While the organisers of last night's draw for the second round of this year's Carlsberg-sponsored FAI Cup were presumably hoping for at least one headline-grabbing tie to mark the real start of this year's competition, even they must have been taken aback to be handed a couple of games that look like final eliminators for the championship crown.

League-leaders Shelbourne must beat second-placed Cork City away if they are to make it to the last 16 of the competition, while the other tie of the round will be a clash between teams third and fourth in the current table. Throw in the fact the clubs involved in the latter game happen to be St Patrick's Athletic and old rivals Shamrock Rovers and it really is a little tricky to call which of the two will command the greater attention in a couple of weeks.

Shelbourne manager Pat Fenlon reacted with a little bemusement to the news that his side would have to visit Turner's Cross in their opening game of the competition. "Another handy one," he shrugged, before adding defiantly, "I have a strong enough team to go there and win so I won't have any worries about heading down there."

City's Liam Murphy predicted another in the long-running series of tight and highly exciting encounters between the two clubs.

"I've been involved in so many crackers with Shelbourne now I've lost count, but the '98 final, which we won, springs to mind and I'm sure this will be another good one.

"I suppose you'd have to say that you'd prefer a non-league club at home at this stage of the competition," he added, "but being at home is the main thing and once we're playing at Turner's Cross we're never going to be complaining."

Liam Buckley was upbeat too after his Shamrock Rovers side were handed a first round "away" tie at his former club St Patrick's Athletic. "It's a tough game for both clubs," said the Rovers manager whose side must face the return leg of their Intertoto Cup tie with Slovan Liberec before turning their attention to the FAI Cup game.

"It should make for a really big crowd and a great day so it's something for all of the lads to look forward to," he said. "It's terrific really, we all have to lift ourselves for the weekend's game and hopefully the lads can carry the momentum through for the couple of weeks then and turn in another big performances against Pats."

While cup-holders Derry City were handed a tricky but survivable home tie with Cobh Ramblers, last season's league champions, Bohemians, must travel to Oriel Park for a game with 2002's other cup winners, Dundalk.

The first division club are struggling badly to discover some league form, but Stephen Kenny, whose side are encountering a few problems of their own, insisted the game would still present a severe challenge for his players.

"The fact that it's up there is always going to mean that it's tough," he said, "but the fact that they have so many experienced lads, a good few of the ones who won the cup for the club last year, combined with the fact that we'll be playing in Europe earlier in the week will certainly make it difficult for us. I'm not complaining, though, we'll be ready for it."

Of the 10 non-league clubs involved at this stage, first-time entrants Tolka Rovers did best in the draw with the north Dublin club being handed a home game with Premier division outfit Longford Town.

"It's wonderful, to be honest," said veteran club secretary Frank Cooke. "We used to get a good support at a lot of our games and this is just the sort of thing we needed to get them back again."

The Eircom League has announced it has appointed Aidan Doyle as marketing manager and Andy Needham as media and public relations manager.

Doyle was formerly a marketing communications manager with Opel while Needham has worked with Bill O'Herlihy Communications.

St Patrick's Athletic v Shamrock Rovers

Tolka Rovers v Longford Town

Kildare County v Crumlin United

Derry City v Cobh Ramblers

Bray Wanderers v Athlone Town

Portmarnock v Dublin City

Loughshinny v Galway United

Cork City v Shelbourne

Moyle Park College v Sligo Rovers

UCD v Belgrove

Dundalk v Bohemians

Cherry Orchard v St Mochta's

Finn Harps v Drogheda United

Limerick v Kilkenny City

Everton FC v Waterford United

Skerries Town v Monaghan United