Preview: Bohemians vs Drogheda Town

Dalymount Park is the venue for a real life David and Goliath battle in the Third Round of the FAI Ford Cup on Friday night when eircom League of Ireland Premier Division leaders Bohemians take on amateur Leinster Senior League outfit Drogheda Town (kick-off 7.30pm).

Bohs will be expected to come out on top, but Town, who will be backed by a strong travelling support, will be hoping they can cause a major upset.

Last weekend's home victory over Sligo Rovers moved the Gypsies three points clear at the top of the Premier League and extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 13 games.

Drogheda Town qualified for the FAI Ford Cup having progressed to the Quarter Finals of the FAI Intermediate Cup. They then overcame Avondale United by a single goal in the second round. The meeting will see Bohs Drogheda-born winger Killian Brennan come face to face with his younger brother Sean, who plays with Drogheda Town.

The links between the two sides don't end there either. Town manager Terry Eviston spent five years at Dalymount Park during the late 1970s / early 80s. In 1980/81 he was the club's top scorer in the league with 9 goals. Eviston later moved on to Shamrock Rovers and then Dundalk where he won the FAI Cup. Drogheda assistant manager Lee King also played for the Gypsies during his career.

Speaking ahead of the game, Eviston said: "For everyone in the club this is unknown territory but we're on Cloud Nine. There was a certain inevitability about it because the way the season has gone, anything that can happen has happened to us. We've just been in a relegation battle for the last six games, we're out of it now and this is the icing on the cake for us. It's absolutely fantastic for everyone involved in the club, from the committee down to the players who've been superb all season.

"It means a hell of a lot to the players. This is football at grass roots and it's a completely different ball game I can tell you that much. We want to acquit ourselves well. We're not going to go out like a Ragball Rovers team. We'll train Wednesday night and we'll organise a few games because our season is over. We'll make sure we give a good account of ourselves."

Bohs manager Pat Fenlon is under no illusions that his side will need to avoid complacency if they are to win through. "I have put the team through a hard week on the training ground because I want their approach to be spot on. In some games earlier this season, the correct attitude was missing and results did not go our way. I want to make certain that there is no complacency in our squad for this tie. I want Bohemians to be in the next round of the cup and though we may have one or two changes in our starting eleven, our team will not be any weaker for them.

"I have seen Drogheda Town play and we must be on our guard. Given that our players will be fitter it would be to our advantage to play a high tempo game. But our attitude has to be right to sustain that from the start."

Fenlon has received a major boost going into the game with the news that both club captain Kevin Hunt and midfielder Thomas Heary have returned to full training following long lay-offs. Neither is likely to be risked from the start, but could feature at some stage. In other injury news, Conor Powell is Bohs only absentee. Harpal Singh has recovered from a hamstring complaint and is in the squad, while Stephen O'Donnell returns from suspension.