At a time when just about everybody now accepts that you get what you pay for when it comes to football teams, the performance of National League sides in this season's FAI Cup again raises questions about their ability to do themselves justice against outside competition.

The often lamentable performances in Europe have been the subject of considerable debate over the years but the Premier Division sides continue also to falter in their other annual test against opposition drawn from outside the 12 leading clubs in this country.

On the basis of their performances in the league there can be little dispute that Shelbourne and Bohemians are about the two best sides around just now, but the failure of either to do better in their cup ties with non-league teams at the weekend is just the latest example of the difficulties the country's most professional clubs can have in justifying their status.

Bohemians, of course, won their match against St Mochta's on Friday evening but for a team made up for the most part of full-time professionals, they made very heavy weather of it for an hour against a Leinster League Division 1A (third division) side. Shelbourne, meanwhile, should win tonight's replay against Bluebell United but then they should have won the original tie on Saturday. Like their northside neighbours, the club possesses a team built around full-timers yet they have turned in two disappointing performances, one after a flying start against Bangor Celtic in the last round, against sides from outside the league.

Both clubs spend the sort of money on wages that Bluebell, Bangor or St Mochta's can only dream about although Shelbourne insisted yesterday that my assertion, in a report of Saturday's match, that Garry Haylock costs the club around £1,000 was inaccurate and I accept their assurances that the actual figure is significantly lower than this.

Still, it would appear that, while the competition is intended to provide the opportunity for upsets, the number produced must be taken as an indication of present standards within our league.

In fact, far from the league leaders having had exceptionally rough times against particularly feisty opponents from lower leagues, the pair are actually the only Premier Division sides to beat non-league opposition this season.

A few years ago bigger clubs would have, and regularly did, put some of the blame on the grounds where they were sometimes forced to play intermediate sides but while the FAI have, on one hand, now allowed junior sides into the competition, they have also become more strict about the quality of pitches and other facilities used for cup games.

And as it happens, both Sligo and Drogheda went out on their own turf while none of this year's ties between Premier Division clubs and the supposed minnows has actually taken place in the non-league club's ground.

In fact, Bray Wanderers probably had most to contend with on their trip to Fairview Rangers where, despite the conditions, they emerged as comfortable winners. Perhaps the rough and tumble of the First Division prepares players better for these sort of assignments.

And the result which best reflected the alleged gulf between a team from the top flight and one from outside of it? Well, the one that springs to mind is the 71 defeat of Longford Town by Finn Harps in their third round replay. But then their respective positions might well be reversed by the time this year's cup competition is wrapped up in May.