SCRAPPING replays for the first two rounds of the Cup was a real FAI solution to an FAI problem.

Dundalk’s exploits last year caused fixture congestion problems but it was only the second time an Irish team had played that many Euro games.

1 Dundalk's Europa League run gave the League of Ireland a good news story lat year

The Association thought they’d avoid the possibility this year by ensuring the last-32 and last-16 ties be settled at the first time of asking.

Killester United and Bohemians might have some thoughts on that decision, considering our teams were out of Europe weeks before the Cup got under way.

Killester held Galway United after 90 minutes — and after 120 — and deserved a trip to Eamonn Deacy Park as a reward.

It’d give their players the chance to play at a decent ground and bring in some welcome revenue. Instead, they suffered heartache in a shootout.

Bohs led 3-2 going into stoppage time and if a late equaliser wasn’t punishment enough, they lost in extra-time.

You can’t base decisions which affect every club on the off-chance one might defy the odds in Europe.