Minnows believe they can win - February 13,
2001
Kilkenny City v Cherry Orchard 19:30
Intermediate minnows Cherry Orchard are on the trail of FAI Cup history tonight when they visit Buckley Park. The task is to beat Kilkenny City in this third-round replay and reach the quarter-finals for the first time ever.
Orchard travel with a full squad, bar one - hamstring victim Colin Byrne. Kevin Harrington deputises, but even without Byrne, manager Paul O'Brien thinks his side can progress to meet Bohemians in the last eight.
"We will again have to look out for that lad Rocha on their side. He is a quality player and caused us problems in the first game but if we can curtail him while also playing to our own plan I feel that we are in with a great chance.
"We need to play a little better and it is well within us to do that. We have only lost one game all season."
The return of Rocha, who scored for Kilkenny in the drawn game but missed Sunday's 4-0 drubbing by Shamrock Rovers because of suspension, is a major boost - but defender Davy Mulcahy, the nearest thing Kilkenny have to an ever-present this season, is out.
Manager Joe McGrath is also sweating on the availability of his son Derek and Richie Purdy.
In tonight's other game, Waterford United host Athlone Town in the Eircom League first division (19:45).
Athlone were knocked off the top of the table for the first time this season by Dundalk and Waterford will be hoping to add to their misery and at the same time boost their own chances of promotion.