FAI Cup Previews

Tonight

Tonight

First-Round Replays

Dundalk v Limerick (Oriel Park, 7.45)

Dundalk go into this game with the same panel as they did for the trip to Limerick on Saturday and in all probability they will start the game with the same team.

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Tom McNulty is still suspended and so Lee Thew will continue in the centre of midfield while manager Jim McLaughlin was happy enough with the performance of the rest of his men at Rathbane and does not expect to make any great changes for the return game.

The visitors may have to make a switch or two with Paddy Doyle, Albert Finan, Bobby Ryan and Michael Kerley all doubtful. Doyle, suffering from a stomach muscle problem, is the most likely to miss out and in that case Howie King is likely to come into the starting line-up while Kerley's availability depends on work commitments. Finan and Ryan will have late fitness tests but manager Dave Connell is optimistic that both will be all right.

As for the game, Connell insists that his side will be in with a good shout again although he regards Saturday night as a missed opportunity. "I suppose most managers would be the same if it was their team, but I thought we were the better side and I'm sure this time they'll come at us more, so it'll be more difficult. But it's not over yet, that's for sure."

Betting: Home: 4/6, Draw: 5/2, Away: 100/30.

Playing to meet: Derry City (away).

Referee: G Perry (Dublin).

Galway Utd v Drogheda Utd (Terryland Park, 7.30)

Don O'Riordan's first task as he got down to work for this cup replay was to write a note to the headmaster of one of his players asking that the youngster be allowed to skip a couple of classes to take part.

The home side's manager isn't quite sure what his final line-up will be this evening but he's glad that he has, with the exception again of the cup-tied Ollie Keogh, everybody to pick from. He does expect to make one or two changes.

Martin Lawlor, the Drogheda manager, may make one or two as well although James Impey, who missed Sunday's tie because of a bout of the flu, won't figure this time either as he is suspended. Darren O'Keeffe is back from suspension for this one and will probably figure while Derek Thorntan has recovered from a facial injury and David Nugent appears to have come through 20 minutes of the first game without any problems with a groin strain so he should at least be on the bench again.

Betting: Home: 6/4, Draw: 9/4, Away: 9/4.

Playing to meet: Home Farm-Everton (at home).

Referee: J Feighery (Dublin).

UCD v Rockmount (Belfield Park, 7.30)

After a bit of a rough ride in Cork, UCD will hope to finish this one at the second attempt although the thought of a chance to visit the National League champions in round two should help the southerners to pick themselves up.

Not surprisingly, the two camps saw Sunday's first game differently with Billy Cronin of Rockmount feeling that the referee let the Dubliners off the hook on more than one occasion and Dr Tony O'Neill saying that the home side had little enough to complain about.

Cronin admits that, having missed the chance to drive their early advantage home on Sunday it will be very difficult for his side now. Making the task worse for the Munster Senior League is the fact that they will be without centre half Philip Hogan, who broke his leg in the home game, and team captain Allan Martin, who had further problems with a calf strain that had threatened to rule him out for the weekend. Niall Lane and Brian Walsh are the likely replacements.

For UCD there is some better news with Ciaran Kavanagh expected to return to midfield after a bout of flu but there are problems too with Aidan Lynch (ankle) and Clive Delaney (calf) receiving treatment to knocks they picked up in Cork.

Betting: Home: 4/7, Draw: 12/5, Away: 5/1.

Playing to meet: St Patrick's Athletic (away).

Referee: J McDermott (Dublin).

The former Shelbourne midfielder Brian Flood has moved from Finn Harps to Waterford United where he is expected to be included in the squad for this weekend's National League game against Bray Wanderers.

Harps have also agreed to midfielder Stephen Kelly's request that he be allowed to leave the club. He joins Davie Dowling on the transfer list with both players expected to move on before the end of next week.

Emmet Malone

Emmet Malone

Emmet Malone is Work Correspondent at The Irish Times