Byrne has burning desire to bag this one

As Drogheda United manager Paul Doolin contemplates this evening's Ford FAI Cup clash with Bohemians at United Park, he mentions more than once the competition has been good to him over the years. That's more than his midfielder Stuart Byrne can say, with the former Shelbourne star, who has quite a few success stories in recent years, having only tales of bitter disappointment to recount when it comes to the cup.

"It's something I'm fairly determined to put right," says the 30-year-old whose one appearance in a final, with Longford Town in 2001, ended in defeat to Bohemians and, just as painfully, an enduring sense he and his team-mates had failed to do themselves justice on the day.

"I don't think we had a go," he recalls. "I remember playing quite well actually in what was a fairly even game but Tony O'Connor scored their goal and we never really seemed to have the fight required to get back into it. It was almost as if we were quite glad just to be there."

At Shelbourne things could hardly have been more different and prior to last year's implosion, the team had won three leagues out of four. To Byrne's bewilderment, though, the club repeatedly failed to produce the goods in the cup, something he was particularly anxious they would address last season.

"I don't know what it was, I don't think we even got near a semi during my time there," he recalls. "After a couple of disappointments I wanted us to give it a right lash last season but it didn't happen at all and we ended up getting beaten by Derry."

Since then the move to Drogheda has brought almost instant cup success in the form of last month's Setanta Cup success but his hunger to crack the FAI Cup rumbles away.

"The Setanta Cup has been fantastic in the way it brings different clubs into the equation and winning it was great but the FAI is that little bit special because of the tradition associated with it. Being involved with the climax to the season is a wonderful feeling too, it's a big occasion, particularly when it produces a game like last year's final which was a fantastic affair, a great spectacle, one that really caught everybody's attention."

Getting past even the first hurdle on the way to this year's decider is, given Bohemian's improving form, likely to be difficult. But then there are those who reckon Drogheda could do with going out in order to avoid hindering their hopes of winning a coveted first league title.

"Well, obviously I wouldn't see it that way," says Byrne. "I want to win it and I think we all do but, in any case, you can win the cup in five games . . . I really can't see how that could be a hindrance to a professional club."

Potentially more of a problem, perhaps, is the number of injuries suffered by players this season. Byrne has avoided any serious problems and has been obliged to show his versatility by switching from central midfield to right back while others spent time on the treatment table. "We've been unlucky. You know how rare cruciate ligament problems are and we've got two of them. We've certainly had some setbacks: losing Fabio (Declan O'Brien) and Jason Gavin; Shane Barrett going so early in the season. We've lost a lot of players but hopefully things are beginning to sort themselves out now because we've got a few back in training - even if they won't be ready for this game."

As a team, he reckons, United are ready for it and Byrne knows he is more than ready to bag the prize that, so far, has proven the most elusive.