Financial boost for FAI

The FAI is set to announce a €2-million extension to its sponsorship deal with GlaxoSmithKline, the manufacturers of energy drink Lucozade Sport.

The association will confirm details of the agreement this afternoon, but the deal, which follows the recent announcements of significantly improved backing from Umbro, represents another boost to the finances of the organisation as it attempts to pay for the implementation of its wide-ranging technical plan.

League leaders Cork City were last night handed a home game against Finn Harps in the third round of the Carlsberg sponsored FAI Cup.

"We've beaten them twice this year," said City manager Damien Richardson afterwards, "but at Turner's Cross they gave us a very tough game so I wouldn't read anything into the wins."

The only other all-Premier Division game is the meeting of holders Longford Town and UCD, while all three of the non-league sides still in the competition have been drawn away to top-flight opposition.

Having crushed Monaghan United 7-1 in the last round of the competition, Dundalk face a somewhat tougher local derby at the end of August, with Drogheda coming to Oriel Park for what will one of the first games to be played on the club's new artificial surface.

"We had two great games against them last season," said Dundalk boss Jim Gannon. "We'll look forward to this; it's a very good draw for us."

Shelbourne have decided against lodging any appeal with Uefa over the timing of their Champions League qualifying round match against Glentoran in Belfast. Officials at the club are unhappy at the prospect of playing at the Oval on July 13th but appear to have accepted that, having turned down an offer by the Irish League side to reverse the order of the games, they have little option but to travel on the date in question.

"July 13th is actually a quiet day," said Glentoran secretary Alex McWilliams when asked about the situation. "We discussed the possibility of an afternoon kick-off but the police were happy for the tie to be played in the evening."

Leading Irish scorer Olivia O'Toole is the main absentee from the squad named by Noel King for Ireland's opening game of the women's World Cup qualifiers.

"Olivia has been hugely important to us for the last 10 years and losing her is a terrible blow," said King yesterday. In addition to the Russians, who play Ireland on July 9th, the team must take on European and World champions Germany, Switzerland and Scotland for just one place in the tournament finals.

FAI CUP - Third-round draw (Ties to be played during the week ending August 28th): Longford Town v UCD, Dundalk v Drogheda United, Shamrock Rovers v Douglas Hall, Derry City v Kildare County, Cork City v Finn Harps, Sligo Rovers v St Patrick's Athletic, Bray Wanderers v Cherry Orchard, Bohemians v Wayside Celtic.

IRELAND WOMEN'S SQUAD: Byrne (Arsenal), Peters (Lady Hibernian Saints), Gibbons (Fulham Ladies), Curtin (Lifford & Hofstra University), Deasley (New York Magic), Tracy (Arsenal), Boyle (Shamrock Rovers), Hughes (Franklin Pierce), Grant (Arsenal), O'Connor (Long Island Lady Riders), O'Brien (Long Island Lady Riders), Scanlan (Bristol Rovers), Taylor (Peamount), Thomas (Boston Renegades), Hislop (Franklin Pierce), Kissane (UCD), O'Driscoll (University of Limerick), Griffin (Shamrock Rovers).