Athlone drawn away to Kildare

ATHLONE Town have been given a favourable draw in the third round of the 2009 FAI Ford Cup. The Town face an away trip to First Division basement boys Kildare County, who they also incidentally meet in the league this Saturday. The cup tie is scheduled to take place at Station Road in Newbridge on Saturday, June 13, and gives Athlone a genuine opportunity to reach the last 16 of the competition. Athlone have already defeated Kildare in the league earlier this season by three goals to one at Lissywoollen. The draw for the third round took place at the Burlington Hotel in Dublin on Monday night and was screened live on RTÉ"s Monday Night Soccer programme, with former Ireland striker Frank Stapleton joining FAI President David Blood in conducting ceremonies. There are 33 teams still in with a chance of lifting the cup in November and the third round will see the 22 League of Ireland teams entering the competition. Nine non-league sides have already booked their place in the third round, including Bluebell Utd, who defeated Athlone side St Peter"s in the first round proper. Ballymun Utd, who have already beaten local sides St Peter"s and Willow Park in different cup competitions this year, were also in the draw but need to finish off Fanad Utd before securing a third round place. Athlone manager Brendan Place reacted positively to the draw, saying: 'We obviously want to go as far as possible in the FAI Cup and this draw gives us a reasonable chance of progressing to the fourth round. However, I believe Kildare will be in much better shape when the cup competition comes around.' Kildare have yet to win a game in the First Division ahead of their league meeting with Athlone on Saturday. Meanwhile, Athlone"s Midlands neighbours Longford Town are this week searching for a new manager after Alan Gough parted company with the club on Monday. FAI Ford Senior Cup Third Round Draw Mervue Utd v Dundalk Wexford Youths v Longford Town Blarney Utd v Sporting Fingal Tralee Dynamos v Salthill Devon Cherry Orchard v Monaghan Utd Finn Harps v Galway Utd Shamrock Rovers v Drogheda Utd Bray Wanderers v Bluebell Utd Limerick v St Patrick"s Athletic Derry City v Ballymun Utd/Fanad Utd Crumlin Utd v Shelbourne UCD v Arklow Town Bohemians v Mayfield Utd Cork City v Sligo Rovers Kildare County v Athlone Town Waterford Utd v Carrigaline Utd.