Waterford United will be hoping to record their first victory in the FAI Cup final since 1980 when they meet Longford Town at Lansdowne Road tomorrow evening.
Al Finucane lifted the famous trophy in Dalymount Park in 1980 after a 1-0 win over St Patrick's Athletic.
A Brian Gardiner strike before a crowd of 18,000 gave the Blues only their second ever victory in the competition. Their other win had come in 1937.
Waterford have beaten Sligo Rovers, Kilkenny City, Rockmount and Derry City on their way to the final. Alan Reynolds' side have scored freely during the campaign with 15 goals from five games.
Strikers Daryl Murphy and Willie Bruton have scored 12 times while goalkeeper Dan Connor got the winner against Derry City in the semi-final when he converted a first half penalty kick.
Standing between Waterford and the Cup are Longford Town who have lost just once in 22 FAI and League Cup ties over the past two years.
That defeat was in last year's League Cup Final by St Patrick's Athletic but they gained revenge a couple of weeks later when they beat the Saints in the FAI Cup final. They captured their first senior trophy thanks to goals from Sean Francis and Shane Barrett.
This season, Alan Mathews' side have already won the League Cup, and are now poised to become the first side since Shelbourne in 1997, to retain the Cup. They've had to play seven games to get to the final, including three replays, two of which went to extra-time.
Starting against Munster Senior League side Leeds, they have also beaten Shamrock Rovers, Athlone Town and Drogheda United on their way to the final.
Meanwhile, Waterford soccer legend Johnny Matthews will be inducted into the FAI Hall of Fame tomorrow.
Matthews joined Waterford in 1966 from Coventry, initially for six weeks, but stayed at Kilcohan Park until 1980. He won six League of Ireland winners medals with Waterford before making the short move to the Market's Field where he enjoyed a short spell with Limerick.
During his time with Waterford, Matthews scored against Glasgow Celtic and Manchester United in European competition.
Filed by Mark O'Neill-Cummins
