EA Sports Cup First Round Draw made

THE draw for the first round of the EA Sports Cup has been made today with the 24 teams being divided into four regionalised pools in which they will compete until the quarter-final stage.

 

The knockout competition sees five non-Airtricity League sides competing, Cockhill Celtic, Avondale United, Crumlin United, the Mayo League and Mervue United. All ties will take place on Monday 10th March.

 

EA Sports Cup holders Shamrock Rovers have been placed in Pool Three and will receive a bye into the second round. The same pool also includes the interesting match-up of Shelbourne and Bray Wanderers in which Alan Mathews will return to Tolka Park after departing as manager of the Drumcondra side midway through last season.

 

The other game in Pool Three sees last year’s runner-up, Drogheda United, drawn away to Crumlin United and Stephen Kenny’s Dundalk side who have also received a bye.

 

Pool One includes the all-Premier Division clash of Cork City and Limerick in Turner’s Cross as well as Waterford United versus Munster Senior League side Avondale United. Airtricity League First Division sides Cobh Ramblers and Wexford Youths are the two recipients of byes in that pool.

 



Airtricity League champions St Patrick’s Athletic have will automatically go through to the second round after receiving a bye alongside last year’s First Division playoff competitors Mervue United in Pool Four.

The draw in full is:

 

EA SPORTS CUP FIRST ROUND

(Matches to be played on Monday, March 10)

 



Pool 1

Cork City v Limerick, Turner’s Cross, 7.45pm.

Waterford United v Avondale United, RSC, 7.45pm.

(Byes: Cobh Ramblers and Wexford Youths)

 

Pool 2

Finn Harps v Cockhill Celtic, Finn Park, 7.45pm.

Galway FC v Mayo League, Eamonn Deacy Park, 7.45pm.

(Byes: Derry City and Sligo Rovers).

 

Pool 3

Crumlin United v Drogheda United, TBC.

Shelbourne v Bray Wanderers Tolka Park 8.00pm.

(Byes: Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers).

 

Pool 4

Athlone Town v Longford Town, Athlone Town Stadium, 7.45pm.

UCD v Bohemians, The UCD Bowl, 7.45pm.

(Byes: Mervue United and St. Patrick’s Athletic).

 

    About Ruaidhri Croke

    Ruaidhrí has been writing for ExtraTime.ie since February 2012. He is currently studying Journalism in DCU and has been an avid League of Ireland fan since a very early age. He hopes to one day … View Full Profile