FAI Cup Final Preview: Drogheda United -v- Derry City

None

The M1 will be very busy on Sunday morning as the two contestants for the 2024 Sports Direct FAI Cup make their way to the Aviva Stadium for the FAI Cup Final (kick-off is at 3pm).

Drogheda United and Derry City both navigated their way through the earlier rounds to make it a to the final and it now makes for a somewhat novel pairing for one of the showpiece events of the FAI calendar.

This is the 104th staging of the FAI Cup Final and it is the first final since 2018 which does not involve any of the Dublin sides.

DROGHEDA UNITED

Drogheda have made only four appearances in the FAI Cup final in their 105-year history, losing in 70/71, 75/76 and 2013 while their sole win was over Cork City in 2005.

Gavin Whelan and Declan O’ Brien scored the Boynesiders’s two goals that day before 24,521 spectators at the old Lansdowne Road venue.

Paul Doolin was United’s manager then and Stephen Bradley, now manager of Shamrock Rovers, was in the starting eleven for the Claret and Blue.

In this year’s competition Drogheda certainly had their scoring boots on as they made their way through a four-match schedule enroute to the final, scoring a whopping 18 goals along the way.

They beat Co Louth rivals Dundalk by 2-1 in the opening round before demolishing Munster Senior League side Wilton by 9-0 in the next round.

They put four past Athlone Town in the quarter final before winning 4-1 and hit three goals when they beat Wexford 3-2 in Ferrycarrig Park in the semi-final.



Win, lose or draw, the Drog’s season will not be over on Sunday evening as they are back in action the following weekend when they have another equally, if not more. significant match against Bray Wanderers in the promotion/relegation playoff next Saturday.

Drogs manager Kevin Doherty spoke with RTE in advance of the game and said: "We're well used to the underdog tag.

"Generally, every week, we are underdogs in games. You don't have to go to a bookmaker or anything, people will tell you that anyway. We can certainly handle that tag.

"We've analysed their (Derry's) matches, like we do everybody. One of them was against us a few weeks ago. Different surroundings, different competition. We were at home in that game. They've a lot of players and a manager that have won this competition two years ago and done really, really well over the last few years.

"We're under no illusions that it's going to be very difficult but I can promise you one thing - we'll be fully prepared for it.

"We're doing everything we can. We're very confident that we're preparing right for the final. I remember the (2022) final, things didn't go Shels' way and Derry were excellent.



"We can just look after ourselves. Whatever Derry team turn up, that's completely up to them."

DERRY CITY

Derry City have a very good win ratio in their nine cup final appearances in their history, winning on six occasions, so they will be looking to maintain that performance level when they face the Co Louth side on Sunday.

They won on their second ever final appearance back in the 88/89 season when they beat Cork City 1-0, after a replay, club legend Felix Healy scoring the all-important goal.

Their most recent success was in 2022 when in a very one sided final they easily overcame Shelbourne on a 4-0 scoreline.

While many of their starting eleven that day are still with the club, their three goals scorers have all since departed.

Cameron McJannett (2) is now with Grimbsy Town, Jamie McGonigle (1) plays with Coleraine and Jordan McEneff (1, penalty) lines out with Larne. The Foylesiders conceded no goals as they progressed through this year’s competition.

They beat St Patricks Athletic 3-0, Cork City 1-0, Shelbourne 2-0 and finally Bohemians by 2-0 in the semi-final.

Manager Ruadhri Higgins spoke to The Irish Sun earlier this week and he said ‘’When you get to a Cup final, there is always a huge responsibility to win. There is a pressure to win but that’s human nature and that’s why we’re in the game.

‘’I’d rather be going to Dublin on Sunday than not.

‘’What motivates us to win the trophy is for the amount of people that are travelling.

“It’s handy if you are a club in Dundalk, Drogheda, Dublin or even Waterford. The Aviva is not that big of a journey.

“But to travel 3½ hours from here in the numbers that we travel, that’s why it’s important for us to lift that trophy.

“I said before the last one that it’s for the people of Derry who hadn’t won the Cup for ten years before that. Now we have a chance of two in three years.

“It’s to bring joy to a city and a community. That’s what drives me.”

Referee: Robert Harvey.

 

MATCH STATS

Derry City’s 4-0 win over Shelbourne in the 2022 final was the biggest margin of victory ever in the history of the FAI Cup.

The form of both clubs coming into Sunday’s final has been patchy but identical, they have recorded two wins, two draws and two losses each.

Cup finals take on a life of their own with league form not counting for much, but for the record, Derry have won twice and drawn once against Drogheda this season, while the Boynesiders won the most recent match at Weavers Park 2-1.

BETTING

Drogheda United 15/4; Draw 3/1; Derry City 4/6                                   

PREDICTION

Drogheda United 1 - 3 Derry City

 

Drogheda United    

Injured: Zishim Bawa.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

 

Derry City    

Injured: None.

Doubtful: Patrick McEleney, Pat Hoban.

Suspended: None.

About Patrick O'Connor

View Full Profile