Saturday

Cobh Ramblers v Athlone Town (7.30)

The hosts are, Liam McMahon points out, the most lowly ranked league side left in the competition but they have managed to beat Athlone in one of their three league meetings this season and so their promotion chasing visitors will be wary enough.

Brendan Sweeney (flu) is the main doubt for the southerners but John Murphy appears to have shaken off a groin strain and should be fit to start this evening.

Liam Buckley will have to cope without the suspended Conor Frawley again but Gary McCormack, who missed last week's league game, is back and so the manager has to choose between Mo O'Driscoll or Jan Fitzell. Stephen Mullen is carrying a slight knock but should be okay.

Route to third round: Ramblers: beat St Michael's 4-0 at home; Town: beat Home Farm Fingal 1-0 at in replay after a nil-all draw.

Second round scorers: Ramblers: Golden (two), Coughlan and Bruton; Town: Molloy.

Betting: Home: 5/2, Draw: 9/4, Away: 10/11.

Referee: J O'Neill (Dublin).

Derry City v Shelbourne (7.30)

The league win a couple of weeks ago will certainly raise the hopes of the home team's supporters although the fact that the Candystripes continue to miss key players is a major handicap. Gary Beckett looks to be out for the rest of the season with knee ligament problems while Paul Hegarty and Eamon Doherty are both doubtful and face late tests. Liam Coyle has been told that he can play despite an ongoing groin problem. The Dubliners have Richie Baker back after resting the young winger against Bray last week while Davy Byrne also returns to the squad but Stephen Geoghegan is still a month or more away from figuring in the first team starting line up while newly signed Stephen Grant is ineligible.

Route to third round: City: beat Rathcoole Boys 3-0 away; Shelbourne: beat Monaghan United 2-0 at home.

Second round scorers: City: Doherty (two) and Beckett; Shelbourne: Doolin (two).

Betting: Home: 2/1, Draw: 9/4, Away: 11/10.

Referee: H Byrne (Dublin).

Finn Harps v Shamrock Rovers (7.30)

The hosts will have much the same squad available for this game as they had for the visit to Galway last week. Once again Jonathan Speak is toying with starting himself as he grows increasingly frustrated with his side's finishing.

If he does come in it will probably be at the expense of Kevin McHugh. By comparison with their hosts, the visitors are enjoying a storming league campaign but the challenge now is to bounce back from the little matter of last week's astonishing collapse against Bohemians.

Damien Richardson is hoping Tommy Dunne and Tony Cousins will be fit enough to play. Marc Kenny and Derek Tracey are, however, still out injured.

Route to third round: Harps: beat Home Farm 3-0 away; Rovers: beat Dublin Bus 3-0 at home.

Second round scorers: Harps: Tierney, Harkin and an own goal; Rovers: Grant, Robinson and Palmer.

Betting: Home: 2/1, Draw: 9/4, Away: 11/10.

Referee: J Stacey (Athlone).

Longford Town v St Patrick's Athletic (7.30)

They've been lengthening the pitch at Flancare Park this week in the hope of creating more space and opening things up as much as possible. "The more it flows the better chance we have," says Stephen Kenny who will be without Paul Perth (injured), Stephen Kelly (injured and suspended) and Sean Riordan (suspended and ineligible). Sean Prunty, who missed the game in Derry last week with a thigh injury will have a late fitness test. The visitors will give fitness tests to Paul Osam and Ger McCarthy who are suffering from a hamstring and ankle injury respectively. Both could make it, unlike long-term injury victims Paul Donnelly and Packie Lynch.

Route to third round: Longford: beat Cork City 2-1 away in a replay after a one all draw; St Patrick's: beat Wayside Celtic 4-1.

Second round scorers: Longford: V Perth, S Byrne and N Byrne; St Patrick's: Russell (two), Foley and Holt.

Betting: Home: 9/4, Draw: 9/4, Away: Evens. Referee: D O'Hanlon (Waterford).

Portmarnock v Dundalk (1.30)

The Dubliners are in fairly confident mood ahead of this afternoon's game with their manager, John Hayes, content to have a full squad to choose from and hopeful that his side can upset the first division outfit.

It will, he says, be much the same side that beat Rockmount in the last round. That's certainly not a problem for Martin Murray's men who come into the match fresh from their last minute defeat of Monagahan United in midweek.

Their goalscorer Martin Reilly and David Hoey are carrying minor knocks but Murray feels that both will be fit to play. "We'll have to up for it, though, because I've seen Portmarnock and they're a capable enough outfit," he said.

Route to third round: Portmarnock: beat Rockmount 3-0 at home; Dundalk: beat Limerick 3-0 at home.

Second round scorers: Portmarnock: Feeney, McDonald and Cummins; Dundalk: Hoey, Flanagan and M Reilly.

Betting: Home: 11/4, Draw: 9/4, Away: 4/5.

Referee: J Breen (Dublin).

Sunday

UCD v Waterford United

Both managers seem to see this one as a potential shock although obviously one is less enthusiastic about the idea than the other.

Martin Moranwill be without Tony McDonnell and John Martin and so at least one change is on the cards. Paul Power should have Paul and Tony Scully and Brendan Rea fit again but Eric Bradley has a slight hamstring problem while John Frost and David Breen both have flu and all three are doubtful.

"We have a good record against the premier division clubs this year," says the United manager "and while there's nothing wrong with them that a few goals wouldn't put right we certainly feel we're in with a good shout."

Route to third round: UCD: beat Youghal United 3-1 at home; United: beat St Francis 2-0 away after a one all draw.

Second round scorers: UCD: McAuley, R Martin and Martyn; United: Scully, Kirby and Reynolds.

Betting: Home: 1/2, Draw: 13/5, Away: 9/2.

Referee: A O'Regan (Cork).

Betting courtesy of Paddy Power.