Just the ticket for FAI as fans flock to final

THE FAI were last night celebrating the best attended FAI Cup final in over 40 years which attracted 5,000 more spectators than the rugby international between Ireland and Samoa a day earlier.

Yesterday’s crowd at the Aviva Stadium was officially numbered at 36,101 (30,955 for the rugby) making it the biggest cup final attendance since 1968.

That was the year when Shamrock Rovers beat Waterford 3-0 in a celebrated game at Dalymount which was watched by an official attendance of 39,128 – although, unofficially, it’s estimated that there were probably as many as 45,000 crammed into the old ground that day as gates into the stadium were broken down and many supporters were able to get in for free.