ALAN MATHEWS last night stepped down as Drogheda United manager, after a run of results that has left the former league champions struggling at the wrong end of the Airtricity Premier Division.

The draw has been made this evening for the third round of the FAI Ford Cup.

DEAN KELLY denied Donegal side Bonagee United a shock victory over Crumlin United in the FAI Ford Senior Cup second round yesterday.

FLEDGING Cork club Cork City Foras Co-op suffered a triple blow on the playing front yesterday but were later boosted by the news of three new sponsorship deals.

KILDARE County bosses have expressed disappointment at the postponement of Saturday’s eircom League of Ireland First Division clash with Athlone Town.

The draw for the first round of the FAI Ford Senior Challenge Cup has been made tonight.

REPUBLIC of Ireland manager, Gerry Smith has named a squad of 18 players for the friendly amateur international against Northern Ireland in Armagh on Wednesday, August 9 (Kick-off 7.30).

HOLDERS Rockmount and Wayside Celtic will be in search of their third Pat O'Brien Cup when they meet in the FAI Carlsberg Intermediate Cup Final at Turners Cross on Sunday (ko 2.30pm).

TWO of the three FAI Carlsberg Senior Cup First Round ties which ended in draws last weekend will be replayed this weekend.

ROCKMOUNT, the holders of the FAI Intermediate Cup will have to travel to the winners of the Belgrove v Mount Merrion replay after the draw for the semi-finals was made last night.

Shamrock Rovers goalkeeper Russell Payne has finally received his work permit but is still waiting for international clearance from previous club SV Elversberg 07 of Germany.

There will be new faces all round when Waterford United visit Richmond Park tonight to take on St Patrick’s Athletic (7.45pm).

Brendan Markey is in line for a return to Dublin City after hitting a hat-trick for the Vikings in a friendly against Leinster Senior League side Belgrove.

FAI Carlsberg Cup holders Longford Town, will leave last season’s decider hero, Shane Barrett, on the bench for their match against the Cork MSL team, Leeds, at Turner’s Cross tomorrow (Kick off 2.30 pm).

THE 2004 FAI Carlsberg Cup kicks off this weekend with the 20 junior and intermediate sides all dreaming of cup glory next October.

ROCKMOUNT,Cork manager, Billy Cronin will wait for midfielder Philip Cunningham and centre-forward Kieran O'Shea to undergo fitness tests before finalising the team to play Bluebell United, Dublin in the Carlsberg FAI Intermediate Cup final at Richmond Park tomorrow (3pm).

THE vastly experienced Mick Scully will provide Cup specialists Bluebell United with strong leadership when they play Rockmount in the Carlsberg FAI Intermediate Cup final at Richmond Park on Sunday (3pm).

TWO Irish clubs have not yet received First Division licences from UEFA’s Club Licensing Committee.

UCD 2 Belgrove 0

St Patrick's Athletic will play Shamrock Rovers while Cork City will host Shelbourne in two mouthwatering ties after the second round draw of the FAI Cup tonight.

CORK CITY manager Pat Dolan yesterday paid tribute to his goal-scoring hot-shots John O’Flynn and George O’Callaghan and quickly emphasised the part played in their exciting start to the season by City’s defence.

Belgrove Football Club will be attempting to make history on Sunday by winning the FAI Carlsberg Intermediate Cup for the first time when they travel to Cork to take on Rockmount in the final at Turner’s Cross (ko 3pm).

The two semi-finals of the FAI Carlsberg Intermediate Cup will be played on Sunday next, one in Cork and one in Dublin.