Stephen Quigley Ponders The Challenge Of The FAI Cup Final

  • Wed, Nov 29, 2006 @ 16:49

St. Patrick’s Athletic right-back Stephen Quigley faces the biggest challenge of his young career on Sunday if he’s assigned the onerous task of marking Derry City winger Pat McCourt in the FAI Carlsberg Cup final at Lansdowne Road (3.15pm).

The 21-year old defender has come up against the Candystripes’ flying wing-man twice in his 14 appearances for the Saints this season and tasted defeat on both occasions. Quigley sees Sunday’s season finale as the ideal opportunity to correct that run of reversals.

“Paddy McCourt is an exceptional player and it’s my job to keep him quiet on Sunday, if I’m selected,” he said. “It’s going to be a difficult task but I feel I can do it.”

“I’ve managed to get some tapes of Derry’s recent matches and I’ve been studying up on Paddy’s tricks when he dribbles with the ball. I know all about him because he came on as substitute against us in the second last game of the season and set up the winning goal for Derry.”

One flicker of genius that night three weeks ago by Northern Ireland U21 International McCourt allowed him to skip past Quigley and cross for Mark Farren to score the only goal of the game.

Derry’s win ensured the destiny of the eircom league Premier Division title went down to the final day.

Pats are looking to end a 45-year Cup famine on Sunday after losing the last five finals they’ve competed in.

Quigley was at Lansdowne Road three years ago for the Saints most recent defeat in the final against Longford Town and he doesn’t want to go through the misery of finishing runners-up again.

“I travelled with the squad that day but wasn’t involved in the match,” he said. “I joined the club only a few months before and was only starting to challenge for a place in the team.”

“I’ll never forget the sadness within our squad after we lost that match and any of the lads who were involved don’t want to go through that misery again.

“Normally, if you lose a game, the next match comes around soon enough and you can put it out of your system.

“Cup Finals are very different; it’s the last game of the season and defeat would hurt a lot of people. We know we’re capable of beating Derry and winning the Cup opens up so many doors for the squad through qualifying for Europe and the Setanta Cup.”

Quigley was born in Dublin and signed for Pats in May 2003 after a short spell in England with Coventry City. He earned his one and only medal with Pats in 2003 as part of the eircom league Cup winning squad and is keen to add an FAI Cup medal to his collection.

“This Cup final means everything to this squad of players,” he admitted.

“Most of us have never played at Lansdowne Road before but we’ll be treating it as a normal game.

“Matches between Derry and us have been close this season and the final shouldn’t be any different.

“It’s vital that we play to our strengths on Sunday and if we do that, I think the game will go in our favour.”


Next Fixture

Drogheda United / March 29th @ 7:45pm
Competition: League
Venue: Weavers Park
 
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Shelbourne616
Derry City611
Sligo Rovers69
Waterford FC68
Galway United FC67
Bohemian FC57
Shamrock Rovers56
St Patrick's Athletic66
Drogheda United54
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