Dundalk FC v St Mochta's FC Preview: Club Orange FAI Cup

Dundalk FC kick-off their Club Orange FAI Cup campaign against St Mochta's FC at Oriel Park on Friday evening (kick-off 7.45pm).

Dundalk won the previous FAI Cup encounter between the two clubs back in 2021, when a Patrick Hoban hat-trick helped Vinny Perth's side to a 5-1 win. Since then, St Mochta's have beaten Dundalk in a 2024 Leinster Senior Cup tie.

Ciarán Kilduff Comments

"We hope to kickstart our FAI Cup run, but there are no easy games. We've seen this over the years that these top Leinster Senior League teams are more than capable of beating League of Ireland sides.

"I was on the management staff at Maynooth back in 2022, and we got to the quarter-final of the FAI Cup, knocking out a few First Division teams along the way. That's the beauty of the Cup. But we have to make sure we do everything right and respect our opposition, and I've no doubt that we will.

"Obviously in recent weeks we've probably been disappointed with the outcomes of the games, but overall, if we were to get through this tie on Friday to be in the last 16 of the FAI Cup, and fourth in the Premier Division table with twelve games to go, that would exceed expectations from before the start of the season. That's the aim, and we realise it's a big job to be done beforehand.

"There are players in our group and squad who need opportunities, and this might be a chance to give them that. There are only two main competitions to compete in, so it's a huge opportunity for all teams, and we're striving to get an FAI Cup run going.

"We're probably still hurting a bit after last weekend's result, and the one from Croke Park, but the best way to get over something like that is a positive reaction — and that's what we'll be aiming to do. We'll be ready, we'll do our best, and c'mon the Town."