Paul Corry's FAI Cup final verdict: Hard to see past Derry

admin admin | 11-09 00:16

This is the standout date in the diary of Irish domestic football.

It will very much be about which Derry City side turns up. Their league form has been very patchy, with only two wins in the last 11 games.

The FAI Cup however has brought out the best in Ruaidhri Higgins' side having knocked out Shels, Bohs, Pats and Cork en route to the final.

If they are to be anywhere near their best, and they do impose themselves on the game like they did in the final two years ago against Shels, I would be shocked if Derry didn’t win this game.

The big pitch at the Aviva Stadium plays into their hands with how they like to play possession-based football and they have plenty of match-winners in the squad.

The likes of Michael Duffy and Patrick McEleney are among those that can produce big moments to get over the line and that’s why I find it hard to see beyond Derry.

That said, if they are a little bit off it, Drogheda have shown with certain league results they are capable of causing a shock.

While you might expect Derry to play expansive, possession-based football, expect Drogheda to sit in, not overly complicate the game and try to feed the two up top with Frantz Pierrot and James Taylor.

That pair have caused teams a lot of problems.

You have to remember that Drogheda finished 21 points behind Derry in the league and won just seven of 36 league games, so a win for Kevin Doherty’s side would be a massive, massive shock.

Verdict: Derry City


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Paul Corry's FAI Cup final verdict: Hard to see past Derry

This is the standout date in the diary of Irish domestic football. It will very much be about which ...