The Managers
Paul Doolin (Drogheda United)
Joined Drogs from UCD and has worked wonders in his time at United Park. The ex-Shamrock Rovers, Bohemians, Derry City and Shelbourne star is one of the most decorated players ever to grace the eircom League.
He won a league and cup double with Rovers in 1986 and 1987 before bettering that with a league, cup and league cup treble with Derry in 1989. He then won cup medals with Shelbourne in 1993 and Derry again in 1995.
In 2000, he was a league and cup double winner again, this time with Shels. Doolin was also a runner-up with Bohemians in 1982 and 1983.
Damien Richardson (Cork City)
Having departed the hot seat at Shamrock Rovers, Rico was involved with media work before taking over from Pat Dolan at Turner's Cross weeks before the start of the current season. The three times Republic of Ireland international guided City to the first round proper of the UEFA Cup and the eircom League title in a magical first year in charge.
As a player, Rico was a cup winner with Shamrock Rovers in 1968 and 1969, (the last two of Rovers' magical six-in-a-row wins). As manager, he guided Shelbourne to wins in 1996 and 1997, but as boss of his beloved Shamrock Rovers, the best he could manage was the semi-final stage.
Players to watch
Drogheda United
Mark Leech: Son of former Shamrock Rovers and Ireland hero Mick, Mark only turns 20 five days after the final. He has previously played for Belvedere and UCD and has found the net on several occasions for Drogs this season.
Declan O'Brien: Declan is known as 'Fabio' around the town and is very popular with the fans. He has previously played with Rivermount and Verona.
Dan Connor: The Irish U-21 international played in last season's final for Waterford and joined Drogs in the close season. As well as Waterford, he also had a spell with Peterborough United in England.
Cork City
George O'Callaghan: George is a former Irish U-18 and U-20 international and has previously played with Rockmount, Leeds (Cork) and Port Vale in England. George netted the vital penalty against Derry City in the semi-final to put City in the final.
Dan Murray: Big Dan joined City from Peterborough, where he played alongside John O'Flynn, in 2002 and became captain at the age of 21. He scored two of City's three goals in the famous 3-1 win over Malmo FF in the Intertoto Cup this year.
Michael Devine: Arguably the best goalkeeper in the league at present. Several of his saves during the away UEFA Cup tie with Slavia Prague last summer were rightly described as 'world class' by RTÉ co-commentator and ex-City striker Pat Morley. Michael has previously played for Springfield (Cobh), Middlesbrough,
Newcastle United, Cobh Wanderers, Cobh Ramblers and Waterford United.
Drogheda United's path to Lansdowne Road:
2nd round: beat Limerick FC 2-0
3rd round: beat Dundalk 2-0
Quarter-final: beat Bohemians 2-1
Semi-final: beat Bray Wanderers 2-1
Cork City's path to Lansdowne Road:
2nd round: drew with Galway United 0-0
2nd round replay: beat Galway United 1-0
3rd round: drew with Finn Harps 0-0
3rd round replay: beat Finn Harps 3-2 aet
Quarter-final: beat Sligo Rovers 3-1
Semi-final: beat Derry City 1-0
Drogheda United
FAI Cup Final history
Drogheda appeared in their first FAI Cup final on April 18, 1971 when they took on Limerick at Dalymount Park.
A strong Drogs line-up included Mick Meagen, Mick Cooke and Mick Fairclough, while Limerick included internationals Kevin Fitzpatrick, Al Finucane and Andy McEvoy in their side. The game ended scoreless and the replay took place at the same venue three days later. Limerick proved too strong for Drogs and ran out 3-0 winners thanks to goals from David Barrett and Hugh Hamilton (2).
Drogheda were back five years later and met Bohemians in the final at Dalymount but were to be disappointed again.
The Gypsies included no less than eight then or future internationals, Mick Smyth, Eamonn Gregg, Fran O'Brien, Johnny Fullam, Pat Byrne, Turlough O'Connor, Gerry Ryan and Ashley Grimes.
Drogs included Cathal Muckian and Jerome Clarke, who would both also be honoured by their country. In a fairly even sided game, Niall Shelley's strike with ten minutes to go to gave Bohs victory.
Interestingly, United's trip to the final that year was of epic proportions.
The first round tie with Cork Hibernians, (who called on the services of one Rodney Marsh) ended 1-1. The replay ended 2-2 after extra time. A second replay finished 0-0, after not one but two periods of extra time. Drogs eventually went through after winning a third replay 3-0.
Cork City
FAI Cup Final history
Cork City FC was formed in 1984 and joined the League of Ireland which, at the time, had no team from the southern capital in its ranks.
Coincidentally, their first FAI Cup campaign was ended by Drogheda, who hammered them 5-3 in a thrilling second round tie.
Cork City reached their first final in 1989 where they met Derry City. The squad at the time was top class and included popular names like Phil Harrington, Brian Carey, Mick Conroy, Dave Barry, Liam Murphy, Patsy Freyne and John Caulfield.
The game ended 0-0 but Derry won the replay 1-0 to complete a treble of League, Cup and League Cup.
City were back three years later, this time at Lansdowne Road and a meeting with Bohemians. Once again, though, there was heartbreak for City as Bohs ran out 1-0 winners.
City finally recorded their first FAI Cup success in 1998. Following a 0-0 draw with Shelbourne, Derek Coughlan netted the only goal of the replay to ensure the famous old trophy would make a return to Leeside.
Cork City FC are of course not the first Cork side to win the cup.
Fordsons were the first Cork team to win the cup, when they beat Shamrock Rovers 3-2 in 1926. Cork were the second Cork team to win it when they beat St James' Gate 2-1 in 1934. Cork United won it in 1941 when they were 3-1 replay winners over Waterford following a 2-2 draw. They were replay winners again in 1947 when they beat Bohemians 2-0 after a 2-2 draw.
The great Cork Athletic then won the FAI Cup in 1951. They were 1-0 replay winners over Shels after a 1-1 draw. Two years later, Athletic won the all-Cork final against Evergreen United. A replay ended 2-1 after the first game ended in a 2-2 draw.
Cork Hibernians became the second side, after Shamrock Rovers, to win back-to-back titles in the 1970s. Miah Dennehy scored a hat-trick in the 3-0 1972 final win over Waterford. A year later, Carl Humphries netted the winner in a replay win over Shelbourne at Flower Lodge, Cork, following a 0-0 draw at Dalymount Park.
