Westport United are within striking distance of the last 16 of the FAI Junior Cup as they take on Dublin outfit, Usher Celtic, in United Park on Sunday at 2pm.
The Covies have had some upheaval since their victory over Ballinasloe Town in the fifth round of the competition, with manager, John Russell, since gone from United Park to take up a position with Sligo Rovers. Padraig Burns has stepped in as the interim manager - having held the role on a number of occasions in the past, including in 2005 when he was joint manager of the side that claimed the FAI Junior Cup.
That victory at the start of December, thanks to a Peter Corcoran strike, was also the last time that United had a competitive outing. Their opponents on Sunday are currently sitting in third place in the AUL Striker Premier A table, with three wins and a draw from the four league games they have played this season - while the two sides that are ahead of them in the table, have played two more games than them at present.
Usher claimed the league title last season, ending six years of dominance in that competition by Sheriff YC. In the last round of the Junior Cup, Usher got a taste of Mayo League competition when they saw off Castlebar Celtic 5-0 in Celtic Park, with the goals coming from Jason Ivory, Leeroy Staunton, Glenn Ready and a second half brace from Jordan Buckley.
United are reported to have a number of injury concerns going into the game with doubts around goalkeepers Gary Cunningham and Michael Gibbons - while there are also injury concerns around Cillian McGlade, Mark McDonagh, David Hoban and Joe Lawless on the Dublin side.
