It’s last 16 time in the FAI Cup. LOI TV Commentator Kieran Burke previews the action.
College Corinthians v Drogheda United – Sat, 16:00
Non-league teams have a rotten record against League of Ireland sides in the FAI Cup, so 2024 winners Drogheda may make light work of their trip to Cork.
College Corinthians were involved in the game of the previous round, overcoming Bangor Celtic 5-4, but their last meeting with a league club saw them lose 0-5 to Bohemians in 2021.
Drogheda beat Lucan 4-0 in round two and could record a similar result here.
Selection: Drogheda -2 (Prices to follow)
Dundalk FC v Castlebar Celtic – Sat, 17:00, LOI TV
Dundalk are struggling for form of late, but they couldn’t have asked for an easier cup tie. The Lilywites have been largely playing well but shipping some terrible goals recently, including in Friday’s unlucky defeat in Tallaght.
Dundalk’s Premier Division class will be unlike anything Castlebar have ever come up against before. This could be the biggest hammering handed out in all of the last 16 ties.
Selection: Dundalk -3 (Prices to follow)
Sligo Rovers v Kerry FC, Sat, 19:45, LOI TV
Sligo Rovers fans need no reminding of the danger posed by Kerry FC in this competition. The Bit O’Red suffered a humiliating FAI Cup exit at Mounthawk Park last year, so they’ll be grateful at least that they don’t have to travel to Kerry as they seek to write the wrongs from that infamous encounter.
Kerry FC are flying in the First Division, so they could be a dangerous opponent once again for Sligo, who are in real danger of relegation from the top flight. The Kingdom had won three straight league matches before succumbing to defeat late on away to Cork City on Friday. That strong run of form has Kerry within touching distance of the play-off places.
Sligo Rovers are without a league win in almost three months; they were fortunate to draw a non-league side in the previous round, but this is a cup tie fraught with danger, as Shelbourne learned when they were dumped out on penalties by Kerry in round two.
Kerry’s away form has really improved of late, emphasised by wins against UCD and Bray, two of the leading play-off contenders in the First Division.
While Sligo should have just enough to get over the line, Kerry look overpriced and may be worth backing to take this contest deep into the night.
Selection: Kerry FC double chance win or draw (6/5)
St.Patrick’s Athletic v Shamrock Rovers, Sun, 16:00, RTE 2
The tie of the round. A Dublin derby between the top two in the Premier Division. Stephen Kenny versus Stephen Bradley. The Saints against the Hoops, and it’s live on RTE.
Shamrock Rovers are in the midst of one of their busiest periods of the season, as Bradley’s boys juggle league, European and cup action. Rovers may be making a short trip to Richmond Park for this last 16 tie, but they will have been in Albania just days earlier.
The double winners of last term fielded a heavily rotated team in Friday’s dramatic 3-2 league win at home to Dundalk, and while they were perhaps fortunate to come away with all three points, you’ve got to admire just how often this Rovers team gets the job done by hook or by crook.
The same can’t be said of St.Pat’s, who have grown increasingly frustrating to follow this season. Consecutive draws against Dundalk and Derry City saw the Saints miss the chance to put pressure on Rovers at the top of the Premier Division, but they did overcome Shelbourne on Sunday.
Pat’s left it late to beat Wexford in the previous round, while Rovers needed extra time to overcome Cork City. The Saints are likely to play a stronger team this time around, whereas Rovers will need to be strategic off the back of Thursday’s game in Europe.
The worry for Pat’s supporters is that they have lost their last three meetings with Shamrock Rovers. If Stephen Kenny’s men want to show they are capable of beating the Hoops to major honours, they’ll have to find a way to come through this tie.
Selection: St.Pat’s to qualify (Prices to follow)
Bohemians v Longford Town, Sun, 19:00, LOI TV
A meeting of the Red & Black stripes as Bohemians hosts Longford Town. The Gypsies play in Denmark on Thursday, so may rotate, and that could open the door for their First Division opponents. Longford Town had been in flying form up until Friday’s defeat in Athlone, but they put it up to Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght at this stage of the tournament last year, so they shouldn’t be underestimated.
De Town have been in excellent goal-scoring form over the last month. Wayne Groves’ men won 3-4 in Cork before putting eight past non-leaguers Balydoyle in the previous round. They also hammered Finn Harps 5-0 on the recent bank holiday Monday.
Bohemians were stuffed 3-1 in Waterford on Sunday, and while Longford lack the quality of Tommy Lonergan and Podge Amond in the final third, they do have some in-form strikers of their own in Dean Williams and Daragh Murtagh.
Longford gave Bohs a real scare when the sides last met in the FAI Cup in 2019, losing on penalties, and they should keep this tie interesting.
Selection: Longford Town +2 (13/10)
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