Cup Final!

United entertain Dungannon Swifts tomorrow in what could an Irish cup final rehearsal, if we are still in the cup and if we both win through, then we will meet in the final. No doubt the Dungannon 'hordes' will descend on the Showgrounds tomorrow in their hundreds and they will no doubt have a larger crowd in the final, they may even equal the fans from Portadown at Windsor when United played them in the semi-final two seasons ago. Enough of the levity, we hope Spike and the boys have got United all fired up for this one, which is the last but one match before the split and another six-pointer. The bulk of the team are more or less guaranteed their places for the semi-final, but there are a few places up for grabs.

It's not known whether Rodgers, who limped off in last Saturday's game is fit, but if he isn't Tony Kane will surely get the nod. Captain Jenks should be able to continue his blossoming partnership with Alan D, but hopefully he'll avoid the late tackles and try and stay on the pitch for ninety minutes this time. Rory Carson needs to keep performing as well as he has been lately, but he has a tendency to go out of games and needs to keep focused. Ally falls into this category too and it'd be fair to say he's not back to the scintillating form he showed earlier in the season. United will be looking for Cutch and Alan D to deliver the goods and although Dungannon will be no pushover, we still should take the three points.

ON-loan Johnny Taylor, who committed himself to United by signing a pre-season contract last week, has been a revelation at central defence and has steadied our ship and is bringing the best out of Cookie Munster as well. Ross Black and Rodgers/Kane in the back four are also responding well to the new general in our defence and we hope he continues to instil us with confidence for the rest of this season and beyond. That only leaves the 'enigma' that is Jay 'Elvis' Costello, who continues to flatter only to deceive. He'll lay the defender for dead and hit his cross harmlessly wide or fox the keeper completely only to miss the simplest of tap-ins. But he is an entertainer and football is a mite boring and he lifts the spirits and he obviously enjoys playing, he's always smiling and that can't be bad. This is the last home match before the Irish cup final, we want to win it to keep the confidence up, so come Sky Blues, let's shag those chicken farmers!