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Red hot Carn out to dump the Dubs 01.03.12

‘Hopefully everyone in Inishowen will get behind us’

by Caoimhinn Barr, Inishowen Independent


The Reds of Carn Football Club face one of the biggest games in their history against Dublin’s Ballymun United in the quarter-final of the FAI Junior Cup this Sunday aftternoon (2pm).
Hundreds of local football fans are expected to converge on St. Patrick’s Park as Dermot Coyle’s men aim for an historic seventh straight win in the prestigious national tournament.
Ahead of the crunch clash, manager Coyle is keeping his feet firmly on the ground.
“This Sunday will be a massive occasion for the club and for the town of Carn. We have told the players to enjoy the build-up but not to lose sight of the fact that they have a job to do. If you switch off for a split second at this level, you’ll be punished,” he said.
“We have taken the entire cup run game by game and in between rounds we have focused on the local games. We only started preparing for Ballymun after the game against Culdaff last weekend. I don’t want to fill the players’ heads with too much information,” Coyle added.
Reds boss Dermot said Carn will be aiming for a home victory but he also sounded a note of caution.
“Everyone will be expecting us to go out all guns blazing and attack at home but we need to be very cautious because Ballymun have an experienced side with a number of very potent threats up front. In saying that we will not be sitting back. If we get a chance we have to take it,” he said.
With a massive crowd expected at St. Patrick’s Park on Sunday, Coyle is hoping that the players will be roared on to victory once more.
“The support we have had has been unreal. Even on the long trips to Dingle and Tramore we had great backing. We had a huge crowd over for the CIE Ranch game and by all accounts this weekend will be even bigger. Hopefully everyone in Inishowen will get behind us,” he added.
Carn have enjoyed a fabulous run so far and, after defeating cup favourites Tramore United in the previous round last month, will be confident of reaching the semi-final stage of the prestigious national competition.
After disposing of six teams on a memorable cup journey so far, Carn hope to make it a perfect seven against Ballymun this week. They will once more rely on the superlative form of experienced keeper Gerard Crossan with Brendan Tabb, Matthew Byrne, Gerard Doherty and Gerard McEleney all likely to start in Inishowen’s best defence.
The midfield has generally seen the accomplished duo of Michael Byrne and Michael Toland in the centre but Toland will miss Sunday’s big game through injury.
In attack Oliver McConalogue and Cathal Doherty seem the players most likely to get the nod.
If Cathal O’Kane is available he will certainly be pushing for a starting spot while the likes of Ronan Doherty, Christy McLaughlin, Donncha Gallagher and some of the younger reserve players could also come into the reckoning to be in the matchday panel.
Overall a great occasion for the club is on the cards and Carn carries the best wishes from all the footballing fraternity in the peninsula.

Road to Quarter-Finals
Glencar Celtic 4-1
Gweedore United 5-1
Ballybofey United 5-0
CIE Ranch 3-1
Dingle Bay Rovers 2-0
Tramore 0-0 (Carn won on penalties)
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