The winners of this year's eircom League Cup final between Longford Town and Bohemians will receive €12,000 in prize money following a decision of the eircom League to raise the overall prize fund by €4,000.
Both the winner and runners-up prize have been increased by €2,000, with the beaten finalists taking home €6,000. This will be in addition to each club's share of the net revenue from gate receipts and programme sales.
Losing semi-finalists Limerick and Finn Harps will receive €1,500.
The first final of the 2004 season, which is being played at Flancare Park, Longford on Monday next (August 30th) will be decided on the night.
This is the 31st League Cup Final and it is Flancare Park's first time to host a national senior final.
If the sides are level after 90 minutes' play, 30 minutes of extra-time will be played. If the sides are still level after extra-time, a penalty shoot-out will decide the winners.
Pat Whelan (Dublin) will referee the match while the Assistant Referees are Conor Fitzgerald (Dublin) and Rhona Daly (Roscommon). The fourth official is Paul Deering (Sligo).
This is Longford Town's second successive League Cup Final, following their only other appearance at this stage of the competition - a 1-0 defeat to St Patrick's Athletic at Richmond Park on August 25th 2003 in last year's decider.
Bohemians are making their fourth appearance in a League Cup Final, having last reached this stage in 1992 only to lose 1-0 to Derry City. They have won the competition on two previous occasions: 1975 with a 2-1 victory over Finn Harps and 1979 with a 2-0 victory over Shamrock Rovers.
Tickets cost €15 for adults and €7 for children under 16 and are on sale from both clubs and usual outlets.
Flancare Park is an all-seater stadium and maximum capacity for Monday night's match is 4,400.
eircom League Chairman Declan O Luanaigh said: "Monday night sees the first silverware of the 2004 season up for decision. Having been narrowly beaten in last year's final, Longford Town need no motivation to try to claim the League Cup on home soil while Bohemians will be aiming to return the League Cup to Dalymount Park for the first time in over a decade. It has all the hallmarks of a great final."
