After the cull of top-flight teams in the second round, when four of the premier division's 12 clubs went tumbling out of the competition, just about all of the big names were handed comparatively straight forward passages to the last eight of the Carlsberg FAI Cup when the draw for the third round was made in Dublin last night.

Shamrock Rovers and Monaghan United were the only two teams from the remaining eight premier division outfits to be paired on this occasion and though Damien Richardson made all of the right noises regarding the challenge that Bobby Browne's side would present, his opposite number was finding it a little tough to hide his disappointment.

"That's all we needed," was Browne's initial reaction to a draw that league form suggests will spell the end of his side's involvement in this year's competition. "If it had been at home that would have been one thing, our home form has been strong all year and we ran them close up there, but they beat us 4-0 the last time we played them in Dublin and this will be very tough as well."

Richardson insisted that the game would be far from a foregone conclusion but went a long way towards acknowledging that his players would have their fate in their own hands. "The cup is all about a side's ability to rise to challenges and having risen well to one last Sunday we've now got to rise to a different one in the shape of Monaghan.

"They've got some experienced players up there and I think experienced players have a habit of thriving in the cup but if our attitude is right on the day, as it was in Cork, then we've got every chance. If not, then Monaghan will be very tough for us."

Having eliminated Longford last weekend in a repeat of last season's final, Bohemians were handed a much more straight-forward looking task this time around with the holders drawn at home to a Cobh Ramblers side that is currently lying eighth in the first division.

"We won't underestimate them," said Stephen Kenny upon hearing the news before adding that, "I'll tell you one thing, I'm glad it's going to be in Dalymount rather than down there in Cobh."

Less happy about the location of his side's third-round game, of course, was Shelbourne's Alan Matthews, for the Dubliners were probably handed the toughest task of any premier division club in the form of an away draw to Finn Harps.

Four years ago they survived a similar trip when they beat the Donegalmen after a replay at the semi-final stage on the way to lifting the trophy. Matthews, though, conceded that it wasn't quite what he had been hoping for. "It's going to be very difficult, I don't think there can be any doubt about that," he said. "At the moment Harps are going very well in the first division."