EA Sports Cup draw sets up Bohs-Longford clash

Bohemians will host Longford Town in the only all-Premier Division clash in the first round of this year's EA Sports Cup.

Twenty-four teams are set to contest this year’s competition, including four teams from outside the SSE Airtricity League.

The first two rounds will be run on a regional basis with four pools of six teams. The winners of the first-round ties face the teams who received byes in the second round, which include the league's European representatives Dundalk, Cork, St Pat’s and Shamrock Rovers.

The second-round winners then advance to the  quarter-finals where there will be an open draw. 

The 24 teams in the 2015 competition are the 20 SSE Airtricity League clubs; Ulster Senior League champions Cockhill Celtic; Leinster Senior League champions Bluebell United; Munster Senior League champions Rockmount and Mayo Football League.

Matches will be played on Monday 21 March and Tuesday 22 March, with the final scheduled for Saturday 17 September.

FIRST-ROUND DRAW
Pool 1 – Cobh Ramblers v Limerick; Waterford United v Rockmount. Byes: Cork City, Wexford Youths.
Pool 2 – Finn Harps v Cockhill Celtic; Galway United v Mayo League. Byes: Derry City, Sligo Rovers.
Pool 3 – Drogheda United v Bluebell United; U.C.D. v Bray Wanderers. Byes: Dundalk, St Patrick’s Athletic.
Pool 4 – Bohemians v Longford Town; Shelbourne v Cabinteely. Byes: Athlone Town, Shamrock Rovers.