Shels at home to Derry pick of opening FAI Cup ties

EIRCOM League champions and current leaders Shelbourne at home to Derry City was the pick of the bunch when the draw for the Carlsberg FAI Cup second round was made in Dublin last night.

Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr, who drew the balls along with FAI President Milo Corcoran, immediately identified the Shels-Derry game as "the biggest match" of the round, but Kerr was also particularly taken with the prospect of his old club St. Patrick's Athletic travelling to the RSC to face last year's cup runners-up, Waterford United.

The 2004 winners, Longford Town, seeking to make it three-in-a-row, face non-league opposition at home in the opening game in the defence of their crown, with the visit of Waterford Crystal.

In other interesting match-ups, Cork City visit First Division Galway United, Monaghan United are at home to neighbours Dundalk, and UCD have a derby game against Dublin City.

Cup record-holders Shamrock Rovers were drawn at home to Fanad United, while Bohemians are set to host Athlone Town. Since both Dublin clubs currently share Dalymount Park, Rovers' game is likely to be moved back to Sunday June 12 with Bohs playing their match on Friday 10.

While Cobh Ramblers learned that they will face non-league Wayside Celtic at St Colman's Park, Cork's Avondale United were happy to draw Premier Division opposition in the form of Bray Wanderers at home. In what is proving to be a busy season for the Cork side, Munster Senior League champions Avondale still battling to retain their title are also set to play Cork City in the final of the Munster Senior Cup.

Meanwhile, another Cork side, Douglas Hall, will feature in one of two ties in which non-league teams were drawn against each other.

In the build-up to last night's draw, which was carried live by RTE from the Guinness Hop Store, there were special presentations to the two men who have the distinction of scoring hat-tricks in FAI Cup Finals, Miah Dennehy (for Cork Hibs against Waterford, 1972) and John Ryan (for Bray Wanderers against

St. Francis, 1990).

The full 32 team draw, with games to be played in the week ending June 12, is as follows:

Kilkenny City v Finn Harps; Drogheda United v Limerick; Shamrock Rovers v Fanad United; Waterford United v St. Patrick's Athletic; Monaghan United v Dundalk; Carew Park or St. Peter's Athlone v Douglas Hall; Sligo Rovers v Malahide United; Galway United v Cork City; Kildare County v Galway Hibernians; Avondale v Bray Wanderers; Shelbourne v Derry City; UCD v Dublin City; Longford Town v Waterford Crystal; Cobh Ramblers v Wayside Celtic; Lissadel United v Cherry Orchard; Bohemians v Athlone Town.

The final of the FAI Carlsberg Senior Challenge Cup will take place on Sunday December 4.