irk ara ▁were ▁the ▁def ending ▁champions , ▁but ▁were ▁elimin ated ▁in ▁the ▁semi - final s ▁by ▁Val lett a . ▁ ▁Results ▁When ▁the ▁draw ▁was ▁conducted ▁four ▁teams ▁received ▁a ▁by e ▁to ▁the ▁Qu arter final s . ▁B irk irk ara ▁received ▁a ▁by e ▁because ▁they ▁won ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 7 – 0 8 ▁M alt ese ▁FA ▁Tro phy . ▁Other ▁three ▁teams ▁qual ifying ▁directly ▁to ▁the ▁Qu arter final s ▁are ▁Val lett a , ▁Mars ax lo kk ▁and ▁S li ema ▁W ander ers , ▁for ▁being ▁( except ▁B irk irk ara ) ▁three ▁best - pla ced ▁teams ▁in ▁last ▁year ' s ▁Premier ▁League . ▁ ▁First ▁Round ▁In ▁the ▁First ▁Round ▁entered ▁Premier ▁League ▁teams ▁placed ▁ 4 th ▁to ▁ 1 0 th ▁and ▁ 1 0 ▁First ▁Division ▁teams . ▁The ▁matches ▁were ▁played ▁on ▁ 2 5 , ▁ 2 6 ▁October , ▁ 1 ▁and ▁ 2 ▁November ▁▁ 2 0 0 8 . ▁ ▁| } ▁ ▁Second ▁Round ▁In ▁this ▁round ▁entered ▁w inners ▁from ▁the ▁previous ▁round . ▁The ▁matches ▁were ▁played ▁on ▁ 8 ▁and ▁ 9 ▁November ▁ 2 0 0 8 . ▁ ▁| } ▁ ▁Qu arter final s ▁In ▁this ▁round ▁entered ▁w inners ▁from ▁the ▁previous ▁round ▁and ▁four ▁teams ▁that ▁had ▁received ▁a ▁by e . ▁The ▁matches ▁were ▁played ▁on ▁ 7 ▁February ▁ 2 0 0 9 . ▁All