’Stute up for the senior cup

The Waterside men, who defeated Coleraine in last year’s final at Drumahoe, are likely to give a number of players some much needed game time.

One men who is expected to start this evening is striker Stephen Parkhouse .

Although the Gobnascale man has played in a number of Gransha Institute games, first team coach Brian Donaghy feels some first team action is what he needs.

“Parkie will definitely get at least an hour if not the whole game,” admitted Donaghy.

“He certainly has a big part to play both in the changing room and on the field, we have a tough away game at Bangor coming up soon and his experience and ability to hold things up in those type of difficult away games will be very important.”

Donaghy, who also confirmed that young trio Corey Hegarty, James McClay and Michael Coyle are also likely to feature this evening, admitted he was a little bewildered with the decision by the Irish Football Association, that the Drumahoe men were not able to play Harland & Wolff Welders in the league this weekend, despite both clubs agreeing.

“To be honest Corey Hegarty, James McClay and Michael Coyle are all going to get a decent run out, they deserve a chance as their training application has been fantastic, but they too need some grass time.

“I think we look free flowing and have a decent shape about us and the three in midfield complement each other and we can choose from I think six players for our front line and Parkie only adds to that.

“He strikes the fear in opponents even if he is starting or on the bench and that is great for us.

“I have to admit that I can’t see why weren’t allowed to play the Welders, because the weather is going to get bad soon and then there will be games called off, so when both sides were keen to play it seems strange that we weren’t allowed to play.”

Last season ‘Stute easily beat tonight’s opponents and because of that result Donaghy knows Moyola are going to be a tough test, but the chance of possibly facing Coleraine again in the final is something, which excites the ‘Stute coach.

“We played Moyola last year and we had a comfortable win, but it’s their cup final tonight, so we have to be on guard.

“There is a cup final place at stake and having won the NW Senior Cup last year, we want to win it again, although there will be a few players getting grass time and changes to our side, the team certainly won’t be weakened.

“If as expected Coleraine reach the final then it’s Premier Division opponents we’ll be facing if we do our job properly.

“There will be a good crowd in the final and playing against a side who we maybe shocked last year, will mean that they will be more up for it.

“Having talked to their players, staff and supporters they are still smarting from that and in fairness that was proved in pre-season as they changed their system to combat that, which is a testament to our guys.”