Today

Cobh Ramblers v Garda (St Colman's Park, 7.0) - The hosts have a few worries due to the flu epidemic currently sweeping through the nation's footballers with Packie Kelly, Keith Dalton and Pat Keane struggling to be fit for this evening's game.

Kelly trained on Thursday, which makes him considerably more likely to play than either of the others, while Tommy Butler and Liam O'Connor are the most likely replacements for the latter two if their don't make it.

The visitors have a problem or two as well with David O'Brien having had stitches in a head injury recently and Derek Mulhall suffering from a hamstring pull, but manager Gus Keating is hopeful that Mulhall, at least, will play alongside Padraig Hearn up front.

Five year cup form: Cobh: Q,1,1,1,2; Garda: 1,DNQ,DNQ,1,DNQ.

Betting: Home: 4/9, Draw: 5/2, Away: 13/2.

Cup odds: Cobh: 33/1; Garda: 500/1.

Possible replay: Westmanstown, 1.45, Wed Jan 13th.

Referee: J Casey (Dublin).

Finn Harps v Belgrove (Finn Park, 7.30) - Shane Bradley is the only man missing from last year's semi-finalists' squad while the Dubliners come to town with a full panel to choose from.

Charlie McGeever is hoping that the experience his players have picked up over the last couple of seasons will help to see them through.

Tony Macken, in contrast, knows that his side are short on experience, but the former Ireland international is hopeful that his players can take something out of the game and, though he insists that he doesn't expect one, he isn't ruling out an upset.

Five year cup form: Harps: 2,1,Q,1,S; Belgrove: DNQ,1,DNQ,DNQ,DNQ.

Betting: Home: 2/9, Draw: 4/1, Away: 9/1.

Cup odds: Harps: 12/1; Belgrove: 500/1.

Possible replay: Finn Park, 7.30, Wed Jan 13th.

Referee: P Whelan (Dublin).

Glenmore Celtic v St Patrick's Athletic (Richmond Park, 7.30) - On the face of it, Liam Buckley's side have to slip up badly to go out in this one. Aside from a minor doubt about Martin Russell, the Premier Division outfit have no injury worries or suspensions for the game. Celtic manager Joe Reynolds has just about everybody available to him too with Derek Dodds, a goalscorer two seasons ago when the club lost at this stage to Home Farm Everton, passing a fitness test on a thigh strain but Joe O'Sullivan does miss out due to an ankle strain.

Five year cup form: Glenmore: 1,DNQ,DNQ,1,DNQ; St Patrick's: Q,1,F,Q,Q.

Betting: Home: 9/1, Draw: 4/1, Away: 2/9.

Cup odds: Glenmore: 500/1; St Patrick's: 5/1.

Possible replay: Richmond Park, 7.45, Tues Jan 12th.

Referee: P McKeon (Dublin).

Kilkenny City v Swilly Rovers (Buckley Park, 7.30) - City manager Alfie Hale is keenly aware of what a blow going out to non-league opposition would be to his team's morale. He can at least be thankful that a couple of the players who have been missing in recent weeks are available again. Pierce Walsh and Trevor Vaughan will both probably start, but Kevin Kelly, John Power and Aidan Cooney will miss out while Michael Reddy is highly doubtful. The Donegalmen, meanwhile, have no injuries or suspensions and Danny McDonnell is delighted about getting another crack at league opposition after last year's adventure was ended rather decisively at Oriel Park.

Five year cup form: Kilkenny: 2,1,2,1,1; Rovers: DNQ,DNQ,DNQ,DNQ,1.

Betting: Home: 4/7, Draw: 12/5, Away: 5/1.

Cup odds: Kilkenny: 50/1; Rovers: 500/1.

Possible replay: Swilly Park, 1.45, Wed Jan 13th.

Referee: D O'Hanlon (Waterford).

Limerick v Dundalk (Rathbane, 7.30) - This looks to be one of the more possible upsets.

Dundalk, though, as Dave Connell readily admits have quite a record in this competition and while the Limerick boss is adamant that they'll give the Premier Division club a hard time, he not rushing to make any predictions.

The home side are without long-term injury victims Sean Byrne and Declan Casey while Bobby Ryan will have a fitness test on a hamstring before the game.

Dundalk have Lee Thew back for the suspended Tom McNulty while Jumbo Brennan will play up front in place of the departed Peter Withnell.

Five year cup form: Limerick: Q,S,1,2,1; Dundalk: 2,Q,1,2,2.

Betting: Home: 3/1, Draw: 9/4, Away: 4/5.

Cup odds: Limerick: 66/1; Dundalk: 20/1.

Possible replay: Oriel Park, 7.45, Tues Jan 12th.

Referee: T Tully (Cork).

Tomorrow

Ashtown Villa v Cherry Orchard (Moortown, 2.0) - Neither of these to will be too happy facing each other this afternoon and neither will be particularly keen to end up having to do it all again so it could actually end up being one of the more interesting ties. The visitors, currently leading the Leinster Senior League, have no suspensions to worry about, but Jimmy Cullen will miss the game due to a leg ulcer while Jim Dunne and Nick Horan are both rated as doubtful by manager John Wilkes.

Villa's preparations, meanwhile, have gone well according to manager Harry Kenny, but leading scorer Jonathan King and Robbie Best's brother Stephen (also a centre half) both have the flu.

Five year cup form: Ashtown Villa: DNQ,2,DNQ,DNQ,DNQ; Cherry Orchard: DNQ,DNQ,1,DNQ,1; Betting: Home: 3/1, Draw: 9/4, Away: 4/5.

Cup odds: Villa: 500/1; Orchard: 200/1.

Possible replay: De La Salle, Ballyfermot, 1.45, Tues Jan 12th.

Referee: D Hanney (Dublin).

Drogheda Utd v Galway Utd (United Park, 2.0) - Martin Lawlor may benefit slightly from the fact that Friday's postponement of this game has given his flu-struck players an extra day or two to shake off the bug.

James Impey is about the worst affected by the flu while Darren O'Keeffe is suspended, David Nugent has a groin strain and Gerry Boyle has a cartlidge problem. All are doubtful for Drogheda.

The visitors have no injury or suspension problems, although Don O'Riordan is upset by the fact that Ollie Keogh, signed before Christmas from Mervue, has been deemed to be ineligible.

Five year cup form: Drogheda: 1,2,1,Q,1; Galway: 1,2,1,1,2.

Betting: Home: 6/4, Draw: 9/4, Away: 9/4.

Cup odds: Drogheda: 33/1; Galway: 50/1.

Possible replay: Terryland Park, 7.30, Tues Jan 12th.

Referee: J Feighery (Dublin).

Longford Town v Derry City (Strokestown Road, 2.30) - Of all the managers with reason to curse the flu, Stephen Kenny has the most for five of his first team have come down with it with one, Alan O'Connor, suffering so badly that he has ended up in hospital.

He and the suspended Evan Creedon are both definitely out but Kenny faces an anxious wait before he discovers whether Vinny Perth, Enda Kenny, John Vaughan and Paul McNally will be fit for this tie. Derry's boss, Kevin Mahon, will be without Eddie McCallion who is suffering from a hamstring problem, but Gary Beckett has recovered from a similar problem and Paul Hegarty is considered to have a better than even chance of starting.

Five year cup form: Longford: 1,2,1,1,Q; Derry: F,W,Q,F,2.

Betting: Home: 100/30, Draw: 12/5 Away: 4/ 6.

Cup odds: Longford: 66/1; Derry: 10/1.

Possible replay: The Brandywell, 7.30, Tues Jan 12th.

Referee: J Cassidy (Athlone).

Monaghan Utd v Cork City (Gortakeegan, 2.0) - "If we play well, they have an off day and the planets are correctly aligned it could happen for us," says Monaghan manager Billy Bagster whose cause is not helped by the fact that Brian Honan and James O'Callaghan are still ruled out by suspension and Karl Wilson is receiving treatment for a calf strain.

The holders are without inspirational Englishman Dave Hill, who starts a two-match suspension, while Fergus O'Donoghue, only recently returned from a long lay-off, has had to have a minor operation and will be out again for four or five weeks.

In their absence Declan Daly or Gareth Cronin will move into the centre of the defence with Brian Barry Murphy, Greg O'Halloran and Patsy Freyne all in with a chance of starting, depending on how Barry opts to reorganise things.

Five year cup form: Monaghan: Q,2,1,1,1; Cork: 2,2,1,Q,W.

Betting: Home: 13/2, Draw: 11/4, Away: 2/5.

Cup odds: Monaghan: 100/1; Cork: 5/1.

Possible replay: Turner's Cross, 1.45, Tues Jan 12th.

Referee: H Byrne (Dublin).

Rockmount v UCD (Rockmount Park, 2.0) - The southerners are injury and suspension free for the visit of the Dubliners. "Against Cork they were very good," says Rockwell's joint manger Billy Cronin. However he reckons that having added half a dozen players to the panel that took part in this stage of the cup last year, the home side will be better equipped to cope with the step up in standard.

The visitors, on the other hand, have, yup you guessed it, a touch of flu going around. Robert Dunne, Eamonn McLoughlin and Ciaran Kavanagh are all doubtful. Eoin Bennis heads the queue of wouldbe replacements with Ken Kilmurray, John Martin and Robert McAuley close behind.

Five year cup form: Rockmount: DNQ,DNQ,DNQ,2,1; UCD: 1,1,1,1,Q.

Betting: Home: 5/1, Draw: 11/5, Away: 4/7.

Cup odds: Rockmount: 200/1; UCD: 16/1.

Possible replay: Belfield Park, 7.30, Tues Jan 12th.

Referee: M O'Brien (Ennis).

Shamrock Rovers v Shelbourne (Tolka Park, 3.15) - The home side are still without Mark O'Neill, but Brian Morisroe may play some part in the proceedings after recovering from broken ribs. Shelbourne have no serious injury worries. Alan Gough had a little trouble in training during the week, but Dermot Keely is confident that he will not have any problem if the game goes ahead as planned. As a game it could go either way with the importance of the fixture to both clubs possibly affecting the quality of the spectacle or the determination of each to win it helping to throw up one of the games of the season. Either way, this still looks to be the most interesting tie of the round.

Five year cup form: Rovers: 1,Q,1,2,2; Shelbourne: 1,F,W,W,F.

Betting: Home: 7/4, Draw: 2/1, Away: 11/8.

Cup odds: Rovers: 8/1; Shelbourne: 6/1.

Possible replay: Tolka Park, To be confirmed.

Referee: J McDermott (Dublin).

St Mary's v Bangor Celtic (Kilcully, 2.0) - Martin Heffernan is another of the lucky managers who have no injury worries or suspensions and with a full panel to choose from the former Cork Hibs player is optimistic about his side's chances. The Dubliners, though, while hardly seeing themselves as favourites for the tie, insist that they should not be dismissed lightly. The visitors, who manager Paul Ennis concedes are outsiders even amongst the outsiders, could be better fixed for the trip south. Gavin Condon and Declan Cronin are both suspended, Richie O'Driscoll is unavailable and Gerry Fogarty, Stephen Stout and Brian Fitzgerald are all doubtful.

Five year cup form: St Mary's: Have not qualified; Bangor: Have not qualified.

Betting: Home: 8/13, Draw: 11/5, Away: 9/2.

Cup odds: St Mary's: 500/1; Bangor: 500/1.

Possible replay: Bluebell Park, 1.45, Wed Jan 13th.

Referee: A O'Regan (Cork).

Waterford Utd v Bohemians (RSC, 3.15) - No changes here from yesterday, when the game was originally supposed to be played, with Bohemians manager Roddy Collins still having a full panel to choose from and Mike Flanagan having the strongest panel he has had in a couple of months.

Collins is confident that, with Paul Byrne and Ray Kelly adding to the competition for places at the club, they can not only extract themselves from the relegation battle but go on to achieve something in this competition.

Flanagan and his players, however, will be equally anxious to get through this round of the cup and, with Alan Reynolds, Tim McGrath and Barry Wood all available again he will be in a position to field his strongest side in some time.

Five-year cup form: Waterford: 1, 1, 2, S, 1; Bohemians: S, S, S, S, 1.

Betting: Home: 7/4; Draw: 2/1; Away: 11/8.

Cup odds: Waterford: 14/1; Bohemians: 8/1.

Possible replay: Dalymount Park, 7.30, Tues, Jan 12th. Referee: J Stacey (Athlone).

Workman's/Dunleary'95 v Home Farm Everton (Rochestown Avenue, 2.0) - Both managers have a couple of players to worry about ahead of this game with the home side hoping that central defender Graham Barnes and striker Peter White will both shake off minor problems in time to play.

Liam Brien, meanwhile, has had to bide his time this week as half his first team came down with the flu and most have recovered in time, although there are still doubts hanging over the availability of both Darragh Mooney and Chris Malone.

Five-year Cup form: Workman's: DNQ,DNQ,1,DNQ,DNQ; Home Farm/E: Q,2,2,2,2.

Betting: Home: 100/30, Draw: 12/5, Away: 4/ 6.

To win cup outright: Workman's: 500/1; Home Farm: 100/1.

Possible replay: Whitehall, 7.30, Tuesday, Jan 12th.

Referee: D Hanccok (Dublin).

Key to cup form: W - winners; F - finalists; S - semi-finalists; Q - quarter-finalists; 2 - second round; 1 - first round.

Betting courtesy of Paddy Power.