PAT BYRNE, manager of the First Division club St James's Gate, is promising Derry City another long and difficult evening in this evening's Harp FAI Cup replay at the Iveagh Grounds.

Thanks to a shrewd deployment of his resources, Byrne frustrated his Premier Division opposition so persistently in the original game at the Brandywell last Sunday that, in the end, Derry could have no grievance about the scoreless draw.

The replay presents him with a different range of problems, but he still believes that the "Gate" is capable of going forward to the second round of the competition.

"Obviously, Derry will be less confident now, but as the senior club the onus is still on them to come and win the game," he said. "We must take more chances than in the first game. But essentially our first priority will be to contain."

Felix Healy, the Derry manager is still not prepared to commit himself to a formation. But with Sandy Fraser's injury beginning to respond to treatment. there is just a chance that he will return to join Harry McCourt in the front line.

Drogheda United and Dundalk replay their first round tie at United Park this evening, with the championship meeting of the clubs, at Oriel Park, deferred until Sunday evening.

Eddie van Boxtel reported no adverse reaction to a leg injury on his return to the side in goal last Thursday and the hope is that Brian Byrne, an absentee on that occasion, will be recovered from a damaged hamstring to play in midfield.

John Carroll, a commanding figure at the centre of Drogheda's defence, is fit to play, and if Bobby Browne can reproduce the quality of last Thursday's performance in central midfield an up set may be on the cards.

Kiltiernan is the venue for this afternoon's rearranged meeting of the two intermediate clubs, Wayside Celtic and Cherry Orchard, a game which could surely have profited from a Sunday setting.