ASSUMING they have learned anything from last year's fiasco, when the kick-off was delayed because of queues at the turnstiles, somebody should be popping down to the bank from Dalymount Park this afternoon to pick up a bit of change.
However, tonight's FAI Cup clash between Bohemians and St Patrick's is being overshadowed by the cup fever at the Regional Sports Centre in Waterford where only a handful of ground tickets remain for this evening's quarter-final visit of Drogheda United.
The hosts sold the 1,200 available stand tickets within 40 minutes of opening for business and most of the remaining 4,000 places on the terrace have gone since. A win would obviously be a major lift for Tommy Lynch's side but, he believes, even taking his men this far has gone a long way towards paying back the faith of the club's directors in him.
"When I came here they said there was money to spend and so we probably have the biggest wage bill in the First Division" and maybe the fourth or fifth biggest in the country. With a bit of luck we'll have broken even on that investment afterwards and now we'll be looking to earn a few bob to strengthen the side if we go up.
Waterford need to string a few wins together if they want to earn one of the automatic promotion places but Lynch is hopeful that his side can kick off a run of victories this evening by beating the First Division leaders.
"We have a team that is capable of winning five or six matches on the trot and hopefully we can start with this game. We have a full squad again, which is nice, and we're well capable of beating them but we didn't do ourselves justice in the previous meetings this season."
Drogheda must wait to make final checks on the fitness of several players including Noel Reid and Colm Tresson but Anto Whelan is hopeful about his side being close to full strength.
Bohemians, meanwhile, will be worst hit with injuries this evening. Derek McGrath (ankle) and Kevin Brady (groin) are both highly doubtful while Tony O'Connor and Maurice O'Driscoll are out long term.
Mick McCarthy yesterday called on some of those who have figured in his first-team plans recently to line out for the Irish B team in the St Patrick's Day fixture against the National League. Several of the players McCarthy had hoped to include are unavailable.
With promotion and relegation battles hotting up in the English League many clubs have made their players unavailable for the tie which combined with injuries has resulted in McCarthy turning to Mark Kennedy, Jon Goodman and Ian Harte for the Tolka Park clash.
National League manager Pat Devlin is expected to name his panel early next week. Devlin's side have won both their matches.
