Our Cup runneth over

Shamrock Rovers v St Patrick's Athletic

It's been 45 years since a team in St Patrick's Athletics shirts swigged the victor's hooch from innards of the FAI Cup - a stunning statistic for a team which has won four league titles since then (or five if we're just talking about on the pitch wins). And so who better for the cup cabbages to meet in the semi-final than the cup specialists of Shamrock Rovers?

Cold and calculating as us betting types are, we simply take all of the history and baggage of Pats and Rovers past cup exploits and set them aside. Such things will have a bearing on the game so small as to be irrelevant to all but the romantics and journos.

What will have a profound bearing on the game however is Shamrock Rovers' personel crisis. Pat Scully is without a well documented 11 players for this game through suspensions and players being cup tied.

The Supersaints are in a rare patch of form at the moment, arguably superior to their early season run as they are now finding the net with impunity - a task that seemed well beyond them only a few weeks ago. The Inchicore side are without dead ball specialist Keith Fahey and possibly also full back John Frost, but those absentees of course are but a drop in the ocean compared to Rovers' headaches.

The money is down on the Premier side to oust the First Division title chasers.

9/4 Shamrock Rovers
9/4 Draw
EVS St Patricks Athletic



Sligo Rovers v Derry City

Treble hunting Derry City gave Sligo a 4-0 pasting at The Brandywell only a fortnight ago and are in fine form coming in to this tie. However it was at the hands (feet really) of Sligo that Derry suffered one of only two league defeats this year as they went under 3-1 at The Showgrounds.

There are doubts over the fitness of Harpal Singh and Keith Foy for Sligo - both key players. Derry on the other hand seem to have a squad capable of dealing with almost any absence.

This trophy is all that Sligo are competing for at this stage of the season and everything they have done in the past few weeks is in preparation for this tie and a chance to reach their first FAI Cup Final since 1994. It's also the first time Sean Connor's men have been featured on live television this season (and quite a few before it) so it will be a massive occassion for the club and the fans.

I don't think Sligo have quite to nous to outscore Derry, but I expect them to put up a good performance and force a replay.

9/4 Sligo Rovers
9/4 Draw
EVS Derry City