Draw brings home comfort for first division clubs

SOCCER FAI CUP:THE FIRST Division clubs were left with something to smile about after last night's draw for the quarter-finals of the Ford-sponsored FAI Cup, with the three that have reached the last eight of the competition all handed home draws.

Sporting Fingal boss Liam Buckley was especially pleased after being handed a tie with a club he played for and managed, Shamrock Rovers. The game will be the first time the two clubs have met since the First Division outfit was formed a couple of years back.

“Yeah, we’re delighted,” said Buckley immediately after hearing the news. “It’s great to be in the quarter-finals and the next thing you want is a home draw, but to get Rovers over to our place is really special.

“They’re flying at the moment, they have great players and they’re playing really well, that’s why they’re right up there but then we don’t think we’ve been going so badly of late ourselves and we’ve a few players coming back from injuries at the moment. So it’s certainly a game we can look forward to.”

Buckley reckons he had his best days as a player in the green and white hoops before returning to manage the side as they tried to complete their move to their current home in south west Dublin.

“I had great times there and even took them to a cup final against Derry City,” he said. “I still have a lot of friends out there and it will be great to see them all on an occasion like this, even if we are all looking a little bit older these days.”

Along with Sporting, Waterford United and Longford Town were both rewarded for getting this far with home draws. United will only find out who they will play a few days before their quarter-final as St Patrick’s Athletic and Monaghan United will not replay their fourth round tie until Monday, September 7th, but Longford will have plenty of time to prepare for the visit of Bray Wanderers.

“You want a home draw, of course,” said Wanderers boss Eddie Gormley last night, “but really, if you avoid Bohemians then you’ve got to be happy. It’ll be a tough draw, though, because Gareth (Cronin) has gone in there and seems to have turned them around.”

In the other match of the round, Bohemians host Sligo Rovers, who they beat 2-0 when the clubs last met at Dalymount in the league back in June.

Draw:Bohemians v Sligo Rovers; Sporting Fingal v Shamrock Rovers; Waterford United v St Patrick's Athletic or Monaghan United; Longford Town v Bray Wanderers.Ties to be played during the week ending September 13th.