Football fever kicks in as cup final awaits
“It'll either be the greatest upset or probably one of the greatest hammerings to be honest. I don't think there will be an in-between.”
The words of former Cork City FC chairman and co-host of the Other Three Amigos Podcast, Declan Carey ahead of this Sunday’s FAI Cup final between Cork City FC and Shamrock Rovers.
Relegated City are clear underdogs in Sunday’s clash at the Aviva Stadium having claimed just 24 points, polar opposites to their FAI Cup Final opponents who won the league this year making it five league wins from the previous six campaigns.
Declan said his heart tells him that Cork can win on Sunday even though everything is stacked against them.
He said: “I've been to a couple of cup finals in Dublin where we were the underdog before and I'm just drawing hope from that.”
“The players have the ultimate free hit to go up to Dublin now give it an absolute lash.
“I don't see it being a dogged affair where it goes to extra time and then Shamrock Rovers eke it out one nil. They will either win well or we will eke it out. Maybe an early goal and we will hold on for 85 minutes.
“Someone will get a chance in the game; we will get a chance on goal,” added Declan.
With mounting pressure on the club’s current owner Dermot Usher, who took over in 2023, Declan said a win on Sunday could buy the Leinster businessman a bit of grace as he tries to change the club’s fortunes.
Declan said: “I was on the board myself and I was chairman for close to five years and I can’t imagine how hard it is for him.
“There comes a time when he has to look at it and say, ‘Is this really the right thing for me? Am I really compatible with this club and culture and can I see myself really being here for the next five or ten years?’.
“If I was Dermot, I would definitely be thinking about talking to other potential investors to take over the majority stake and slowly step away. He's got contacts that would be interested in that, I have no doubt about it.
“For me, the club needs to sign a large chunk of Premier Division quality players,” added Declan.
This Friday at 8pm, in the lead-up the Sunday’s big final, Declan and his colleagues at The Other Three Amigos Cork City FC podcast will put on their first ever live show at the Metropole Hotel.
There will be a number of very special guests and a big raffle with tickets including premium tickets to Sunday’s final and a jersey signed by the 2007 Cork City FC FAI Cup winning team.
All proceeds from the special show will go to Cork City Hospitals Children’s Club who provide children with illness a break from their daily challenges.
“They do unbelievable work, and they don't get enough credit or publicity I feel,” said Declan.
Tickets for the show are €10 and are available at tickets.totap.ie, or through The Other 3 Amigos Podcast social media channels.
Ahead of Sunday’s final, EZ Living Interiors has announce an extension of its partnership with Cork City FC as the official sleeve sponsor for the big game. Cork-based family company EZ Living Interiors has sponsored Cork City FC for over ten years.
Gavin White, Managing Director of EZ Living Interiors said: “We are incredibly proud to continue our support of Cork City FC as they take to the Aviva Stadium for the FAI Cup Final.”