Watch the FAI Ford Cup final between Sligo Rovers and Sporting Fingal live on RTÉ Two and worldwide on RTÉ.ie from 2.30pm, while RTÉ Radio 1's Sunday Sport will also have live commentary from Tallaght.

Sunday's FAI Ford Cup final sees the meeting of two teams with vastly contrasting histories and traditions, both with their eye on the season's final piece of silverware, writes RTÉ Sport's Shane Murray.

In the red corner, you have Sligo Rovers, two times winner and five times runners-up, with a traditionally large fan base, who have had a long love affair with the FAI Cup throughout the club's 81-year history.

In the white corner, you have Sporting Fingal, the league's newest club, two years in existence, with a modest but growing fan base in the north of the nation's capital.

However, both of those profiles will count for nothing when the 11 players from each side cross the white line at what will be an almost 9,000 sell-out at the Tallaght Stadium at 3pm.

And regardless of the two clubs' contrasting pedigrees, there is no doubt that the footballing abilities of each team are more evenly matched and that we should be served up a gripping contest between two of Irish football's premier advocates of attacking play.

Rovers manager Paul Cook and his Sporting counterpart Liam Buckley have both been commended for their attacking ethos, and with some of the league's most gifted players on show, all indications suggest that the entertainment factor and quality on show should be high.

While Sligo will come into the decider as many people's favourites, Fingal are not to be underestimated and boast an array of talent that would be welcomed in any team in the country.

They also possess an experienced squad, with players such as Gary O'Neill, Eamon Zayed, Stephen Paisley and Alan Kirby all boasting a wealth of games and medals under their belts.

Add the youthful exuberance and flair of Robert Bayly, Shaun Williams and Shane McFaul and there is no doubt that this Fingal side will be well placed to claim the club's first piece of silverware in only its second year in operation.

The impressive manner of their progress to the final has made many cynics take notice, especially their replay elimination of Shamrock Rovers (2-2 and 2-1) in the quarter-finals, and subsequent 22-minute demolition of and ultimate 4-2 win over Bray Wanderers in the semis at Morton Stadium.

Their 14 goals in five games makes them the top scorers in this year's competition and illustrates their significant prowess in front of goal, even if six of those goals came against Blarney United (2-0) and Athlone Town (4-1).

In contrast, Sligo's run to the final has been built on their defensive resilience with eight goals in six games proving their run to the final was a little more fraught than their opponents.

However, that run included a third round 2-1 replay win over Cork City after a 2-2 draw at Turner's Cross, while Derry City followed in the fourth round where a solitary Raffaele Cretaro goal was enough to see them through at The Showgrounds.

An away trip to Cup holders and defending league champions Bohemians came next for Rovers and after they somehow escaped Dalymount with a scoreless draw, a 2-1 win at home booked them a place in the semis against Waterford United.

The First Division side proved as difficult a hurdle as their previous opponents but a moment of magic from Owen Morrison allowed Matthew Blinkhorn head Rovers into their first final in 15 years.

Cook's men finished the season strongly, claiming 17 points from a possible 27 in the league to secure their Premier Division safety, their fine form inspired by the return of Gavin Peers to the centre of defence and the burgeoning partnership between Cretaro and July signing Blinkhorn up front.

The form of Romauld Boco and Alan Keane has also been key to Rovers' improvement, while the presence of Conor O'Grady and the versatility of Danny Ventre has also been integral to the club's revival.

However, Sligo will be without the influential services of captain O'Grady for what could have been a memorable day for the Sligo-born midfielder.

O'Grady is suspended after picking up a succession of yellow cards, with significant frustration in Sligo that the suspension only kicked in on 11 November despite the last of those cards coming in the league back in October.

With both defences and attacks amongst the best in the country, midfield is where I'd expect this game to be won and lost and O'Grady's absence will give Cook a selection dilemma in the centre of the park.

Fingal are especially strong in the centre with the likes of Bayly, Kirby and Conan Byrne's goals instrumental in their promotion and cup run, so they will fancy their chances of bossing this key area.

How Cook sets his team up will have a huge impact on the outcome of the game. Does he opt for a safety first approach and bring Richie Ryan or Darren Meenan in as a direct replacement for O'Grady, or will he be more adventurous and make room for the trickery of Morrison in his starting line-up?

Sligo's only other concern is with goalkeeper Richard Brush, who returned to training this week after breaking his hand in October. He is expected to take his place on the bench, with deputy Ciaran Kelly set to keep his place after impressing since coming into the team.

Fingal are at full strength so Buckley will have the luxury of selecting his strongest team, and confidence will be sky high following their recent 4-2 aggregate win over Bray to secure their Premier Division status for next season.

So the scene is set for one of the most open and compelling finals in years, and so long as the anticipated bad weather doesn't prove too problematic, we could be in for a veritable footballing feast.