FAI Ford Cup Draws made
Credit:
THE long road to the FAI Ford Senior Cup final began yesterday evening for 26 clubs, from the Junior, Intermediate and A League ranks, as the draw for the first and second rounds of the blue ribband competition was conducted at FAI headquarters in Abbotstown.
26 clubs whose dream is to get into the latter rounds and entertain some of the biggest names in Irish soccer gathered in the Abbotstown Conference room as FAI President David Blood and League of Ireland legend Tony O'Connor pulled the balls from the drum.
14 teams were given byes to Round Two, but for 12 teams the route to the elusive aim of emulating Bohemians and lifting the coveted silverware will start that little bit earlier as they will be in action in Round One on the weekend of April 26th.
Intermediate Cup finalists Bluebell United and Crumlin United of the Leinster Senior League were both handed testing pairings. Bluebell are out in the first round against Junior outfit St Peter's of Athlone, with the winners of that game meeting the winners of the mouth-watering clash of Intermediate kingpins Rockmount and Malahide, that is easily the tie of the first round that pits together this year's beaten Intermediate semi finalists.
Bluebell overcame Rockmount on Sunday at the Red Cow after captain John Cleary netted the only goal of the game to put them through to the May 10th final and ensure a busy schedule. In that final they will meet LSL rivals Crumlin United, who beat Malahide at Gannon Park, thanks to a 75th minute goal from Thomas Fahey.
Crumlin, who are looking forward to a first ever Intermediate final, were given a bye to Round Two of the Senior Cup last evening, but there they will be faced with a stern test in the form of Ulster Senior League Champions Kildrum Tigers. The reigning LSL champions will be on home soil for the game against Raymond McDaid's Tigers, who are in the Senior Cup for only the second time in their history. Elsewhere, former League of Ireland side Cobh Ramblers will take on the winners of the first round game between Tullamore Town and Carrigaline United, while A League newcomers Tralee Dynamoes will be at home to Clonmel Town in Round One. Other interesting ties include the visit of Munster outfit St Mary's to Glenmore Dundrum and the meeting of Fanad United and Ballymun in Round Two.
FAI Ford Cup First Round draw:
Glenmore Dundrum v St Mary's (1)
Tralee Dynamos v Clonmel Town (2)
Tullamore Town v Carrigaline United (3)
Rockmount v Malahide United (4)
St Peter's v Bluebell United (5)
Castlebar Celtic v Ringmahon Rangers (6)
First Round matches to be played on the weekend ending Sunday 26 April.
FAI Ford Cup Second Round draw:
Erris United v Cherry Orchard
Fanad United v Ballymun United
Mayfield United v Winner of Match 6
Salthill Devon v Newtown Rangers
Crumlin United v Kildrum Tigers
Blarney United v FC Carlow
Cobh Ramblers v Winner of Match 3
Winner of Match 2 v Winner of Match 1
Winner of Match 5 v Winner of Match 4
UCD (LSL) v Arklow Town
Second Round matches to be played on the weekend ending Sunday 24 May.
26 clubs whose dream is to get into the latter rounds and entertain some of the biggest names in Irish soccer gathered in the Abbotstown Conference room as FAI President David Blood and League of Ireland legend Tony O'Connor pulled the balls from the drum.
14 teams were given byes to Round Two, but for 12 teams the route to the elusive aim of emulating Bohemians and lifting the coveted silverware will start that little bit earlier as they will be in action in Round One on the weekend of April 26th.
Intermediate Cup finalists Bluebell United and Crumlin United of the Leinster Senior League were both handed testing pairings. Bluebell are out in the first round against Junior outfit St Peter's of Athlone, with the winners of that game meeting the winners of the mouth-watering clash of Intermediate kingpins Rockmount and Malahide, that is easily the tie of the first round that pits together this year's beaten Intermediate semi finalists.
Bluebell overcame Rockmount on Sunday at the Red Cow after captain John Cleary netted the only goal of the game to put them through to the May 10th final and ensure a busy schedule. In that final they will meet LSL rivals Crumlin United, who beat Malahide at Gannon Park, thanks to a 75th minute goal from Thomas Fahey.
Crumlin, who are looking forward to a first ever Intermediate final, were given a bye to Round Two of the Senior Cup last evening, but there they will be faced with a stern test in the form of Ulster Senior League Champions Kildrum Tigers. The reigning LSL champions will be on home soil for the game against Raymond McDaid's Tigers, who are in the Senior Cup for only the second time in their history. Elsewhere, former League of Ireland side Cobh Ramblers will take on the winners of the first round game between Tullamore Town and Carrigaline United, while A League newcomers Tralee Dynamoes will be at home to Clonmel Town in Round One. Other interesting ties include the visit of Munster outfit St Mary's to Glenmore Dundrum and the meeting of Fanad United and Ballymun in Round Two.
FAI Ford Cup First Round draw:
Glenmore Dundrum v St Mary's (1)
Tralee Dynamos v Clonmel Town (2)
Tullamore Town v Carrigaline United (3)
Rockmount v Malahide United (4)
St Peter's v Bluebell United (5)
Castlebar Celtic v Ringmahon Rangers (6)
First Round matches to be played on the weekend ending Sunday 26 April.
FAI Ford Cup Second Round draw:
Erris United v Cherry Orchard
Fanad United v Ballymun United
Mayfield United v Winner of Match 6
Salthill Devon v Newtown Rangers
Crumlin United v Kildrum Tigers
Blarney United v FC Carlow
Cobh Ramblers v Winner of Match 3
Winner of Match 2 v Winner of Match 1
Winner of Match 5 v Winner of Match 4
UCD (LSL) v Arklow Town
Second Round matches to be played on the weekend ending Sunday 24 May.
About Chris McNulty
Chris McNulty is one of extratime's Northwest correspondents, covering Finn Harps and Derry City. Has worked as a sports writer with the Donegal News since 2007. View Full Profile