Dundalk and Treaty Utd looking to upset Sligo Rovers and Derry City in FAI Cup second round
It was the Europa which provided Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk with access to the group stages in 2011 and 2016 but Uefa adding the Conference League in 2021 blocked off that path.
League winners enter the Champions League and for five years the other three teams qualified for the third competition.
That has bolstered the chances of group stage participation but Europa carries higher rewards, €700,000 guaranteed, together with the fallback of a Conference League second round tie should they suffer elimination.
A total of 32 teams are involved in the Cup second round, beginning with 10 ties on Friday night. Five non-league teams are among them, with Tolka Rovers, Killester Donnycarney and St Mochta's giving up home advantage against Premier teams Galway United, Bohemians and Waterford respectively.
Unlike previous years, there's no all-Premier Division clash. The standout of Friday's series is the meeting of Dundalk and Sligo Rovers at Oriel Park. When the draw was made six weeks ago, Dundalk were runaway First Division leaders and Sligo Rovers propping up the Premier.
Time has altered the landscape slightly, Dundalk remaining top despite losing at Bray Wanderers last week while Sligo have generated form, winning two and drawing the other two of their last four to open up an eight-point gap on the new basement team, Cork City.
Dundalk boss Ciarán Kilduff may have available his latest capture Rohan Vaughan, a striker signed on loan from QPR for the rest of the season.
'The lads are motivated and excited for the opportunity to test ourselves against a top-tier side,' said Kilduff, whose club have won the FAI Cup 12 times.
'We know it's going to be a big challenge but it's also a big occasion at Oriel and we want to rise to that. Everyone's focused and ready to put on a good performance for the supporters.'
Another venue for a potential upset is Markets Field where Treaty United welcome Derry City. The Limerick side pushed Derry all the way two years ago, narrowly losing 2-1 in the semi-finals.
They currently sit fourth in the second tier, well positioned to secure a playoff spot, and succeeded in slaying form side Cobh Ramblers last Friday.
Derry, meanwhile, lost the recent momentum that conferred title contender status when they lost at Sligo Rovers.
'We're expecting something of a backlash from Derry,' said Tommy Barrett, manager of the Limerick side since they entered the league in 2021.
'Our record against Premier teams in the past has been good and Derry only beat us 2-1 at their place. I think they've improved since then, with a team containing many full internationals.
'Of course, I'd prefer to have drawn a non-league team in our opening round rather than one of the strongest in the country but we've to ensure we are at it.
'Derry are full-time and we're not but we'll be putting up a fight for sure.'
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