FAI Cup date with Bluebell United

ST PETER"S epic season continues this weekend when they entertain Bluebell Utd in the first round proper of the FAI Senior Cup. The Connaught-side Athlone club have already secured a place in the final of the FAI Junior Cup against Ballymun Utd and that game takes place on Sunday week. So, the next week and a half could define their entire season. Bluebell Utd are regular participants at this stage of the FAI Senior Cup but the novelty is new to St Peter"s. Player-manager Michael Collins said: 'To be honest, the last couple of weeks have been very hectic for us, so we"ve had little time to concentrate fully on Bluebell Utd. After last Sunday"s win against Birr Town in the Paddy Cotter Senior Cup semi-final, we"ve played four games in a week. We also play a league match this evening (Wednesday) against Mullingar Athletic, but we"ve been using our squad well and that"s what we have to do at this stage of the season.' St Peter"s have a slight injury concern over goalkeeper Keith Hynes but he"s expected to play despite an ankle injury. Otherwise, St Peter"s hope to have a full strength squad against Bluebell. Bluebell Utd are currently fourth in the Leinster Senior League"s top division, 13 points behind table toppers Bangor Celtic, who defeated Bluebell 3-0 last weekend. However, Bluebell can also point to the fact they have four games in hand on Bangor Celtic at this stage of the campaign. Due to St Peter"s constant stream of fixtures of late, Michael Collins hasn"t had an opportunity to watch Bluebell Utd but with a place in the second round proper of the FAI Senior Cup at stake, he hopes home advantage will play a major role in helping St Peter"s to the next phase of the most important soccer knockout competition in the country. 'I don"t think we could have asked for anything other than a home draw,' said Collins, who asked the soccer public of Athlone to get behind his team on Sunday. Meanwhile, St Peter"s season received another boost when right winger Dave Donoghoe was called into Gerry Smyth"s Ireland junior international squad last Friday (see back page for full story).