FAI Cup Final: Three key battles as Shamrock Rovers face Cork City
KEY BATTLE: Seani Maguire will need to get the better of Pico Lopes. Pic: ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy
If Cork City are to have any chance of causing a major upset, then surely, they will need their talisman, their hero from the 2016 final, to be at his very best.
But in captain and World Cup bound Pico Lopes, Shamrock Rovers have a man ready for the challenge. He also played a huge part in Rovers’ Cup win in 2019, which ended their 32-year-wait to reclaim the silverware.
Burke was minutes away from being Rovers’ hero in Athens in midweek, which would have been a just reward for an excellent campaign for the 32-year-old forward, who was named in the PFAI team of the year for 2025 along with the aforementioned Lopes.
He can still be the hero for the double-chasers on Sunday but in order to do so, he will need to get the better of the experienced Kelleher.
The former Shamrock Rovers defensive midfielder aiming to lead Cork City to glory versus the former Cork City playmaker aiming to inspire Shamrock Rovers to victory.
The battle between Bolger, the 37-year-old chasing his fifth FAI Cup winners medal (he’s won 1 with Rovers and 2 with City) and Healy, the 23-year-old taking part in his first final and who completes the Hoops’ team of the year quartet, could go a long way to deciding this match.
Shamrock Rovers 4 Wexford 0
Shamrock Rovers 2 Longford Town 1
Drogheda United 1 Shamrock Rovers 1 (AET). Rovers won 5-4 on penalties.
Shamrock Rovers 6 Kerry 1.
Cork City 3 Leicester Celtic 0
Cork City 2 Waterford 1
Finn Harps 0 Cork City 3
Cork City 3 St Patrick’s Athletic 0.
Shamrock Rovers 4 Cork City 1
Cork City 1 Shamrock Rovers 1
Shamrock Rovers 4 Cork City 1
Cork City 1 Shamrock Rovers 1.
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