Handy draw for United

Date Published: 11-Jun-2010

GALWAY United’s position as local top dogs will come under scrutiny at the end of August after Sean Connor’s side were drawn with Salthill Devon in the Fourth Round of the FAI Cup.

United’s name was the first out of the hat on Monday night, followed by Salthill Devon, and the two sides will meet in Terryland Park on Friday August 29, with a place in the quarter finals at stake.

The Premier Division side booked their place in the draw with a comfortable 5-0 win over Malahide United on Friday night, their biggest ever win in the Cup, while Devon had to come from behind to see off A Championship side Tullamore Town the following evening, Charlie Burke (2) and Mike Kennedy getting the goals in a 3-1 win.

It will be the first time the two sides meet in the FAI Cup, but they have clashed at a national level before, having met three times previously in the League Cup, with United winning all three clashes.

Eamon Donoghue, Ronan Killeen, John Cleary and Stephen Lally got the goals in a 4-0 win in the group stages in 1991, and United doubled the margin of victory when they met three years later. Ricky O’Flaherty hit a hat-trick, Mark Herrick grabbed a brace, and Killeen, Shane Fitzgerald and Barry Ryan also got on the scoresheet as United won 8-0 in 1994. It was much closer last season, United needing penalties to advance after a 2-2 draw.

United, who were FAI Cup semi-finalists just two years ago, will be favourites to advance to the last eight, but Devon will relish the chance of getting one over on their former customers of their training complex in Drom.

With all the pressure on United to advance, the Airtricity League’s newest side will fancy their chances of an upset, although they suffered another crushing defeat in the league on Tuesday night, Waterford United sticking eight goals past them without reply in the RSC.

Mervue United were also in the hat on Monday night, having held Cup holders Sporting Fingal to a 1-1 draw in the Morton Stadium on Friday, and if they can go one better in the replay and knock-out the Premier Division side, they will host Limerick FC in the Fourth Round at the end of August, presenting the east city side with a great chance to advance to the quarter finals.

The date for the replay has not been fixed, but it is likely to be sometime next month.