CHAMPIONS CRUSADERS BEGIN their Setanta Sports Cup defence tonight with a tricky trip to meet Cork City in Turner’s Cross.
City caught the eye in the opening round when they thumped runaway IFA Premiership leaders Cliftonville 6-2 over two legs to book their place in the last eight.
Manager Tommy Dunne could hardly have hoped for a better start to the new campaign as his players shook off the pre-season rustiness, not least Ian Turner who opened his 2013 account with a brace in the first leg.
Now they face another testing evening against a Crusaders side who have not lost in the league since the turn of the year as they seek to close the gap on Cliftonville.
As champions Crues were one of four teams given a bye directly into the quarter-finals but it means that manager Stephen Baxter is without six players, all of whom are still serving suspensions from last year’s competition.
Among them is top scorer Timmy Adamson, who has 11 goals in the league this campaign, and skipper Colin Coates who scored twice in last year’s final against Derry City, a game which Crues won on penalties.
Tonight’s tie was moved forward a week to avoid a clash between the second leg, originally scheduled for 11 March, and City’s opening Airtricity League fixture against Limerick FC which has been moved to the evening of 10 March for TV.
Cork are without John Dunleavy (illness) and Brian Lenihan (groin) while Kalen Spillane is suspended following his sending off in last week’s drawn second leg against Cliftonville.
Odds: Cork City 10/11 Draw 9/4 Crusaders 11/4
