Away supporter tickets for this FAI Cup tie are SOLD OUT. The match will be shown live on LOITV

We’ll start with the international break. Three significant games saw Josh Honohan make the bench for the Irish senior international team away to Armenia. Michael Noonan scored a stunning winner with virtually his first touch for the Ireland Under 21s to become the youngest ever Irish scorer at that age group. And Pico Lopes again starred for Cape Verde whose 1-0 win over Cameroon leaves Cape Verde one win from their final two games away from World Cup qualification. That’s some week for the lads and the club.

“Yes it is and one of which we should be extremely proud, as a football club. Everyone connected to the club should be proud of the players. Pico, one game away from a World Cup is incredible. If you had’ve said that when Pico joined us, if you’d said that when he started his international journey, I’m sure he’d have taken both your arms off. It’s incredible and all credit to Pico, he’s a mainstay in the Cape Verde team and plays all the big games and every minute and is a key figure for them. It’s an incredible achievement for him personally and for Cape Verde as a nation. 

Michael and I had a good phone conversation the night before the under 21 game. He just wanted to show what he can do and show he’s ready. We know he’s ready, we’ve seen it a number of times at this club. When he came on for Ireland, he was excellent. I think he showed the level he’s been playing at all year. For someone who’s just turned seventeen, it’s quite remarkable what Michael is doing. He broke a record with us (becoming the youngest scorer ever in European club competition) against Molde and now he’s broken another one with Ireland for the under 21s. Michael will be an elite player with an elite mentality and the positive thing is, he’s just staying focussed on his career and I’m delighted for him.

Josh getting called up (for the senior international team) is not something we should be surprised about, with the level Josh has been playing at. So it’s been a brilliant week for the club and one for which we should all be proud.”

Was there another chance for everyone to take a couple of days off between the 2-1 league victory over Drogheda United and last weekend’s international break given the busy schedule ahead?

“Yes there was. I felt it was important we all got away from each other. We’ve been living in each other’s pockets for the last couple of months and that can become quite intense, mentally and physically. So the players got some time away, which was really important. And then we’re back, focussed on Drogheda tomorrow night. That little break was important.”

Going back to our last game, that 2-1 win against Drogheda, it was a vital three league points. How do you assess our performance on the day? 

“I thought some of it was really good. Drogheda obviously had moments and spells in the game, they’ll do that and they’re dangerous. But I thought in the main, considering everything off the back off the previous Thursday (the second leg against Santa Clara), the high energy game that was and everything around it, I thought we were very good.”

We face Drogheda again this weekend, but away and in the quarter final of the FAI cup. How has preparation been for the game and do you think it will play out as it usually has when we play Drogheda or does it being a cup quarter final against the holders change or add to the dynamic?

“The week has been really good. The players came back ready to work and ready to go. We also know when you play Drogheda, it’ll be a tough game. The fact it’s a cup quarter final, I don’t think it changes things too much. Our games against each other are always close, always tight. I expect tomorrow night to be no different.”

Drogheda, as we all know, are having another excellent season. With them being cup holders, us being league leaders and a sold out Drogheda crowd, it makes for a very exciting cup tie, especially with replays a thing of the past.

“It does. It will come down to moments in the game and who takes their moments. Drogheda will have theirs and we’ll have ours, but it should be a good game with two teams going to win the game. I’ve said before, Kevin Doherty (Drogheda manager) has done a fantastic job up there. We’ve seen it again this year, how they’ve responded after their European heartbreak has been brilliant. We  saw it in our last game in the league, what Drogheda bring to the table, so it has the makings to be a really good game.”

Did our international players come back injury-free and how is Connor Malley and is anyone unavailable for the Drogheda game? 

“The international players all came back fine and obviously in good spirits. Connor (Malley) will miss this weekend, I’d imagine he’ll be fine again for the Cork game next week, so he’s doing really well. But everyone else is fine, no new injuries.”