History against Drogheda in bid to shock Derry in final

Sport loves a David versus Goliath story, especially in cup football. Referring to Drogheda United as a David may be harsh, and Derry City have not quite performed like a Goliath.

But the 2024 FAI Cup final brings together two teams who competed at opposite ends of the league table in this and recent seasons.

Derry City spent most of the 2024 season in second place chasing leaders and eventual winners Shelbourne. That was until a poor end to the campign saw them win one of their last eight and twice after June. That led to a drop to fourth place.

Drogheda United spent the majority of this year in the ninth spot they ultimately occupied at season's end.

A blip during June and July saw neighbours Dundalk leapfrog them but one defeat in nine through late summer and early autumn means they will have the chance to compete for a Premier Division place in a play-off next week.

There is a gap of five places in the league table for the 2024 FAI Cup final opponents. The last time there was a bigger gap of league places between a pair of cup finalists was in 2011 when First Division Shelbourne made it to the second Aviva Stadium final in 2011 to face Sligo Rovers. Only two other times in the summer era (since 2003) has there been a gap bigger than five places, in 2009 and 2007.

The concerning for Drogheda United may be that the only side to pull off the upset was Sporting Fingal.

The caveat is that did come against a Sligo Rovers team who only finished sixth in what was the first cup final to not feature a top five team since 1991 had Galway United (eighth) beat Shamrock Rovers (sixth).

While that is the only recent example of a cup upset with a gap as big as five places, the overall picture shows that league position is not a big