| Irish keep Cup romance alive and well
By Gareth Makim
They say the romance is gone from the FA Cup. As a result of the best
efforts of certain clubs who no longer value the FA Cup as they once did
there are an ever-growing number of claims the magic has been slowly ebbing
away from the most famous cup competition in the world.
And yet it was inevitable that the draw for this season’s third round
would throw up a tie that would truly capture the imagination. It is in
many ways ironic that, for the second year running, that tie involves the
club accused of doing the most damage to the competition with their decision
five years ago to withdraw in order to compete in a meaningless, commercial
FIFA exercise in Brazil.
Last year it was Exeter who celebrated a memorable draw against Manchester
United, the biggest beast of them all. Last week saw fellow Conference side
Burton Albion win through to take on the mighty Red Devils at their Pirelli
Stadium in the hope of creating the biggest shock in cup history.
Irish interest will centre on former Ireland under-21 international Keith
Gilroy, whose two goals helped secure Burton’s progress and ensure that
the Brewers would become the best supported team in the country on the first
Saturday in January. The Sligo-born winger and childhood United fan has
one major complaint though — he won’t be lining up against Roy Keane, “because
that’s the shirt I’d have collected at the end.”
Gilroy is not the only Irishman facing a dream Cup date, though. Dubliner
Andy Keogh fired League One Scunthorpe into the third round and will likely
join defender Cliff Byrne as the Iron travel to take on Stuart Pearce’s
Manchester City, while 23-year-old Leyton Orient midfielder Daryl McMahon
will be relishing the trip across London to face Fulham. Cardiff’s Alan
Lee has also got the chance to test himself against the very best when the
Welsh side visit Arsenal.
Who is to say the cup won’t weave its magic spell once again or that
an Irishman won’t write another giant-killing chapter on the most exciting
day in the soccer season.
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