Harps to face Rovers in eircom League of Ireland Cup 2nd round

April 10, 2007

For the fourth season in a row, Finn Harps have been drawn against Sligo Rovers in the eircom League of Ireland Cup, but this time the tie will be played at Finn Park.  In each of the previous three seasons, the teams have met in this competition and on each occasion the games have been played in Sligo.  In 2004, Harps defeated their north-west counterparts 5-1.  In each of the following two seasons, the First Division club has progressed at the expense of the Premier side.  In 2005, First Division Sligo beat Premier Division Harps by the only goal of the game at the Showgrounds, while last season First Division Harps defeated Premier Division Sligo on penalties after a 1-1 draw at the same venue.  The last time these two sides met in the League Cup at Finn Park was in 1997 when the clubs played out a 2-2 draw.

The full draw for the second round of the eircom League of Ireland Cup is as follows:

Pool A:

Finn Harps v Sligo Rovers

Derry City v Galway United

Pool B:

Kerry League v Cork City

Cobh Ramblers v Waterford United

Pool C:

Drogheda United v Shamrock Rovers

Athlone Town v Kilkenny City

Pool D:

St. Patrick's Athletic v Kildare County / UCD

Shelbourne v Bohemians / Bray Wanderers

The ties will be played on May 7th / 8th. There are two first round fixtures yet to be played – Kildare County will play UCD at Station Road on Monday, April 16th (kick-off 7:30pm), while Bohemians will play Bray Wanderers at Dalymount Park on Tuesday, April 17th (kick-off 7:45pm).

The draw for the second round of the eircom League of Ireland Cup was performed on a regional pool basis.  However, the draw for the next round – the quarter finals – will be on an open national basis.

The winner of this season's eircom League of Ireland Cup will qualify for a play-off game against the winners of the First Division for a place in the 2008 Setanta Sports Cup.  If the winner of the competition has already qualified for the Setanta Sports Cup, the play-off will involve the winner of the First Division and the next available club in the Premier Division.