Sligo Rovers v Cobh Ramblers
It may be their sins in the game against Bray last week (when they managed to break the ankle of not one but two of the visiting players) rather than their wrongdoings in a previous life, but they certainly seem to be paying for something up around Sligo, because about half of the first team squad are laid up for one reason or another.
Steve Birks, Marcus Hallows, Ross McLynn and Packie Callaghan are among the injured players Nicky Reid must cope without, while Tony Callaghan is suspended and Conor O'Grady is away with the Irish Schools. Add in the doubtful ones - Johnny Hoecks (knee ligaments) and Sean Flannery (calf strain) - and it's difficult not to conclude that this is an ideal opportunity for Cobh to end a long run of cup defeats against the Showgrounds side.
The clubs first met in the competition in 1940, and have been drawn against each other four times in the last six seasons. Rovers have won them all.
Their most memorable clash, though, was in 1983 when the southerners battled their way through to a third replay, which they led 2-0 before losing. Ramblers manager John O'Rourke was a ball boy for a couple of those games and, not surprisingly, he reckons it's time his side won one of these encounters.
The visitors are without the suspended Pat Keane, while Pat Maher is doubtful due to an ankle injury. But O'Rourke has more options left than his opposite number, and while he insists that his side make the journey north as massive outsiders, a win for Cobh wouldn't be the greatest shock that the competition has ever thrown up.
Form: Rovers: LWLDD; Ramblers: LDWWD.
Leading league and cup scorers: Rovers: Hallows (seven), Shannon (six); Ramblers: Izzi (18), Francis (nine).
Betting: Home: 4/5, Draw: 2/1, Away: 4/1.
Scheduled replay: 7.0 on Tuesday, Feb 9th at St Colman's Park
Referee: J Stacey (Athlone).
Sunday
Cork City v Finn Harps (2.0)
Having gone over on his ankle in last Sunday's game at Shelbourne, Cork's Dave Hill is struggling to be fit for this game and hasn't trained all week.
If the Englishman does make it, then it will probably be the same side that started at Tolka. But Mark Herrick is fast approaching his best again after being rested for a couple of games, so Kelvin Flanagan may be under a bit of pressure in the centre of the field. If Hill doesn't make it, then Declan Daly will almost certainly partner Derek Coughlan at the back.
Dave Barry is disappointed his side's concentration slipped in the closing stages of the Tolka Park game, but he reckons City's hunger to retain the cup will keep them focussed this time out. "It took us a long time to get the trophy down here and we won't be letting it go again too easily, that's for sure."
Harps, too, will probably stick as closely as they can to last week's team, with manager Charlie McGeever insisting that his team's performance against Derry last weekend was one of the best he had seen in a long time and one which was worth all three points.
"In fact, the three points we've taken from our last three league games against St Patrick's, Cork and Derry were all poor returns on the performances we turned in, and with so many players playing well at the moment we certainly won't be going down there with any great sense of fear. It'll be difficult, but we're looking forward to it."
Form: City: WWDLD; Harps: DDDWD.
Leading league and cup scorers: City: Flanagan and Caulfield (seven apiece); Harps: Mulligan (10), Speak (seven), Mohan (five).
Betting: Home: 8/11, Draw: 11/5, Away: 100/30.
Scheduled replay: 7.45 on Wednesday, Feb 17th at Finn Park.
Referee: G Perry (Dublin).
Derry City v Dundalk (3.15)
City have a string of injury worries ahead of the visit of Dundalk, who beat them a couple of months ago when they last travelled north for a league game.
Liam Coyle (flu), Michael McHugh (hamstring), Sean Hargan (groin) and Gary Beckett (hip) all face late tests before Kevin Mahon names his side. But the City boss is hoping that all will be fit to play in a game which the hosts must win if they are to maintain their hopes of taking something out of the season.
Dundalk's form, meanwhile, has been steadily improving and they'll be hopeful of maintaining their recent unbeaten run at the Brandywell. Lee Thew faces a late fitness tests, while Kevin Brady returns from suspension. There are problems too, however, with Colin Fortune, who is cup tied, and David Capper, Brian Byrne, David Hoey and Jim Brennan, all injured.
The local youngsters are likely to play a key part in the proceedings again, and while it's difficult to see this Dundalk side being capable of going much further in the competition (even manager Jim McLaughlin admits that he wouldn't be too disappointed to see his side go out this weekend), a win would be another major boost to morale around the club.
Form: City: LWWWD; Dundalk: DWWWD. Leading league and cup scorers: City: Coyle (seven), McHugh (five); Dundalk: Ward (three), Reddish, Thew, McNulty and Brennan (two apiece). Betting: Home: 4/5, Draw: 11/5, Away: 7/2. Scheduled replay: 7.45 on Tuesday, Feb 16th at Oriel Park.
Referee: H Byrne (Dublin).
St Patrick's Athletic v UCD (3.15)
For all the progress made at St Patrick's over the past few years, their failure to win the cup in a very long time still haunts them a little. Such is their league form that they should move a step closer to ending that 38-year run, but the students have a tendency to thrive when they have little to lose. This is just such an occasion.
Liam Buckley has minor worries about Paul Osam and Eddie Gormley, both of whom came off in last week's convincing win over Shamrock Rovers. The home side's manager is hoping both will be all right, however, which leaves Packie Lynch as his main doubt for the game.
If Lynch doesn't recover in time to face his former club, then Willie Burke may take on the sweeping duties. But little else is likely to change in any area of the pitch.
UCD are close to full strength, with only the absence of the suspended Robert Dunne causing any real concern in the Belfield camp. Glen Fitzpatrick is back from South Africa and straight back into the squad for the game, and, if he is reckoned to be fresh enough to start, then Eoin Bennis may switch to the left hand side. Graham Brett is another possibility for Dunne's wide role.
"It'll be a hard game," says UCD's Theo Dunne, "but I think we're a team that they don't particularly like to play against. We work hard, which you have to do against a team like St Patrick's, and we keep going for the full 90 minutes. If we have a little more luck than we did in the two league games this season then we'd like to think we can make an impression this time."
Form: St Patrick's: WWWWW; UCD: DWLLD.
Leading league and cup scorers: St Patrick's: Molloy and Gilzean (12 apiece); UCD: O'Byrne (seven), Bennis (four).
Betting: Home: 1/2, Draw: 12/5, Away: 9/2.
Scheduled replay: 7.30 on Tuesday, Feb 16th at Belfield Park.
Referee: J McDermott (Dublin).
St Mary's v Kilkenny City (2.0)
"It's a difficult one," says Kilkenny City manager Alfie Hale, "because they'll be looking at this game as a chance to make a bit of history. But the fact is that we see it as a great opportunity to get through to the quarter-finals, so I don't think there's any question but that both sides will be up for it."
Having lost out to Belgrove in the Intermediate Cup, this is the only route to glory remaining for the Cork non-leaguers, so there is certainly some reason for the City manager and his players to be cautious. But the home side will have to hope that their visitors are having a bit of an off day if they are to stand any serious chance of progressing.
The performance of central midfielder Mick McAuliffe, the club's top scorer, will be a major factor, while Ken Quinn will probably have to be a good deal more clinical with his finishing than he was in the first round win over Bangor Celtic. But the southerners have the potential in players like former youth international Conor Roche and Ken Sisk to pose their first division outfit problems if they fail to perform, and this could still be the great shock that the competition has so far failed to produce this season.
Manager Martin Heffernan is without the injured Jonathan Sullivan, but otherwise his only difficulty is deciding his approach to a game which Hale knows could end up being tricky.
City's cause is not helped by the fact that Kevin Kelly and Robert Walsh are ruled out by injury, while Richie Hale and John Power are doubtful. Decisions on their fitness will be left until close to kick-off, but if Hale doesn't make it then Tommy Gaynor is among the possible starters for the First Division side.
Form: St Mary's: WWWLL; Kilkenny: WWDDD.
Leading league and cup scorers: St Mary's: M McAuliffe (16); Kilkenny: Vaughan (10), D Walsh and Reddy (four apiece).
Betting: Home: 9/4, Draw: 2/1, Away: 6/5. Scheduled replay: 7.30 on Tuesday, Feb 16th at Buckley Park.
Referee: J Casey (Waterford).
Form and scorers refer to League and FAI Cup only, except with non-league sides for whom all competitions are included.
