No final farewell for Mark

THERE may be plenty of young blood in the ranks of the St Patrick’s Athletic team which will play Derry City in the FAI Cup final on Sunday but manager John McDonnell has also ensured that his squad is seasoned with a sprinkling of wise old heads.

And there is none more experienced in the unique demands of cup final day than Mark Rutherford, the veteran winger whose move from Shamrock Rovers to Pats at the start of the season means that he has now played for all four of Dublin’s top clubs.

“If I play this Sunday it will be my eighth final,” he says. “I’m 34 now and, although I knew that joining St Pats we had a chance of doing something this season, I didn’t really think I’d get to play in another final.