Farm host Athlone as big boys enter Cup - January 4, 2001
Home Farm Fingal v Athlone Town 19:30
The big boys of the Eircom Premier and first divisions make their debuts in the 2001 FAI Cup this weekend and it's Home Farm Fingal who get the ball rolling tonight when they host division one table-toppers Athlone Town.
Respective managers John McDonnell and Liam Buckley were team-mates at St. Patrick's Athletic yonks ago and the handshake will be warm before they settle down to plot each other's destruction.
But both will have to plan without key players. Athlone have Conor Frawley and Adrian Carberry back from suspension - but top scorer Andy Myler, who has already put three past Home Farm this season, is out with an ankle injury. Buckley also has doubts over 'keeper Gary Connaughton, Keith O'Brien and Stuart Connolly.
McDonnell is missing Aaron Lynch (suspended), Paul Crawley, Thomas McGauley and David Nicholl (all injured) and Jim McKeever and Sean Elebert (cup tied). But veteran Paul Whelan is back from injury and will be pressed into emergency action.
Athlone have won two out of three meetings between the teams this term, but the last meeting was a 0-0 draw and McDonnell is hoping to go one better tonight.
"Last time we should have beaten them, so we're aiming to make it third time lucky in home games against them this season," he said.