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Rachel Graham's Women's FAI Cup quarter-final previews

Who will lift the FAI Cup this year?
Who will lift the FAI Cup this year?

We're down to the last eight in the Sports Direct Women's FAI Cup, with the usual suspects in the mix, plus a couple of dark horses.

The holders Shelbourne, last year's beaten finalists Athlone Town, Shamrock Rovers, Bohemians, DLR Waves, Treaty United, Peamount United and Eastern Women's Football League outfit Newbridge Town are the teams still standing.

On this week's RTÉ Soccer Podcast, Shelbourne's Rachel Graham previewed all four quarter-finals, including her own team's showdown with Stephanie Zambra's Shamrock Rovers tonight.


FRIDAY

Shelbourne v Shamrock Rovers, Tolka Park, 7.45pm

"I'm definitely looking forward to it, it's always a really good game against them so I don't think this will be any different.

"I don't think there'll be much between the two teams, it'll be a goal maybe, at most two goals I would say.

"It'll be interesting to play on a Friday night - I don't think we've ever played on a Friday night before so that'll be a nice change, we'll hopefully get a bit of a crowd in at it.

"The league is the one you always want, but for Shamrock Rovers now, I think the cup is what they'll be mainly focused on. It's probably their whole season now at this stage.

"We're expecting a really tough game. We played them on the opening game of the season and they beat us, we haven't played them since so we haven't beaten them all year. It'll be a huge game.

"Cup games always have a different feel about them. Hopefully it's a good game first of all, I just can't imagine there being much between the two teams."

SATURDAY

DLR Waves v Treaty United, UCD Bowl, 3pm

"They just played each other at the weekend. It was only 1-0 (to Treaty), but I think Treaty dominated the game, DLR didn't really threaten them too much.

"I'd imagine it's going to be pretty much the same. Treaty have beaten them twice already in the league so I can't really imagine it being anything different than that.

"Treaty are probably looking at it then where, if they come through that tie, I'd imagine Bohs might come through the other tie (against Newbridge), if they get Bohs in the semi-final that's a great opportunity for them.

"Like we said, at this stage leagues are gone for some teams, it's the cup final that they're eyeing up now. I don't see Treaty not beating DLR to be honest."

Peamount United v Athlone Town, Greenogue, 5pm

"Peamount are probably getting Athlone at a good time. To come through in the Champions League, it was great, but they've had three draws in a row now in the league and if you want them at any time, it's probably now.

"The league form, it all goes out the window when it's a cup game. There's so much on the line; a cup semi-final and then the potential to get to a cup final. It's the best day out of the year, it's a great occasion, everyone wants to be there, it's brilliant.

"For Peamount, the league has not gone really well, they've lost seven games, but nearly every game they've lost has only been by one goal so it's not as if they're getting really hammered, in their recent games anyway.

"Athlone beat them earlier in the year 3-0 but other than that their results have been really tight.

"The signing of Eleanor Ryan-Doyle is huge for Peamount. She's a big goal threat.

"Athlone are maybe a little bit of a wounded animal and are looking to get back on track, but their performances have maybe slacked a little bit in the league the last couple of weeks.

"Whether it's a bounceback now for them or whether it's a continuation of their form, I don't know.

"It'll be a good game. Peamount will be disappointed with how the league has gone so it's all focus on the cup for them as well."

Newbridge Town v Bohemians, Station Road, 6pm

"Unless something crazy happens I don't see Bohs not winning this game, and I don't see them not winning it comfortably.

"They're performing really well in our league, which is obviously a level above what Newbridge are playing at. I think Newbridge will be looking at it like, this is going to be a great occasion for us. I don't think they're going to be expecting anything out of the game, I'd say they're happy just to have come this far.

"I can't really see Bohs not winning very comfortably to be honest."


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