FAI Cup glory no second prize for impenetrable Brian Maher

A clean sheet for Derry City in Sunday's FAI Cup final would see the Candystripes join a select list of clubs who have won the competition without conceding a goal.

Only Athlone Town in 1924, Dundalk in 1958 and Sligo Rovers in 2010 have achieved this feat previously, and if Derry are to match them by shutting out Drogheda United at the Aviva Stadium, much of the credit will go to goalkeeper Brian Maher.

The former Republic of Ireland under-21 stopper has played every minute of a tough cup run so far, as Derry have shut out 2023 winners St Patrick's Athletic and recently-crowned league champions Shelbourne at home, as well as negotiating tricky trips to Cork City and Bohemians with clean sheets intact.

"We beat the league champions, we beat the cup holders, the First Division champions and then you go down to Dalymount and win and we've done that without conceding a goal," the Dubliner told RTÉ Sport's Tony O'Donoghue.

"It's something we take great pride in but at the same time it won’t matter unless we do our business on Sunday."

A win over Drogheda would see Derry lift the FAI Cup for the second time in three years, after they eased to a 4-0 win over Shelbourne back in 2022.

Maher doesn't see a repeat of that routine victory, even if Derry will be much-fancied against a Drogheda side who also have a promotion/relegation play-off with Bray Wanderers circled in their calendars for 16 November.

"You don't expect to enjoy the actual game, you’re hoping to enjoy after it," recalled Maher, who turned 24 at the beginning of this month.

"That day just went for us and we really enjoyed it. I don’t think anyone is expecting that again this year. We just need to make sure that we’re ready again and we do our work properly in the week