FAI Cup Draw: Less than 24 hours after being beaten by them in the league, Carlsberg FAI Cup holders Longford Town were handed another meeting with Shamrock Rovers in last night's third-round draw which threw up two other all-premier-division ties and a reunion for UCD manager Pete Mahon with his old club Drumcondra.

"We played well against them but came out the wrong end of a two-nil scoreline," said Longford boss Alan Matthews after seeing his side paired with the long-time cup specialists.

"I suppose we just have to look on this as an early opportunity for revenge. We're at home, they have a great tradition in the competition and hopefully between us we can produce a memorable game."

The form team just now, Drogheda United, are another of the sides to be involved in an all-top-flight encounter. Paul Doolin's men will host St Patrick's Athletic, almost certainly on Friday, August 20th, when the Dubliners will be attempting to complete a hat-trick of victories at United Park this season.

"I was only talking with John (McDonnell) before coming here and I said that we'd probably get them at home, so there you go. They've beaten us twice up there already, though, so we'll be hoping it's a case of third time lucky."

Asked if United's improvement of late has made them serious contenders for their first trophy at senior level, Doolin shrugged and said a good deal would come down to luck on the day.

"In the cup you can be playing poorly and still go through or playing well and find yourself out. That's the way it is and so we'll worry about that a bit more closer to the event.

"The fact is, though, that there's two competitions here and Shelbourne look like they're going to win one so you'd be hoping that fortune might shine on you and that you'd end up going all the way in the other."

Derry City, meanwhile, face another cup trip to Shelbourne, where Peter Hutton will get the opportunity to go head to head with his former team-mate from the club Pat Fenlon.

"It couldn't have been any harder for us," said City chairman Jim Roddy last night. "But one thing you would have to say is that nobody would know Shelbourne better than Peter.

"The transformation in the team over the last few weeks has been unbelievable and we'd hope that we can carry that sort of form into what will be a very tough game."

Five-times winners Drumcondra will make the short trip across Dublin to take on UCD at Belfield, where their former player Pete Mahon is in charge.

"He's a good mate of mine," said Drumcondra manager Jim Fagan. "I was only talking to him on the phone this afternoon. He's one of the good guys and we'll all enjoy it. We'll aim to give a good account of ourselves over there but we'd have to say that we're delighted to be here this evening with the club at the last-16 stage of the competition.

"We were talking before we came here about wanting Rovers because of all the old history between the two clubs but this will do us. I'm certainly happy."

All ties will be played over the weekend ending Sunday, August 22nd.

Longford Town, meanwhile, have been drawn at home in the final of the Eircom-sponsored League Cup. They will take on Bohemians at Flancare Park on Monday, August 30th.

Blackburn Rovers have approached Liverpool about the possibility of taking Republic of Ireland international Steve Finnan to Ewood Park on a season-long loan.

Graeme Souness contacted his former club on Monday about the defender, who, he clearly hopes, may have become surplus to requirements at Anfield following the arrival from Malaga of right-back Josemi.

The Irishman had a difficult first season at Liverpool after joining the club for £3.6 million from Fulham. Injury repeatedly hampered his attempts to settle into the side although he still managed to make 27 appearances for the first team.

There has been no indication so far as to whether new manager Rafael Benitez would be prepared to allow Finnan to leave.

It seems, however, that the 28-year-old's versatility would incline the Spanish coach to hold on to a player who should be capable of producing a good deal more during the coming campaign.

That very versatility is, of course, what makes Finnan an attractive target for Rovers, who will be without the injured Steven Reid for several weeks after the midfielder broke a bone in his foot during a pre-season friendly.