Preview: Dundalk v Shamrock Rovers headlines FAI Cup first round weekend

The first round action got underway on Friday night but the prospect for potential 'giant-killings' continues into Saturday and Sunday as the opening salvos of the Sports Direct FAI Cup unfold across the weekend.

The all-Premier Division fixtures will of course dominate the landscape however and it's the two sides that met in the 2019 and 2020 deciders who will look to avoid an early exit on Sunday at Oriel Park.

This clash comes as Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers are in the midst of their European adventures.

The Lilywhites overcame Bruno Magpies of Gibraltar on Thursday to reach the second qualifying round of the Europa Conference League and the Hoops will also play at that same stage of the competition, against Hungarian champions Ferencvaros, having been knocked out of the Champions League at the first hurdle by Breidablik in Iceland two days earlier.

Dundalk got the better of Stephen Bradley's side in their last league meeting on 30 June and will look to pile the pressure on a Rovers side whose form has been faltering slightly in recent weeks despite being top of the Premier Division.

The goals have dried up in their last four fixtures across domestic and European competition, with the only goal in that run being the penalty converted by Graham Burke in Iceland on Tuesday.

Dundalk have only lost once - against Bohemians when they succumbed to a late comeback at Dalymount Park - since tasting defeat to the Hoops at Tallaght Stadium back on 2 June and will hope to build on their recent uptick in results.

Conan Byrne feels there are upsets on the cards as the #FAICup first round gets underway across this weekend #RTESoccerPodcast #loi