This Sunday the FAI cup is on the line between Cork City and Dundalk. For the 2nd time in just over a year both sides will be clashing with a trophy on the line. In 2014 it was the league title in which a 2-0 success for Dundalk saw them win their first title since 1994-95. The 2014 title race set up a grand finale that Cork City just couldn't see out having gone into the clash in 1st place. Revenge is definitely the mission ahead of this clash.
Cork City never really troubled Dundalk in the title race to the extent they did in 2014 so the cup was always likely to be given a full tilt once City were realistically out of contention for league honors. Dundalk will be favorites as they ran away with the title and have just looked a class above anyone domestically this season. However the 2nd best time domestically two years running Cork City certainly have a big day in them. They couldn't match Dundalk over a 33 game marathon this season but on a given day they will be more than a match.
In many ways this is the ideal final. The two best sides for the past two years going head-to-head and both sides have a big fan base that should create a proper atmosphere on cup final day. For Dundalk a victory would cap off a terrific season while for City it would end the season on a high.
Personally I'm hoping City will emerge victorious so we can finally end the hoodoo that the lily-whites have had over us since 2012. City's last victory over Dundalk was back in May 2012, a 3-2 success. However it is worth noting that Dundalk in 2012 were a very poor side and have since enjoyed a surge in fortunes. There isn't many better ways to beat a bogey team than in a national cup final so hopefully we'll emerge victorious!.
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