THIS column isn't noted for sending bouquets of praise in the direction of Merrion Square, but credit where credit is due. The decision to permit extra time in next weekend's FAI Harp Lager Cup first round ties, while also limiting all ties to one replay, was done with a fixture pile up in mind.

And given the recent spate of league postponements, that showed uncanny and untypical prescience.

It may go against the grain for the traditionalists among us, and perhaps further favours the teams drawn at home, while there is no guarantee that it will offset fixture chaos, given more postponements. But it should curtail excessively negative tactics among those inclined to play for a home replay from the off, while adding excitement to the opening games.

In any event, nothing quite beats the optimism engendered by the week of the first round. There will be an extra spring in the step at training this week among the 32 participating clubs - ice, frost, and snow permitting (another argument, as Noel King persuasively repeated during Sunday's interesting debate on RTE Radio One for summer football).

It is fitting that the holders and beaten finalists last year, Shelbourne and St Patrick's Athletic, begin this season's competition with home ties on Friday night against Everton AFC and Athlone respectively - Waterford also host Monaghan on Friday.

Shocks, and romantic fairytales such as St Francis's journey to the 1990 final which was watched by 30,000, are the essence of Cup fare. With 10 non league clubs now an annual feature of the first round, the scope for more of the same is plentiful.

Certainly, Shelbourne ought to be wary bearing in mind their unexpected first round defeat on a Friday night in Tolka Park to first division Limerick three seasons ago. However, they were in trauma then, and, after two wins in the last four years, they are fast replacing Shamrock Rovers as the Cup specialists of the 90s. Indeed, they will be seeking to become the first side since Rovers in the mid80s to contest three successive finals.

Traditionally, the more classic setting for Cup shocks appears to be Finn Harps' trip to the Carlisle Grounds to meet Wayside Celtic - quarter finalists last year - or, more possibly, Dundalk's journey to Paddy Mahony Park for a tie with Whitehall Rangers.

Yet, shocks have become increasingly rare in recent times. Indeed, since 1990, only three non league sides have even reached the quarter finals, while there have only been six wins over league opposition - and all of them at the expense of First Division sides.

Galway's recent achievement in becoming the first team from the First Division to win the League Cup highlights the ever present threat from the lower flight. Following Bray's historic victory in the 1990 decider, thanks to John Ryan's hat trick, they continued to have their days in the sun, Sligo Rovers emulating Bray's feat three seasons ago.

However, in the last couple of years, the last four were composed entirely of Premier Division teams, with the Premier's top quartet reaching last season's semi finals. This perhaps reflects increasing trends here and else where in which the cream rises to, the top or more pertinently the better off clubs.

Thus, given they avoid each other to a reasonable degree this trend is liable to continue. There is only one all Premier Division tie next weekend - UCD at home to Bray. Six of the other dubs from the top flight enjoy home advantage, and of the remainder it would be no surprise to see Sligo (away to old Cup foes Cobh) and Drogheda (away to Garda in Westmanstown) join eight of their brethren in the second round.

Aside from Shelbourne Derry (four finals in nine years) and Sligo (semi finalists three years running) have demonstrated a liking for the Cup. St Patrick's finally found the route to the final last year, and beaten finalists do come back to win 12 months later.

Of the others, Cork have rediscovered their identity under Dave Barry and though they may not have the experience or staying power for the title, they have turned the corner, are on a roll, are due a Cup run and will have vengeance on their minds when entertaining Galway next Sunday in a re run of their New Year's Day League Cup final defeat on aggregate. A hunch says it might be their year.