Sunday could round off what has been a magnificent season for Dundalk as they bid to defend the FAI Cup they won last year and also add to the ‘double’ which was won 12 months ago also.
This is indeed a repeat of the 2015 Cup final – Richie Towell’s extra-time strike won the trophy for the Lilywhites.
It's also the fifth meeting between the sides this season with Cork City winning the first three – two in the league and the President’s Cup at Turner’s Cross, while Dundalk were 2-1 victors in a superb encounter at Oriel Park just under a month ago.
For the decider, Dundalk have an injury doubt over Robbie Benson who is struggling with a hamstring injury. Shane Grimes is ruled out for the rest of the year also with a hamstring issue but his is torn with Darren Meenan returning to the squad having missed the trip to Zenit St Petersburg due to a family bereavement.
Cork's last win in the competition was in 2007 and they have injury concerns over John Dunleavy and Alan Smith as they aim to win the famous trophy for the third time.
Manager Stephen Kenny feels that the support on the day is vital and can inspire the players to another ‘famous’ victory
“It has been a big week for us. With the Russian trip and now the cup final. We are sitting second in the group in the Europa League and the league title already won. Adding the FAI Cup would be exceptional.
“Motivation is high to go and win the double again. We have to get our energy from the crowd and the occasion. The support has been magnificent and they can inspire us to a famous victory once again. We are motivated to have that brilliant feeling of winning the Cup again.”
Cork boss John Caulfield is keen to stress that his side are underdogs, but his hopeful that a "big performance" can see silverware being paraded southern capital on Monday evening.
"Everyone is looking forward to the cup final. We are the underdogs going into the game and Dundalk are the hot favourites, but we know that, if we bring our best performance, we can win the cup and that is what we are hoping to do," he told corkcityfc.ie.
"We have a new team this year which has energy and pace and they are capable of giving a big performance. We know we will need a big performance to win on Sunday.”
“There is a fantastic buzz around the city and county. I know the local leagues, both at schoolboy and senior level, have no fixtures on Sunday to allow people to get to the game and that is fantastic to see.
"There are clubs from all over the city and the county running buses and joining in the Rebel March on the Aviva Stadium.”
“As a club, we have progressed a lot over the last couple of years and it is great to see the local soccer community rallying behind us ahead of the game. There is a real feeling that the whole city and county are behind us."
Watch live coverage of the Continental Tyres Women's FAI Senior Cup final between Wexford Youths and Shelbourne and the Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup final between Cork City and Dundalk on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player from 1205. Radio coverage on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1 from 1400.
