAI Cup.
After some farewell concerts, that will be it for the historic ground. Dalymount Park, as we know it, will be knocked down to make way for a brand new stadium.
It was reported in June that Bohs were negotiating an agreement to play alongside their rivals Pat's for the next two seasons at least in Richmond Park.
While it has seemingly not been confirmed just yet, tension between the local rivals may increase if Richmond gets a new room-mate.
On the pitch, the two teams have been like neighbours. They have been neck and neck so far.
With an identical 14 wins, eight draws and seven losses each, it is only goal difference that separates the two sides. Pat’s - four goals the better – sit in second place.
Their league record against each other is also perfectly balanced. An opening day 0-0 draw in the Aviva Stadium, followed by one win for both.
The only disadvantage Bohs have heading into this is that their loss to Pat’s was away from home. Could that play a part this Saturday?
Bohs have played one less match in the FAI Cup this year after Ringmahon Rangers did not field a team and gave them a walkover in the second round.
They only had to get through Longford Town, which they did. A comfortable 4-0 win got them to this stage.
While they have had the easier route, it is hard to say that the demons from previous lost finals will reappear due to the almost completely different squad from then to now.
Bohs were on the losing end of the 2021 and 2023 finals while Pat’s added two cup trophies to their cabinet, but plenty has changed within the Bohs camp since then. Only three players in the current squad will have memories of the most recent final.
Alan Reynolds’ squad has burst into life in front of goal. Reynolds mentioned earlier in the season that the squad must become more clinical, and helped by the dazzling form of Ross Tierney, Bohs have scored eight goals in their last two matches.
If Bohs can keep up this goalscoring form they can achieve a statement win and get through to a semi-final.
But as statement wins go, they do not get much better than Pat’s win over Shamrock Rovers in the last round.
Stephen Kenny’s side came back from two goals down at half-time to win the game in extra-time 3-2 in an FAI Cup classic.
The kids were alright in that game, as they have been throughout the season. Sam Rooney came on to score the winner, and Ryan Sheridan also had a big impact on the game.
Pat’s were the better team on that night and from when the whistle for the start of extra-time blew it seemed inevitable that Pat’s would get one more after Aidan Keena’s 90th minute equaliser.
Their most recent performance left a lot to be desired as in form Waterford ran out 2-0 winners. Waterford look like they could beat anybody right now, but it was not a great morale boost heading into this one.
Goals from Jorgen Voilas and John Mahon kept Shamrock Rovers happy as Pat’s failed to capitalise on the league leaders dip in form.
Stephen Kenny will hope the likes of the aforementioned Keena, Ryan Edmondson and Kian Leavy will help recapture previous form.
The recent news of crowd trouble at their match against Waterford has caused a closure of part of Richmond Park's main stand.
This closure will come into effect for their next league games, which currently includes a top of the table clash against Shamrock Rovers.
This means the stand will be fully open, packed and noisy for the quarter final. That could make all the difference in such an evenly matched tie.
For now, all roads lead to Aviva Stadium as this match has huge repercussions. These two teams are the highest in the league table out of all teams left in the competition.
Whoever wins this will really fancy themselves against any other team they will be drawn against. Some could say that whoever wins this will have a great chance of winning the whole thing.
This game has proved to be worthy of a final, but these two teams meeting this early could really shake up the competition.
Coverage starts for one of the biggest Dublin derbies of the season on RTÉ 2 at 3.45pm, with kick off at 4pm.