Second Round: Team news and previews

Cobh Ramblers v St Michael's (7.30) - The hosts are at full strength for the start of their campaign, with Keith Dalton back from injury and recent signing Brian Healy in line for a start. The visitors' cause isn't helped by the fact that two important players, Eamonn Dwyer and Gary Horan, are ruled out by suspension and injury respectively.

Five-year form: Ramblers: 1, 1, 2, 2, 2; St Michael's: Have not qualified.

Betting: Home: 8/11, Draw: 12/5, Away: 3/1. Referee: A Buttimer (Cork).

Dundalk v Limerick (7.30) - After two tight encounters so far this season, neither team will go into the tie with any great degree of confidence. The home side's form has been the stronger of late, though, and Martin Murray, without Padraig Gallogley or David Ward but with Aaron Callaghan back in the reckoning, will be anxious to end the tie at the first attempt.

Tommy Lynch's situation is somewhat tougher, with Anthony Tobin and Jason Purcell both out long term and Brendan Hughes, David Dunphy, Graham O'Flaherty, Ray O'Halloran and Lynch himself all carrying injuries from Tuesday night's defeat of Monaghan.

Five-year form: Dundalk: 2, QF, 1, 1, 2; Limerick: 2, 1, 1, 1, 2.

Betting: Home: 1/2, Draw: 11/4, Away: 9/2. Referee: P Whelan (Dublin).

Galway United v Kilkenny City (7.30) - Billy Clery and Darragh Sheridan both return from suspension for this evening's game against Kilkenny, while Tom Silke and Sean Malee, both of whom also missed the Shelbourne game through injury, are in line for late fitness tests.

Joe McGrath, on the verge of adding Mick O'Byrne and another player from America to his ever-expanding squad, has pretty much everybody to choose from at present.

Five-year form: United: 1, 1, 2, SF, SF; City: 2, 1, 1, QF, QF.

Betting: Home: 1/2, Draw: 11/4, Away: 9/2. Referee: A O'Regan (Cork)

Longford Town v Cork City (7.30) - With Alan Murphy, Paul Perth and possibly Eric Smith all out, Stephen Kenny has serious problems in defence for what is probably the tie of the round. Wesley Byrne, though, is back, while Niall Byrne is in contention for his first start after breaking his ankle in a preseason friendly.

"If Eric does miss out then we'll be short of height at the back and maybe a bit vulnerable at set-pieces. Niall would be capable of making a real impact."

City are still without Patsy Freyne and Neale Horgan while Declan Daly is suspended. Stephen Napier returns from suspension and should go straight in for his skipper.

Five-year form: Longford: 1, 1, QF, 1, 3; City: QF, QF, W, 2, 3.

Betting: Home: 6/4, Draw: 11/5, Away: 6/4. Referee: J McDermott (Dublin).

Home Farm v Finn Harps (3.0) - After a traumatic week up in Ballybofey, the players have agreed to set aside their problems for the weekend. There are still quite a few problems for stand-in manager Jonathon Speak to cope with, though. Gavin Dykes, the player, is gone and Neil Fitzhenry, Shane Bradley, Richard McGinley and Niall Bonner are all suspended. Home Farm are without player/manager Danny Crawley, who has a knee problem, while goalkeeper Kieran Moylan is a slight doubt.

Five-year form: Farm: DNQ, DNQ, 1, DNQ, DNQ; Harps: QF, 1, SF, RU, QF.

Betting: Home: 11/2, Draw: 11/4, Away: 4/9. Referee: J Breen (Dublin).

Moyle Park College v Cherry Orchard (2.0) - These two have met three times already this season, with Orchard coming out on top on two occasions and the other game ending in a draw.

Moyle manager Paul Ennis would be happier if he had a full squad to choose from, but skipper Robbie Irvine is on holidays in Australia, while Damien Stout, who scored the winner for Bangor Celtic against Drogheda United last year, is injured.

Orchard are unbeaten in 19 so far this season, but Paul O'Brien, who managed Moyle Park until the summer, will be without Collie Byrne (groin strain) and Michael Horan (holidays).

Five-year form: Moyle Park: 1, DNQ, DNQ, DNQ, DNQ; Cherry Orchard: 1, DNQ, 1, 2, DNQ.

Betting: Home: 9/4, Draw: 12/5, Away: 10/1. Referee: D Hanney (Dublin).

Portmarnock v Rockmount (2.0) - Junior Cup holders Portmarnock will be without Keith Bruen, who manager John Hayes rates as "as strong in the air and one of our best distributors of the ball".

For Rockmount, Darren Doyle is ruled out by injury but Pat Oldham returns from suspension and Jason Lynch (a former Cobh Ramblers player) is back in action after a knee operation.

Five-year form: Portmarnock: Have not qualified; Rockmount: DNQ, 2, 1, 1, 1.

Betting: Home: 4/6, Draw: 5/2, Away: 3/1. Referee: I Stokes (Dublin).

Rathcoole Boys v Derry City (2.0) - Rathcoole have already played six games to get this far, but they've been rewarded with Mark Ennis's side getting a crack at his old Premier Division club. The non-league outfit have no injuries or suspensions for what their manager describes as "the biggest day in the club's 23year history".

Derry will be without Liam Coyle, who continues to suffer from a groin strain, while Gary Beckett has a similar injury but will probably play. Darren McCaul and James Quigley are both available again.

Five-year form: Rathcoole: Have not qualified; City: QF, F, 2, QF, 2.

Betting: Home: 11/1, Draw: 7/2, Away: 1/5. Referee: D Hancock (Dublin).

Shamrock Rovers v Dublin Bus (2.0) - Having had their "cup specialists" tag pinched by Shelbourne over the past decade, Rovers need to prove their credentials in the competition once again. The home side is still without Marc Kenny (hamstring) and Jason Colwell (thigh), but Tony Cousins will start despite struggling to get any training done over the past couple of weeks because of a back strain.

The visitors are at full strength, with the likes of Mark Mulraney, Paul "Soupy" Campbell, Ian Douglas and Karl Wilson all expected to start.

Five-year form: Rovers: 1, 2, 2, 1, 2; Dublin Bus: Have not qualified.

Betting: Home: 1/9, Draw: 5/1, Away: 16/1. Referee: A Kelly (Cork).

Shelbourne v Monaghan United (5.0) - The holders will have much the same panel as they did for Wednesday's game against Galway United, although Richie Foran (flu) and Jim Crawford (hamstring) will have fitness tests tomorrow and may still figure. Definitely out, though, is Jonathan Prizeman.

Monaghan will have to cope without top scorer Gary Cummins, who is suffering from ankle ligament damage, while Paul Shields has a groin strain.

Five-year form: Shelbourne: W, W, RU, SF, W; United: 1, 1, 1, 1, 2.

Betting: Home: 1/4, Draw: 7/2, Away: 9/1. Referee: J Feighery (Dublin).

UCD v Youghal United (3.15) - UCD manager Martin Moran won't be underestimating Youghal because they are "coming up the day before the game, training here at Belfield and staying the night in our hotel". Moran must do without the transfer-listed Mick O'Byrne, the injured Aidan Lynch and the suspended Mick O'Donnell, but John Martin and Glen Fitzpatrick are back in the reckoning for a start. Youghal, an amalgamation of three local clubs that only got together in 1997, are at full strength.

Five-year form: UCD: 1, 1, QF, 2, 3; Youghal: Have not qualified.

Betting: Home: 1/7, Draw: 9/2, Away: 11/1. Referee: R O'Hanlon (Waterford).

Betting courtesy of Paddy Power