2025 FAI Cup

**TonyD** · 15/09/2025, 11:13 AM

Originally Posted by Nesta99

More than a Rover or Pats v Cork final! If Cork are relegated and they will be there wont be many that will venture out of Cork.

Like most finals, if it is marketed well, priced reasonably, Pats and Bohs had 44k coupld of years ago so you'd hope for similar unless the novelty of cups wins has won off for Pats, Rovers have 1 in 28 years or so so the cup specialists might not be that bothered.

Speaking for myself I can safely say that the novelty of a Cup Final, let alone a Cup win, will never wear off. Three out of five cups would be fantastic if we could do it. I imagine a Pats/Rovers final would be close to a sell out, but not counting any chickens with regard to Cork away. I think we'll be favourites, but its not a gimme by any means.

**Roones26** · 15/09/2025, 12:51 PM

I see the Kerry Rovers game will be on TV. What’s the odds it’s as bad as Athlone Dundalk game in ‘20?

**culloty82** · 15/09/2025, 1:07 PM

Oddly enough, we only lost 3-0 to Rovers in a pre-season friendly that was scoreless at the break - much change in both squads since then, of course, but should be able to avoid a total blowout, at least.

**2 Year Contract** · 15/09/2025, 1:09 PM

Originally Posted by Roones26

I see the Kerry Rovers game will be on TV. What’s the odds it’s as bad as Athlone Dundalk game in ‘20?

In fairness to Athlone that game came a full month after their last game and they were absolutely miles off it fitness wise which compounded the already huge gap in quality. I’d imagine rovers will play a mainly second string side with Europe 3 days previous, they should still win handsomely though and can always throw a couple of the starters on from the bench on the extremely off chance that things aren’t going well

**culloty82** · 15/09/2025, 1:10 PM

Anyway, that game has been fixed for 6pm on the Sunday, so very much looking like the wee small hours before the away fans would get home!

**sbgawa** · 15/09/2025, 2:51 PM

We only beat Longford 2 nil with the second string and only then after throwing on the bomb squad after 65 mins.
First or seconf string Rovers the most important thing will be to go out and compete, that was what was missing against Longford , you could see the lack of zip in Rovers with everyone waitng for someone else to do something.
Ill be praying Cork pull and upset off over PAts, the final coming back from Athens on the Friday or Saturday will be a tough ask against a decent Pats team.
In terms of managing players if we can wrap the league up early he could give decent rests to some of our guaranteed starters, Pico, Grace, Cleary. Healy, Honohan,Burke in the last few weeks of the season

**outspoken** · 15/09/2025, 5:21 PM

Originally Posted by sbgawa

We only beat Longford 2 nil with the second string and only then after throwing on the bomb squad after 65 mins.
First or seconf string Rovers the most important thing will be to go out and compete, that was what was missing against Longford , you could see the lack of zip in Rovers with everyone waitng for someone else to do something.
Ill be praying Cork pull and upset off over PAts, the final coming back from Athens on the Friday or Saturday will be a tough ask against a decent Pats team.
In terms of managing players if we can wrap the league up early he could give decent rests to some of our guaranteed starters, Pico, Grace, Cleary. Healy, Honohan,Burke in the last few weeks of the season

HOW DARE YOU......It was 2-1

**MoydowMonty** · 15/09/2025, 6:13 PM

Originally Posted by 2 Year Contract

In fairness to Athlone that game came a full month after their last game and they were absolutely miles off it fitness wise which compounded the already huge gap in quality. I’d imagine rovers will play a mainly second string side with Europe 3 days previous, they should still win handsomely though and can always throw a couple of the starters on from the bench on the extremely off chance that things aren’t going well

If I recall correctly their keeper was injured and they had a teenager make his debut in goal. Felt sorry for that poor fella, the baptism of fire to end all baptism of fires

**Dermobohs** · 15/09/2025, 6:14 PM

Originally Posted by sbgawa

We only beat Longford 2 nil with the second string and only then after throwing on the bomb squad after 65 mins.
First or seconf string Rovers the most important thing will be to go out and compete, that was what was missing against Longford , you could see the lack of zip in Rovers with everyone waitng for someone else to do something.
Ill be praying Cork pull and upset off over PAts, the final coming back from Athens on the Friday or Saturday will be a tough ask against a decent Pats team.
In terms of managing players if we can wrap the league up early he could give decent rests to some of our guaranteed starters, Pico, Grace, Cleary. Healy, Honohan,Burke in the last few weeks of the season

Now there’s a double edged sword , sbgawa, cork would be already relegated, pride stung, up against a shower of arrogant dubs, they’d tear into it I reckon, probably backed by a big support having a last hurrah for a while.
Pats have more quality but a few chinks in the armour, maybe there would also be less complacency among rovers’ players v pats?
They’ve looked a bit less than focussed this season when facing “ lesser” opposition, stung by Bohs 3 times, arguably could have won two of them?

**sbgawa** · 15/09/2025, 7:01 PM

The last match against bohs we certainly didnt look up for it at all tbf.
Insuppose any 1 off match against anyome is tricky but cork have looked dire every time weve played them

**CorribsideSteve** · 16/09/2025, 8:21 AM

No Bray-style year for us like 1999 when they won the cup and got relegated. It's just the latter part that's still a prospect for us now. Pity Kerry didnt get Cork. You'd expect Rovers to beat them 5 nil.

**Nesta99** · 16/09/2025, 7:55 PM

Dundalk rlegated in 2002 also. One of the better teams in LoI to get relegated imo, of course it was league restructuring that denied us a play-off at the least.

**culloty82** · 18/09/2025, 6:29 PM

Shamrock Rovers have put the Kerry allocation on general sale - presumably the East Stand is the usual away end?

https://www.shamrockrovers.ie/away-fans-tickets/

**placid casual** · 19/09/2025, 6:05 AM

The 1st competitive game between the two sides, unless I'm mistaken.
Hopefully a good away support from Kerry, possibly increased by Dublin based kerry folk looking to support their county for the day.
Hopefully Rovers take the game a bit more seriously than the last game against the culchie boez.
Have a sneaky suspicion cork may do Pat's in the other semi now,I'll be interested to see the Cork team tonight and their attitude.

**Neish** · 19/09/2025, 9:26 AM

Originally Posted by culloty82

Anyway, that game has been fixed for 6pm on the Sunday, so very much looking like the wee small hours before the away fans would get home!

Provided the game doesn't go to extra time and penalties , it won't be that bad. On the road by 8-830pm be back in Tralee for 12:30-1am, there has been plenty of times I havn't got home from an Harps away day to 3am or 4am

**nr637** · 19/09/2025, 9:33 AM

Originally Posted by placid casual

The 1st competitive game between the two sides, unless I'm mistaken.
Hopefully a good away support from Kerry, possibly increased by Dublin based kerry folk looking to support their county for the day.
Hopefully Rovers take the game a bit more seriously than the last game against the culchie boez.
Have a sneaky suspicion cork may do Pat's in the other semi now,I'll be interested to see the Cork team tonight and their attitude.

Kerry will bring 500+ for this game.

**EatYerGreens** · 21/09/2025, 6:19 PM

Originally Posted by nr637

Kerry will bring 500+ for this game.

That would be some achievement if so. Hopefully they'll be give as many tickets as they want.

**Nesta99** · 21/09/2025, 7:11 PM

Originally Posted by nr637

Kerry will bring 500+ for this game.

Just out of interest, what do you think would max out Kerry support in terms of size currently. Say you drew Cork, home and there werent ground limitations, and Cork away?

**culloty82** · 21/09/2025, 8:02 PM

Difficult to know - for league games, the fact that there's little turnover in clubs each season means the novelty factor has gone, which has affected the average. That said, the fact that the Sligo match sold out with a fortnight to go shows that you could probably sell 2,000-2,500 tickets for high-profile ties, be that in the Cup or if Cork visited.

**legendz** · 22/09/2025, 9:14 PM

Kerry's win over Sligo was building over the last few years. Gave Drogheda a good game in 2023. Brought Bohs to penalties in 2024. Achieved the mighty scalp of a Premier opponent at the third attempt!
The semi final draw is the obviously the toughest they could have gotten. Doesn't take much for the grounded realisation of the daunting challenge ahead.
Kerry's CEO Billy Dennehy enjoyed good success with Rovers in his playing career. Secured a loan deal for Barrett in 2023. The clubs played a friendly in early February.
Billy Dennehy played for Rovers against Tottenham in White Hart Lane in the Europa League in 2011. Probably a similar magnitude of the challenge for Kerry FC travelling to Tallaght Stadium!
I think with this being Kerry's third year, it is the first year they can actually qualify for Europe. Pipe dream stuff obviously. 14 years on from Billy Dennehy playing in the Europa League, not bad going as CEO to have Kerry 180 minutes away from the Europa League qualifiers.