It's the biggest day in the domestic soccer calendar as, following on from an extraordinary League of Ireland season, Derry City and Drogheda United are set to battle it out in the Sports Direct FAI Cup final.
The FAI have pointed out that the ticket sales for the game have already well surpassed the 30,412 people who showed up to watch Dundalk beat Cork City at the Aviva Stadium in 2018.
The significance? Today's crowd is likely to break the record for a final involving two non-Dublin clubs if everyone shows up in the capital, with over 40,000 tickets sold as of yesterday.
In a week where three clubs - Bohemians, Sligo Rovers and Wexford - have secured funding towards revamping their stadiums, it's further evidence of the growing popularity of the domestic game in Ireland.
That news came off the back of record numbers tuning in to watch the conclusion of the league season nine days ago.
Derry's season is on the line
For Derry, the game has taken on an even greater significance since their end-of-season fall off in the league.
They won just one of their last eight games, missed out on the title and, more significantly once the title was gone, slipped from second to fourth place.
After a disappointing defeat to FCB Magpies in the Conference League this summer, the Candystripes will miss out on Europe completely for next season if they fail to win this afternoon.
Such a defeat would surely have long-reaching consequences for the club heading into next season.
Derry, who only entered the FAI Cup for the first time in the mid-1980s, have a fantastic record in the competition as they prepare for their 12th appearance in the final this afternoon. They've won the cup six times, most recently just two years ago when they completely outclassed Shelbourne.
'The FAI Cup final is a special day for everyone' - @CorkTOD samples the mood in Drogheda and Derry ahead of Sunday's decider at the Aviva Stadium, respective managers Kevin Doherty and Ruaidhrí Higgins giving their thoughts #FAICupfinal pic.twitter.com/jO2j3U0XZH
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) November 8, 2024
Comparing the current Derry squad to the one from two years ago, 11 players have moved away from the club but there are still 10 players involved, with the majority set to play a big part in the game this afternoon.
One of those is defender Mark Connolly, and he says it has been thoughts of two years ago, rather than the last two weeks, that have given him confidence ahead of the showpiece game.
"To fall short with two games to go is bitterly disappointing, but we've put ourselves in the position to win a cup.
"I think with disappointment can come real success and real belief in Sunday of having the chance to go and win another FAI Cup in the space of three years would be amazing for the city."
Drogheda targeting two massive weekends
On paper, Derry are strong favourites, but the last 10 games of the league actually saw Drogheda deliver three more points than Ruadhrí Higgins and his players managed.
"We're well used to it," says Drogs manager Kevin Doherty of being the underdogs going into the game.
"Generally, every week, we are underdogs in games. You don't have to go to a bookmaker or anything, people will tell you that anyway. We can certainly handle that tag."
Game Of Two Halves have crunched the numbers, and it concluded that Drogheda can't be ruled out.
"In the 21 summer era cup finals, a respectable eight times the lower ranked side have left with the cup," the author wrote ahead of the game.
The sides most recent meeting in the league saw Drogs win at Weavers Park in late September thanks to a Frantz Pierrot double.
It'll be a fifth appearance in the decider for the Louth club, who are looking to replicate their 2005 triumph when they beat Cork City at the old Lansdowne Road.
It won't be the last game of their season however, with the arguably more significant meeting with Bray next week set to decide which division of the League of Ireland they will play in next season. That game is down for Tallaght Stadium on Saturday.
Having had to watch Dundalk's adventures abroad over the last decade, it'd be a particularly sweet one for Drogheda fans to win the cup, guaranteeing them European soccer, in the season that their neighbours were sent down to the second tier.
Maintaining their place in the Premier Division next weekend would be the cherry on top, so there's plenty for Kevin Doherty and his players to aim for this afternoon.
Expert view
"Realistically, when you look back at it, Derry had the best opportunity of all the teams to go ahead of Shelbourne [in the league].
"And they just weren't able to get over the line when those opportunities presented themselves. There was some really poor performances and really poor results along the way.
However, he concludes that, "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."
"But I'd expect the likes of Patrick McEleney, Michael Duffy, and other flare players - [Paul] McMullen, whose been bright all season - you'd expect them, on the big pitch, to go and show their quality and open up Drogheda."
