Shamrock Rovers eased their way into the Sports Direct FAI Cup final by beating a plucky but outclassed Kerry FC at Tallaght Stadium.
A brace from Graham Burke, who was lucky to be still on the pitch after a clash with Kerry's Joe Adams, added to by two from Michael Noonan, a Dylan Watts penalty and a late Cian Barrett strike gave Rovers the win.
Adams scored a second half penalty for Colin Healy’s side with the home side already four goals up.
The Hoops will face Cork City in the showpiece at Aviva Stadium on Sunday, 9 November.
Before the game, the home support waited for news from Derry City’s rearranged game at home to Sligo Rovers which would have given Stephen Bradley's the league title had they not won at the Ryan McBride Brandywell.
As it was, Michael Duffy’s late goal ensured that the champagne remained on ice, with the Tallaght side now needing a point against Shelbourne next Friday to copper fasten the league title.
Thus, after the late drama in Derry, Rovers went about dismantling Kerry, a team simply not in the same class, despite their incredible comeback to beat Sligo in the quarter-final, winning 4-3 having been 3-0 down at half time.
The game in Tallaght started along expected lines with Kerry, cheered on by around 1,000 travelling supporters, saw the Munster side sit deep, as Shamrock Rovers saw plenty of possession with the returning Burke causing plenty of early problems for the visiting defence.
The home side created an early chance for Josh Honohan lurking on the left-hand side of the area in the 12th minute, but the wing-back, leaning back, skied and missed an excellent opportunity to open the scoring.
Rovers hit the front in the 18th minute with a goal of real quality, started by Matt Healy in midfield to found Adam Mathews on the right-hand side
Mathews, who was the beneficiary of a lucky deflection which fell nicely into his path, found Noonan in the area, and he crossed to Burke who calmly stroked the ball past Kerry keeper Darragh Foley from close in.
Four minutes later Burke got his second, and his fifth in this season's FAI Cup as he turned in Danny Mandriou’s pass, again from inside the visitor’s penalty area.
Burke, though was very lucky not to be sent off in the 36th minute as Adams went to ground in a crunching, sliding tackle which took both ball and the Rovers midfielder.
Shamrock Rovers 2-0 Kerry FC
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) October 5, 2025
It all gets a little heated as Graham Burke reacts to a challenge from Joe Adams
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The former Republic of Ireland international reacted strongly to the Adams' tackle, grabbing his opponent and appearing to push his head into the ground.
Referee Paul McLoughlin spoke to his assistant Allen Lynch, who was closest to the incident after both players and staff from each side got involved, and then booked both Burke and Adams, the former fortuitous not to see red for his conduct.
With calm restored, Rovers continued their onslaught and Dylan Watts blazed over close in, but the home side headed to the break with a three-goal advantage as Watts turned provider, digging out an excellent cross from the byline which was headed home by Noonan in first half added-time.
Perhaps unsurprisingly Hoops manager Stephen Bradley withdrew Burke at the breal, replaced by Rory Gaffney.
The goal onslaught continued as Rovers grabbed a fourth in the 50th minute, as from a Watts corner, Kerry defender Oran Crowe dragged down Honohan and Watts converted the resultant penalty right footed into the top corner of the net.
Then, in their first real attack of the game, Kerry scored in the 56th minute as striker Daniel Okwute was taken down in the area by home captain Roberto Lopes for a penalty.
Adams cooly converted the spot-kick, sending Ed McGinty the wrong way as a 1,000 Kerry voices responded with a huge roar from the East Stand.
GOAL - Shamrock Rovers (5-1)
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) October 5, 2025
Michael Noonan showing all his class to score his second of the evening
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But Rovers restored their four-goal gap on 67 minutes as Noonan scored his second jinking his way past Kerry’s defence before cooly slotting home his side's fifth goal.
Barrett scored his first for the club deep in added-time to round off the victory.
Having disposed Kerry, the Hoops now have the chance to win their first double for 38 years, starting next Friday in the league at home to Shels.
Shamrock Rovers: Ed McGinty; Dan Cleary (Gary O’Neill 64), Roberto Lopes (c), Cory O’Sullivan; Adam Mathews, Daniel Mandriou (Sean Kavanagh 45), Dylan Watts, Matthew Healy (Cian Barrett 63), Josh Honohan (Connor Malley 63): Graham Burke (Rory Gaffney 45), Michael Noonan.
Kerry FC: Darragh Foley; Finn Barrett, Niall Brockwell, Chris McQueen, Sean O’Connell; Carl Mujaguzi (Samuel Aladesanusi 30), Oran Crowe; Robert Cleary (Cian Brosnan 60), Ronan Teahan (c), Joe Adams (Aaron Healy 60); Daniel Okwute.
Referee: Paul McLoughlin
Attendance: 5,438
