Up for the Cup

The magic of the FA Cup weekend will have a very strong Irish flavour, especially among the lower ranked teams writes Mark Gallagher

TAKE A pin and this weekend’s cup games. Close your eyes and pick. Even with the aim of a New York Giants’ place-kicker, you would be hard-pressed to miss a glamour tie.

There’s the teachers, tailors and candlestick-makers of Farnbourgh getting 90 minutes at Highbury, there’s Chelsea’s tentative journey to Gay Meadow where Everton’s dreams are buried, Crystal Palace’s efforts to sway Liverpool’s re-balancing act and, erm, Bournemouth trying to surprise Stoke City.