2025 FAI Cup

[Dermobohs]

Yeah, thought a neutral would've enjoyed it. Far more entertaining than most recent cup finals which have either gone to penos or been blowouts. Atmosphere was great from both sets of fans.

Cork did well considering the gulf in class. We looked a bit tired as you'd expect. Few lads clearly playing with knocks. Shame about the sending off for the neutrals but I think we would've won it regardless. Corks best chance was to keep it tight long enough for Gaffney and Burke to tire. We didn't have a lot on the bench. That said McGinty did make a few saves.

What a day. It's the best day in Irish sport.

Hard luck to the normal Cork fans. And a massive **** you to their podcast. Clowns.

Now, to update my signature again.

Agree with all that except the bit about most recent cup finals being blowouts?
Usually a good entertaining game, only real flop was shels getting outclassed a few years back, I also thought yesterdays was good, and would have been closer bar the silly red, and a quite bizarre double sub from cork, very strange one.

[Kiki Balboa]

Very harsh on Cork. Gave as good as they got until the sending off and even after. There's a reason they were relegated. They weren't all of a sudden going to become world beaters! Was much more of a contest than I thought

Well, you are probably right. Maybe I just had too high expectations of Cork.

I very much wonder how Cork will get on next year if they keep that squad but lose McLaughlin and Nolan. The 1st might be more competitive than they think (or not, I have no idea). There seems to be a bad atmosphere around Nash, so, a couple of losses might derail their season.

[ontheotherhand]

Agree with all that except the bit about most recent cup finals being blowouts?
Usually a good entertaining game, only real flop was shels getting outclassed a few years back, I also thought yesterdays was good, and would have been closer bar the silly red, and a quite bizarre double sub from cork, very strange one.

I should've said 0-0s in regular time tbf. The last decade has seen a lot of games go by without a goal in normal time. Then there were the few blowouts, like Derry and Shels your yourselves and pats of course.

Regardless, I can see why some mightn't have enjoyed it. A red card can ruin a game as a spectacle. I enjoyed it myself.

[bohsmug]

Not sure what a blowout is and categorising Bohs v Pats and Derry v Shels together isn't clearing it up. Derry beat Shels 4-0. The 2 Bohs v Pat's finals were 0-0 after 90 and 3-1 after 90 respectively, with Pat's initially going behind, level at the break and not opening up the 2 goal lead until the 87th minute. Pat's were much better than Bohs in that 2nd cup final though. Is a blowout a hammering or a poor game?

Anyway, I generally feel the same about finals. If you get a great game of football it's phenomenal to watch but if you don't there's still so much at stake that I barely notice or care whether the game itself is the type you'd typically enjoy as a neutral. Cork seemed unlikely to get the win on Sunday, more so after the sending off but for a while there was the outside chance of one of those backs-to-the-wall then scoring from a corner or breakaway type wins that happen from time to time. Gaffney has been exceptional for Rovers over the years. Despite the problems he's given Bohs over the years I can't dislike him. If he has the better of your defence it tends to stay that way because his attitude never drops. Rovers fans very lucky to have Burke and Gaffney in the same era. Burke has more of a high ceiling, with interest/motivation seeming to be up and down. To have someone with that exceptional quality and someone like Gaffney in the same squad for the best part of a decade has been part of Rovers sustained success. The ship has long sailed if anyone tries to dismiss Rovers success in this era, they've done all kinds of things.

Anyway, the cup final felt like the big deal it tends to. It still had all the emotional reaction of a game that mattered a lot. There was some jeopardy for the majority of it. Even whether Maguire stays or goes is part of the story at the end.

[ontheotherhand]

Not sure what a blowout is and categorising Bohs v Pats and Derry v Shels together isn't clearing it up. Derry beat Shels 4-0. The 2 Bohs v Pat's finals were 0-0 after 90 and 3-1 after 90 respectively, with Pat's initially going behind, level at the break and not opening up the 2 goal lead until the 87th minute. Pat's were much better than Bohs in that 2nd cup final though. Is a blowout a hammering or a poor game?

Anyway, I generally feel the same about finals. If you get a great game of football it's phenomenal to watch but if you don't there's still so much at stake that I barely notice or care whether the game itself is the type you'd typically enjoy as a neutral. Cork seemed unlikely to get the win on Sunday, more so after the sending off but for a while there was the outside chance of one of those backs-to-the-wall then scoring from a corner or breakaway type wins that happen from time to time. Gaffney has been exceptional for Rovers over the years. Despite the problems he's given Bohs over the years I can't dislike him. If he has the better of your defence it tends to stay that way because his attitude never drops. Rovers fans very lucky to have Burke and Gaffney in the same era. Burke has more of a high ceiling, with interest/motivation seeming to be up and down. To have someone with that exceptional quality and someone like Gaffney in the same squad for the best part of a decade has been part of Rovers sustained success. The ship has long sailed if anyone tries to dismiss Rovers success in this era, they've done all kinds of things.

Anyway, the cup final felt like the big deal it tends to. It still had all the emotional reaction of a game that mattered a lot. There was some jeopardy for the majority of it. Even whether Maguire stays or goes is part of the story at the end.

Ah TBF I was still celebrating and just throwing a little dig at bohs. That was a good final between yourselves and pats and I agree, unless it's a proper blowout like Derry and Shels, the tension and atmosphere makes it special. Thought Cork were very good. Watched the game back last night and they have some lovely young players. Fitzpatrick and McLaughlin were excellent. Maguire still has it as well. Wonder will be better tempted to stay in the premier.

Agree on Burke and Gaffney. Two of the best we've ever had and both fairly unique in their styles of play. They are a joy to watch. Nice lads too. Hopefully Gaffney has a other season in him. We could've won the league last year if he'd been fit for even half of it.