As it happened: Rory Gaffney's brace downs 10-man Cork City and secures double for Shamrock Rovers

Gaffney scored two second half goals against City, who saw Harry Nevin sent off before half-time.

MAKE MINE A DOUBLE: Rory Gaffney celebrates with team-mate Aaron McEneff after scoring. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile.

5.13pm Final thoughts from John Fallon: A predictable outcome but not a predictable match.

Cork City were well in the final, either side of Harry Nevin’s red card, but Ed McGinty’s one-handed save from Freddie Anderson, coupled with a veteran poacher in Rory Gaffney, turned the decider in the way of Shamrock Rovers.

They’ve claimed a first double for 38 years while Cork City are heading for the First Division. It wasn’t the whitewash many forecasted, giving the Rebels a platform from which to bounce back with most of the squad they’ve retained.

Ruairi Keating getting on for the final 20 minutes for a lovely moment, given the heartache he’s suffered in the last couple of years.

5.05pm All over. Shamrock Rovers are the League and FAI Cup champions. A great effort by City but the sending off was a huge blow and the man of the match Rory Gaffney made them pay with a second half double to secure the double.

Stay tuned to our website for the best reaction and analysis on a historic day for Shamrock Rovers.

FULL TIME: Cork City 0 Shamrock Rovers 2

90+6mins Murrary does well to create space but he pokes the ball wide from distance.

90+4mins Fitpatrick cuts inside and his thunderous hit is saved by McGinty. City still fighting. Free in now from the left wing.

90+3mins Great noise and colour now by the Rovers fans, they know they're nearly there. A double, a first double since 1987, thanks to Gaffney's double.

90+1mins Good footwork by Feely on the edge of the box but his shot sails well over the bar.

SEVEN MINUTES ADDED ON!

89mins City still giving everything but the game is surely up. They have a long throw deep into Rovers' half now. It comes to nothing.

88mins Rovers subs: Burke and Honohan off, Kavanagh and Grace on.

84mins Rovers sub: Mandroiu goes off on a stretcher. Wish him a speed recovery. He's replaced by Connor Malley.

83mins John Fallon reports:

Those pair of Shamrock Rovers goals were coming and a miraculous comeback from City, given their numerical inferiority, is required in the final 10 minutes.

As expected, the Hoops started the second half in the ascendency, linking midfield with attack that bit easier due to the spaces.

Unfortunately for Freddie Anderson, the teenage City defender was involved in two contrasting major incidents of the second half.

Five minutes after the restart, his glancing header from Josh Fitzpatrick’s cross forced Ed McGinty to paw the ball away to avoid it nestling in the far corner.

Then, on 65 minutes, his hesitation in dealing with a left-wing cross allowed Dylan Watts to nip the ball of his toe.

He still had to stand up the cross but at the back post Danny Grant came flying in to square the ball back for Rory Gaffney to tap into the corner from close range.

The Tuam 36-year-old, who was a late call to have his contract extended at the start of the season, grabbed his second with typical predatory instinct.

Kevin Feely’s stray flick was intercepted by the veteran who drove on a diagonal run towards goal. Although it seemed he was destined to tee up Burke, he spotted a gap to angle his low shot though the legs of Conor Brann.

Game is petering out with Rovers, on the verge of a first double since 1987, rotating their squad by introducing a slew of substitutes. Another City huddle will need to work wonders.

82mins Break in play as a Rovers player receives treatment.

81mins Few City fans heading for the exits, tough end to a horrible season for them. Few still singing "City 'till I die" though in fairness.

76mins Attendance today is 35, 252.

74mins City sub: Ruairi Keating on for McLaughlin. Good to see him back.

72mins Brilliant by Gaffney. Races clear and after initially looking like he was going to pull the ball back, he rolls it past Brann from the tightest of angles. 2-0 Rovers, 2-0 Gaffney with a man advantage. Surely that's the double now.

GOAL FOR SHAMROCK ROVERS!

70mins Double sub for City. Bolger and Kelleher off, Matthew Murray and Kamara on. Bit more youth, legs and energy. City need it.

67mins It was coming and Gaffney is the man to end City's resilience. Simple finish in the end from a couple of yards. To rub salt in City wounds, the PA played 'after all' as the goal music by accident. 

GOAL FOR SHAMROCK ROVERS!

64mins Better this by Rovers, high tempo. Aaron Mc Eneff sees a header blocked before Honohan slices the rebound well wide from a decent position in the box.

62mins Burke's shot is blocked but it almost falls perfectly for Gaffney but Brann gathers.

61mins Rovers think they have finally broken the deadlock as Gaffney heads home but he was well offside in the end after the corner was flicked on.

GOAL FOR ROV... no it's offside.

59mins City penned back by Rovers, who win a corner. Their fans want a penalty but nothing given.

57mins Kelleher slices his clearance out for a corner.

51mins Anderson heads Fitpatrick's cross towards the far bottom left corner but McGinty makes a sensational save. 

WHAT A SAVE BY MCGINTY!

50mins Nash urging Brann to slow down taking his free inside his own half.

49mins Rovers give away the ball and Bolger attempts a shot from well inside his own half. Like the ambition, he is playing well but it was never on. McGinty collects with ease.

47mins Rovers want a corner but the referee signals for a goal kick. Bolger brilliant again.

45mins Rovers fans have found their voices, must be very confident of a victory now.

WE ARE BACK UNDERWAY!

4.10pm Still waiting, don't they know that I have a bus to catch later!

4.06pm Referee waiting for the smoke from the Rovers end to clear before we can get back underway.

4.05pm Sub for City: Alex Nolan off, Conor Drinan on.

3.54pm Half time report from John Fallon: An evenly-contested first half has just swung the way of Shamrock Rovers following a straight red card issued to Harry Nevin.

There was no need to lunge into a tackle on Josh Honohan with studs raised, leaving his fellow Leesider writhing in agony holding his ankle.

Referee Paul Norton was positioned nearby and didn’t hesitate to brandish the red card from his back pocket. 

Protests from City were non-existent, the staff more interested in organising a team with 10 men for the remaining two minutes of the half – plus the additional two.

The recently-crowned league champions had begun to take a foothold leading up to that flashpoint, forcing a sequence of corners.

Josh Honohan is tackled by Harry Nevin. Pic: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile

City goalkeeper Conor Brann, after initially looking nervous with poor distribution, finally had his first stop to make on the half hour from Burke. It wasn’t until stoppage time that he was extended by the same player, diving to his right to bat away his 20-yard free kick.

Ger Nash and David Meyler have work to do inside the Lansdowne Road dressing-room, planning a second half while a man light.

They can take encouragement from some early forays and the fact Rovers will surely feel the effects of a tiresome trip to Greece on Thursday night, when they drew 1-1 at AEK Athens in the Conference League.

3.50pm Half time and it was a good half for Cork City right up until Harry Nevin was shown a straight red card. A long second half awaits for the Rebel Army. Stay tuned for more.

HALF TIME!

45+3mins Rovers with a free in a dangerous position. Burke takes and it's well saved by Brann and then scrambled clear with Lopes ready to pounce.

45+1mins Corner Rovers, again.

45+1mins There will probably be more than two minutes though following the red card.

TWO MINUTES ADDED ON!

44mins He can have no complaints Harry Nevin. Wreckless tackle with the ball bouncing. Catches Josh Honohan high on the shin. City down to 10 men just before the break.

RED CARD FOR HARRY NEVIN!

42mins Fitzpatrick defends well but it's anohter Rovers corner. It's taken short. Eventually Healy crosses it in but Brann claims. He's done well with the high balls Brann.

41mins Neat footwork by Honohan wins Rovers a corner. City wanted a free out but Brann claims the cross anyway.

39mins The ball eventually makes it's way to Watts and his cross is headed wide of the back post by Lopes.

39mins Good play down the left by former City man Josh Honohan and Kelleher clears for a corner close to his goal.

36mins Chance for Healy on the edge of the box but his strike is stopped by Brann. Rovers causing City more problems now but it remains 0-0.

36mins Nolan overhits his through ball and McGinty gathers despite the best efforts of McLaughlin.

34mins City with every man except Maguire behind the ball. Pressure building as Rovers win another corner. Bolger heads clear but looks like Lopes missed with his connection at the near post.

32mins Rovers in control of proceedings again but have yet to really test the City defence.

31mins Cory O'Sullivan thinks he wins Rovers another corner. He doesn't. Good defending by Josh Fitzpatrick.

29mins Gaffney wins Rovers a corner. Brann gets a fist to the cross before catching it. Did well there, in the end.

26mins John Fallon shares his thoughts on the first quarter: Midway through the first half and Cork City will be satisfied with their first FAI Cup final for seven years unfolded.

There’s been one save of note and that was Hoops goalkeeper Ed McGinty stooping low to keep out Seáni Maguire’s 12th minute shot on the turn.

Key battles are already emerging. Deploying Darragh Crowley as Cork City’s central midfielder partner of Greg Bolger is clearly a ploy at stymying the impact of Rovers talisman Grham Burke. Referee Paul Norton has already had a word with both of the City players after challenges on Burke he deemed overzealous.

Fiacre Kelleher’s assignment of shadowing sole Rovers striker Rory Gaffney has led to a couple of physical exchanges, one in particular off the ball which left the City captain clutching the neck of his shirt in pleading with the referee.

Plenty of noise from both ends too. An turnout estimate of 35,000 looks to be proven accurate.

25mins "Stand up for the Cork City" rings around the Aviva. Rovers fans respond with "Stand up for the champions!"

23mins Anderson's long pass is cut out and Rovers break but former City playmaker Matt Healy's cross sails well wide, much to the delight of the City fans behind that goal.

20mins Maguire is through on goal but the referee awards Rovers a free for a push in the back.

19mins Good battle so far between Anderson and Gaffney. Anderson wins the latest duel and it's a City goal kick.

17mins City sitting deep in a 5-2-3 formation it looks like off the ball.

15mins Rovers with their first sight at goal but Lopes' diving header goes wide.

13mins Big chance that for Seani Maguire. Great cross from the left by Nolan and it falls to the man City fans would have wanted it to fall to but Maguire's low strike is saved by McGinty and gathered at the second attempt.

CITY ALMOST TAKE THE LEAD!

12mins Good start this by City. Beginning to enjoy more possession. 

10mins Good goalkeeping from Brann, races from his line to gather before Gaffney inside the area.

9mins City manager Ger Nash seems to have changed from his suit to a tracksuit now the game is on.

7mins Well worked, short corner by City. Darragh Crowley's low drive from the edge of the box is saved well by McGinty.

Here we go! #FAICupFinal pic.twitter.com/pu0jKYSJg3

— Irish Examiner Sport (@ExaminerSport) November 9, 2025

7mins Bolger whips in a great free but Rovers head it out for a corner.

6mins Good strength by Maguire and he wins City a free on the left wing.

4mins Rovers with a free from the right but City head it clear, just.

3mins Gaffney wins a header but it goes out for a throw. City taking their time over it.

2mins Brann with a City kick out and he had no intention of going short. Rovers dominating the ball already as expected. 

1mins Rovers kick off. They are attacking the City end of the stadium in the first half.

GAME ON!

3.02pm The smoke has cleared, Rovers will kick us off.

3pm Here's how the teams line-up.

Cork City: Brann; Crowley, Anderson, Kelleher, Feely, Nevin; Nolan, Bolger, McLaughlin, Fitzpatrick; Maguire.

Shamrock Rovers: McGinty, Honohan, Lopes, Cleary, Watts, Mc Eneff, Burke, Healy, Gaffney, Grant, O’Sullivan.

2.57pm Time for the national anthem.

2.56pm The teams line up to meet the FAI President.

2.55pm Here come the teams.

2.54pm Following on from that tweet below, the PA has now stopped playing music to allow the fans to create the atmosphere. Hopefully the same will happen on Thursday when Ireland host Portugal. We will have another liveblog for that, by the way.

2.53pm Lots of flags being waved at both ends, no pyro as yet.

2.49pm A few more facts before kick-off. Rovers chasing their 26th FAI Cup, City their fifth. Rovers last won it in 2019, City in 2017. This the first time these two clubs have met in the final. Rovers looking to seal a first league and cup double since 1987.

Keeping up the great Aviva tradition of blaring the music to kill the atmosphere. Fai cup final, even i do like The Stunning @LeagueofIreland pic.twitter.com/2oNCGFx5uF

— desod (@desodr1) November 9, 2025

2.44pm City return to the dressing room, almost time for kick-off.

2.43pm Ruairi Keating slots home during the shooting practice. It will be interesting to see how many minutes he plays.

2.40pm Interesting that Shamrock Rovers came out for the warm-up much earlier than City. Rovers back in the dressing room now, City still out on the pitch as their fans grow louder.

2.38pm City have only won once away from home this year, 0-3 away to Finn Harps in the quarter-finals of this competition. Today would be some day to make it two. As 'after all' by the Frank and Walters rings out over the PA.

2.31pm City fans seem to be making all the noise here at the moment. A reminder that City will be wearing black today to avoid a clash with Rovers' green and white hoops.

2.26pm Nice day here in fairness. The pitch doesn't look the best though, almost as if there was a rugby match on it yesterday!

2.05pm And here is the team news (below). Time to make my way to my seat. Back shortly.

Off to the FAI Cup Final. These lads travelling in much better style than myself pic.twitter.com/YmxjrXib3q

— Andrew Horgan (@AndrewHorgan) November 9, 2025

12.07pm This is it. History will be made in just a few hours’ time.

Welcome all to yet another Irish Examiner liveblog.

My name is Andrew Horgan, and I have the pleasure of being at the Aviva Stadium for the FAI Cup final where Cork City take on Shamrock Rovers.

It’s the team that finished bottom of the Premier Division against the champions. It’s City, chasing salvation at the end of a tough year and an unlikely cup triumph that will see them secure a spot in the Europa League next year, against Rovers, who are chasing their first league and cup double since 1987.

I will be providing regular updates throughout the afternoon, with help from our soccer correspondent John Fallon, so stay tuned to this blog, which will begin properly from 2.15pm ahead of the 3pm kick off.

Until then, feel free to read the best of our preview pieces from our website which you can find below.

FAI Cup Final: Three key battles as Shamrock Rovers face Cork City.

When Declan Daly 'delivered' special cup joy for Cork City.

Cork City assistant David Meyler wants to banish relegation 'regrets' with FAI Cup glory.