Athlone Town Stadium.

FAI Cup draw pits Athlone Town women against local rivals, while men face Derry trip

The draw for the first round of the Sports Direct Men's & Women's FAI Cup was made today (Tuesday), and resulted in the Athlone Town men's team being given one of the toughest possible fixtures.

The Town men were drawn away to the current FAI Cup holders, and Premier Division title contenders, Derry City.

The Athlone Town women's team went on a memorable cup run last year, which took them all the way to a final in which they were defeated by Shelbourne at Tallaght Stadium.

They will start their 2023 cup campaign with a home fixture against local rivals Galway United.

Athlone will be hoping to avenge a 2-1 home defeat to Galway when the sides met in the league in late March.

The trip to the Brandywell for the Athlone men's team is scheduled to take place on the week ending Sunday, July 23, and the FAI Cup final has been set for the Aviva Stadium on Sunday, November 12.

The first round action in the women's FAI Cup will be played on the week ending Sunday, August 27, and the final will be held just over two months later, on Sunday, November 5.