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No Cup final deja vu for Joe Redmond

St Pat's captain Joe Redmond has been a rock at the heart of the St Pat's defence this season
St Pat's captain Joe Redmond has been a rock at the heart of the St Pat's defence this season

The Sports Direct FAI Cup final between Bohemians and St Patrick's Athletic is a repeat of the 2021 decider, but Joe Redmond's experience of the big day will be rather different than last time around, with a pre-match jaunt to the pub certainly not on the cards.

Redmond, who grew up supporting the Saints, signed for the club just weeks after the penalty shootout success over the Gypsies having spent the second part of the season playing for Drogheda United.

The former Birmingham City academy player told RTÉ Sport: "I left with my brother and we went to the pub before, and then we got to the Aviva about quarter past two.

"The feeling of it filling up... Obviously, you don't see that as a player. You're kind of just focused on the warm-up.

"So it's kind of a different experience down on the pitch, but it's definitely an experience that I'm looking forward to and relishing."

St Pat's prevailed 4-3 on penalties two years ago, with Redmond recalling: "I was right behind the goal and the Pat's end for that.

"It doesn't feel like it was two years ago. And now to be leading the team out in the Aviva, it's a privilege to be captain of this football club.

"But the memories I have from being behind that goal, it means a lot to me. And I'm going to be using that in the build-up because I know the feeling of when the peno was missed and then the peno was scored and the feeling, the relief that you get from the fans. There's no sort of feeling like that in football.

"When you win a game, or you're a fan at a game, you only get that feeling for a couple of minutes. And you try and hold on to it for as long as you can. And that's definitely something that will be used in the build-up."

Chris Forrester dribbled from inside his own half to strike first in extra-time when the teams met in 2021, scoring a goal for the ages.

It left an indelible mark on all Pat's fans, Redmond included.

"It is a very special goal," he said. "I mean, we talk about it a lot.

"We were right behind him, and you just see him take off and he keeps going.

"And when you think he's going to hit the target, he chops again and then you're like...

"He has bundles of ability. I mean, you see it week in, week out, but now to see that goal from that perspective, now it gives you goosebumps thinking back to it."

Keeping tabs on leading marksman Jonathan Afolabi will be one of Redmond's main tasks on the day, with the Saints captain all too aware of the threat his former underage team-mate poses.

"We grew up playing for the same schoolboy team, St Joseph's, but now I'm looking forward to the challenge.

"I mean I'll always be up for it and that's what I like, you want to play against the best players.

"Who as a footballer wants an easy game? You come out after a tough battle, whether you come out on top or whether you have your fair share of moments, but I'm looking forward to it.

"We'll be in a battle and he's got a lot of good attributes that you've got to be cautious because a player of that quality can hurt you."

Watch the FAI Cup final, Bohemians v St Patrick's Athletic, on Sunday from 2pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on RTÉ.ie/Sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to live radio commentary on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1.

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