Cup semi-final action at weekend

LIMAVADY United's next game at the Showgrounds this Saturday is against Moyola Park in the semi-final of the Craig Memorial Cup.

The Ladbrokes.com Championship Two side will be looking to cause an upset like Churchill United did at this stage last season.

Moyola are currently eighth in Championship 2 with two wins, two draws and only one defeat from their opening five league games.

In their most recent game last Saturday they won four – two away at Chimney Corner in the league.

In the opening round of this competition Moyola defeated Coleraine Reserves in a penalty shoot-out after a two all draw.

In the quarter finals they beat Portstewart two nil to set up this semi-final clash with the Roesiders.

United manager Oran Kearney is looking forward to the game and doesn't think it will be hard to motivate the players.

"It's a semi-final so I don't think that it will be too difficult to motivate the players," he said.

"I've said to the player's week in, week out that there should be no problem getting motivated at this level.

"If you can't get motivated in this league and on out big pitch then there is something seriously wrong.

"This is why I don't think that there will be any motivation problems for my team in this game."

This game will be tough and Kearney wants to make sure that his team's best performance comes at 3 pm on a Saturday.

"This last week our best performances have come on a Tuesday and a Thursday and that's not what we want.

"We don't want to turn into that type of team because if we do then we will struggle in the league and other competitions.

"Then it can be a real slog for everyone and that's not what we want and I know because I have been there.

"The top three or four positions are where you want to be and that goes for cup competitions as well.

"We have created the expectation after last season and it's now up to us to live up to that expectation," concluded Kearney.

Going into the game United will still be without Shane Jennings who will be missing until at least next month.

Francis McKenna is also likely to miss the game with a calf injury that kept him out of the Bangor game.

Gareth McConaghie will return to the squad after missing the Bangor game as he served a one match suspension for his red card against Larne.