Irish stars' Women's FA Cup journeys begin in earnest

A slew of Republic of Ireland internationals will go up against each other in the Women's FA Cup when the big guns are entered into the competition at the fourth-round stage next month.

Chelsea will begin their defence of the trophy at home to fellow Women's Super League side West Ham next month. It's a daunting challenge for the Hammers, who have Irish quartet Megan Walsh, Izzy Atkinson, Jess Ziu and Jessie Stapleton on the books.

The fourth round marks the stage at which top-flight sides enter the competition and, alongside the meeting of the current top and bottom teams in the WSL table, the draw set up two more all-WSL fixtures in Bristol City v Liverpool and Aston Villa v Everton.

Megan Connolly and Chloe Mustaki will hope the cup proves a nice distraction for Robins, who are second bottom in the league. Liverpool are fifth, and have Leanne Kiernan and Niamh Fahey both available again after injury lay-offs.

Heather Payne, Megan Campbell and Courtney Brosnan helped Everton to a 1-0 win at West Ham last Sunday; they'll be hoping to spark a cup run when the Toffees travel to Villa.

Arsenal - with Katie McCabe in tremendous form - will host Watford, who currently sit bottom of the Championship. The Gunners are level with league leaders Chelsea on 22 points after Sunday's 4-1 victory over the Blues at the Emirates.

Manchester City will travel to Championship side Durham - where Saoirse Noonan leads the line - while Manchester United are set to host Newcastle United, who sit top of the FA Women's National League Northern Premier Division.

Burnley host Birmingham City, where Louise Quinn, Lily Agg, Lucy Quinn, Jamie Finn are all plying their trade.

Brighton await this weekend's winner of the postponed third-round clash between