Shamrock Rovers midfieder Keith Fahey has been forced to retire from professional football after succumbing to injury.

Derry City 2 Bluebell United 1

Non-league Bluebell United were the toast of the FAI Ford Cup third round as they frustrated holders Derry City to earn a 0-0 draw at the Brandywell.

Trevor Molloy rolled back the years to score twice and then set up an extra-time winner as non-league Bluebell United caused the shock of the FAI Ford Cup second round to beat Athlone Town 3-2 at Lissywollen.

Bluebell United provided the only surprise of the FAI Ford Cup weekend when the Dublin non-league side held Roddy Collins’ First Division Athlone Town to a 2-2 draw at Baldonnel on Saturday night.

Rory Patterson scored a second half hat-trick as holders Derry City won 4-0 at non-league Blarney United to cruise safely into the third round of the FAI Ford Cup.

When Avondale United manager John Cotter delivers his team talk before Sunday’s FAI Intermediate Cup final, a special mention will be reserved for Declan Cahill.

THE black adidas top with the Liver bird on the chest betrays Avondale United player-manager John Cotter’s ‘other’ footballing allegiance.

FAI President Paddy McCaul and 1992 cup-winning captain Paul Whelan this evening made the draw for the 2011 FAI Ford Senior Cup first and second rounds at FAI headquarters in Abbotstown.

MANAGER Tommy Dunne heaved a sigh of relief after his Cork City side squeaked through against Bluebell United in their FAI Ford Cup 3rd round replay at the Carlisle Grounds on Tuesday evening.

A WELL-TAKEN Davin O’Neill goal was enough to give Cork City victory in this FAI Ford Cup third-round replay but the First Division team were pushed all the way in Bray by a Bluebell United side who did the Leinster Senior League proud with a classy performance which deserved more than the pain of cup defeat.

The draw for the 4th round of the FAI Cup has thrown up some interesting ties with the pick of which being the meeting of Bohemians and fallen giants Shelbourne.

THE TIE of the FAI Ford Cup third round is at Oriel Park tonight when league leaders Dundalk host St Patrick’s Athletic in an all-Premier Division clash.

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.

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

KEITH FAHEY is way too accomplished a media operator to say he was frustrated by the absence of an international call-up but Stephen Carr had no reason to hold back when the nod finally arrived late last month.

GOALS from Gerry Bambrick and Danny Loughran sent Crumlin United through to the FAI Intermediate Cup final at the expense of hosts Rockmount in Whitechurch 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.

Bohemians open the defence of their title with a tricky clash against FAI Cup holders Sporting Fingal at Dalymount Park, kick-off 7.35pm.

Bray Wanderers 2 Bluebell United 1

Bray Wanderers will be confident of progressing into the next round of this season’s FAI Ford Cup as they welcome non-league side Bluebell United to the Carlisle Grounds, kick-off 7.45pm.

THE only all Premier Division clash in tonight’s menu of FAI Ford Cup Third Round fixtures sees Cork City host Sligo Rovers at Turner’s Cross (all games kick-off 7.45pm).

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

St Patrick’s Athletic midfielder Keith Fahey has signed a pre-contract agreement with Birmingham and will join the Coca-Cola Championship side on a three-and-a-half-year deal on January 2, 2009.

Dublin City have stepped into the breach to give English non-league side AFC Sudbury a friendly match in the capital tomorrow afternoon.

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

THE best feature of the FAI Carlsberg Cup final on Sunday was the fact that the two finalists, Rockmount of Cork and Bluebell United of Dublin, are clubs in the real sense of the word.

Bluebell United 0 Rockmount 1

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.

The third round draw for the FAI Intermediate Cup has thrown up some exciting ties, with the added bonus winners in this round reach the FAI Carlsberg Senior Cup competition.

New Republic of Ireland boss Brian Kerr is no stranger to success, with a remarkable record in charge of national under-age teams since his appointment by the Football Association of Ireland six years ago.