FAI Cup Final: Shelbourne v Sligo Rovers

There is no need to paint this Sunday’s FAI Cup final with grand and luxurious hype. Of course, there will be no shortage of clumsy clichés thrown around by the time kick-off rolls around. Quite simply though, this is the Cup final. This is it.

When Shelbourne and reigning champions Sligo Rovers get going at 3.30pm at the Aviva Stadium, it will be fully evident just what this game is about. Both sides will be desperate to etch their names into some silverware, as neither has managed to do so this year.

The Premier Division was never really in Sligo’s hands. Over the last few weeks of matches, it was Shamrock Rovers’ to lose, rather than the Bit o’ Red’s to win. Nevertheless, the numbers suggest that it could have been so different for Paul Cook’s team.

Sligo hit the net 73 times in their 36 games, just about better than two per game and more than any other side in the division. At the back they conceded only 19, the fewest in the division.

Yet the best team statistically couldn’t get the most important number right. Four points separated them and the Hoops when the dust settled. That second place would be soothed somewhat by a second consecutive Cup victory at the Aviva.

For Shels it was a different story. The First Division title was within reach, but the stars decided that it wasn’t to be for Alan Mathews and the Tolka Park faithful.

A draw would have been enough but Cork had other ideas as injury time ticked away. So heart wrenching it was to see the faces of the Shels players fall when Graham Cummins stole the title from under their noses in the dying seconds.

The Dubliners have no new injury worries to contend with ahead of the game. Club captain Dave McGill and defender Lorcan Fitzgerald are still out of action but, other than those two absentees, Mathews has a full squad to choose from.

Joseph Ndo will be a massive loss to their opponents. The Cameroonian playmaker is out of action with a hamstring injury, a huge blow to the Connaught side.

Even without Ndo, Sligo will still be hot favourites to be holding the Cup at the end of the day. But one a one off occasion like this, everything becomes much more difficult to call.

Sligo Rovers

Injured: Joseph Ndo.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

Shelbourne

Injured: Dave McGill, Lorcan Fitzgerald.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

Referee: Richie Winter

Paddy Power Odds: Sligo 8/13; Draw 5/2; Shelbourne 5/1.

Extratime prediction: Sligo will find it tough to break down Shels but they should win by an odd goal.