AT least two major contenders will fall by the wayside when the sixth round of the Irish Cup is contested this afternoon.
The draw has thrown together four top premier division clubs, including defending champions Portadown, who are in the relegation zone and are looking to the cup for salvation.
They will have to dispose of Crusaders, one of the toughest teams in the country, to stay alive in a tournament which offers European entry and a prize of £10,000 to the eventual winners.
. Renewed opposition to any moves to relocate Wimbledon FC in Dublin has been voiced by the FAI's chief executive, Bernard O'Byrne.
O'Byrne was quoted in a London newspaper as saying: "We want to make it very clear that we are opposed to any move to base the Wimbledon club in Dublin. In this, we have the backing of both UEFA and FIFA.
"It has gone very quiet of late, and because of this a lot of people think we have won. But we are not, being, lulled into a false sense of security.
"We understand that moves are continuing with the consortium anxious to push the deal through. But we are alert to that situation."
Meanwhile, Mario van der Ende, the Dutch referee, will take charge of the Republic of Ireland's important World Cup game against Romania at Bucharest on, April 30th.
