Losing cup finalists St Patrick’s Athletic have called in the gardaí following abusive comments in social media directed at goalkeeper Brendan Clarke.

“I hope it finishes this year,” smiles Liam Buckley with studied understatement when the subject of probably the most famous trophy drought in Irish football comes up yet again.

The neutrals might be happy if Sunday’s FAI Ford Cup final provides as much excitement as the last time St Pat’s and Derry City met in the decider — the final of 2006 when, after extra time, Derry won a pulsating game 4-3.

Extending his goalscoring record for the club at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday would wrap up Mark Farren’s nine years at Derry City just nicely.

Derry City reserve goalkeeper Eugene Ferry is to be dispatched to Sunderland to help the Black Cats and Republic of Ireland winger to finally settle down on Wearside.

Shelbourne 0 Derry City 3

Kenny Browne’s first competitive goal for the club helped book St. Patrick’s Athletic’s place in the FAI Ford Cup final as they beat Dundalk 3-0 At Oriel Park.

The Airtricity League Premier Division will retain its 12-team structure for the 2013 season, the FAI have confirmed.

Next season's Airtricity League Premier Division will comprise of 12 clubs, the FAI has confirmed today.

Shelbourne 1 Bray Wanderers 0

It won’t be what pretenders to their throne want to hear on the eve of the new season, but three-in-a-row-chasing Shamrock Rovers are as driven as ever, according to striker Gary Twigg.

STEPHEN KENNY was last night mulling over the offer to manage Shamrock Rovers, though the club remain confident of getting their man.

THE Professional Footballers’ Association of Ireland (PFAI) is to set up a referees’ seminar as calls for more communication between players and match officials arose following Sunday’s FAI Ford Cup final.

ASK Phillip ‘Philly’ Hughes if it might be disrespectful to call him a journeyman and the Shelbourne striker cheerfully demurs.

SLIGO ROVERS are hopeful Joseph Ndo will be fit for Sunday’s FAI Ford Cup final against Shelbourne at the Aviva Stadium.

Sligo Rovers 4 UCD 2

Sligo Rovers and UCD go head to head in the final league clash of the season at The Showgrounds tonight, kick-off 7.45pm.

St. Patrick’s Athletic 1 Shelbourne 3

Bohemians 0 Sligo Rovers 1

Bohemians take on Sligo Rovers at Dalymount Park today, for a place in this year’s FAI Ford Cup final, kick-off 3.30pm.

Shelbourne and St Patrick’s Athletic go head to head at Tolka Park tonight for a place in this year’s FAI Ford Cup final (kick-off 7.35pm).

SHAMROCK ROVERS are through to a Setanta Cup final clash on May 14 with Dundalk after first-half goals from Karl Sheppard and Ronan Finn gave them a comfortable semi-final, second-leg victory over Sligo Rovers at Tallaght Stadium last night.

Seamus Coleman will add another chapter to a “surreal” few months if he wins his first senior Republic of Ireland cap tomorrow night.

UP in Sligo, they might well remember this cup triumph as the four-in-a-row – the four Shamrock Rovers penalties which ‘keeper Ciaran Kelly saved in a dramatic shoot-out to scupper the Hoops’ dream of a league and cup double, more than making up for Sligo’s pain in losing the FAI Ford Cup final this time 12 months ago in the process.

NO hype is required to sell tomorrow’s FAI Ford Cup final.

STEPHEN RICE sums up where Shamrock Rovers are at right now, still happy to bask in the glow of that long-awaited league triumph but equally determined not to let the chance of a momentous double slip away on Sunday.

HAVING to miss last year’s FAI Ford Cup final through suspension got no better for Conor O’Grady.

SHAMROCK ROVERS have concerns over striker Gary Twigg (hamstring) and defender Aidan Price (groin) for Sunday’s FAI Ford Cup final against Sligo Rovers but manager Michael O’Neill is hopeful both will play.

CHRIS TURNER’S 70th minute winner sent Shamrock Rovers into their first FAI Ford Cup Final since 2002 at the expense of 10-man St Patrick’s Athletic in a tense semi-final replay last night.

St Patrick’s Athletic 0 Shamrock Rovers 1

St Patrick’s Athletic v Shamrock Rovers

Shamrock Rovers 2 St. Patrick’s Athletic 2

Bohemians 0 Sligo Rovers 1

Bohemians 0 Sligo Rovers 1

BOHEMIANS, still very much in the hunt for the coveted league and cup double, will start as slight favourites to reach the FAI Ford Cup final at the Aviva Stadium on November 14 when they play host to in-form Sligo Rovers in tonight’s semi-final at Dalymount Park (8.05 pm).

Sporting Fingal travel to the the Showgrounds to take on Sligo Rovers in tonight's Airtricity League Premier Division clash, kick-off 7.45pm.

Sporting Fingal 1 Sligo Rovers 1

Sporting Fingal and Bray Wanderers meet at Morton Stadium tonight in the first leg of the promotion/relegation play-off (kick-off 7.45pm).

The kick-off time for the 2009 FAI Ford Cup final between Sligo Rovers and Sporting Fingal has been confirmed for 3pm on Sunday, November 22. The match will take place in the Tallaght Stadium.

Sporting Fingal and Bray Wanderers meet at Morton Stadium to see who will face Sligo Rovers in this season’s FAI Ford Cup final, kick-off 4.05pm.

Sligo Rovers 1 Waterford United 0

Sligo Rovers and Waterford United go head-to-head at the Showgrounds tonight for a place in this year’s FAI Ford Cup final, kick-off 7.35pm.

Shamrock Rovers 1 Sporting Fingal 2 (After extra-time)

Derry City and Bohemians go head-to-head in Sunday's FAI Ford Cup final at the RDS with both sides intent on finishing the season on a high, kick-off 3.00pm.