Can Derry win the Cup? All you need to know ahead of the FAI Cup final

Derry City player Patrick McEleney and manager Ruaidhri Higgins pictured with the FAI Cup

Derry City will aim to secure the FAI Cup for the second time in three years when they face Drogheda United in Sunday's 2024 final at the Aviva Stadium (15:00 GMT kick-off).

The Candystripes' superior league position during the League of Ireland Premier Division campaign will see them go into the game as favourites but their opponents will be confident of causing an upset in the showpiece occasion of the season.

As the anticipation mounts ahead of kick-off on Sunday, we bring you all you need to know about the final.

How can I follow the final on the BBC?

You can follow all the drama of the big Dublin cup final as it unfolds with BBC Sport NI.

BBC Sounds and BBC Radio Foyle will have live audio commentary of the game from 14:30 GMT.

Dessie McCallion presents the coverage with commentary from Eric White and Liam Coyle, while Odhran Crumley will be the touchline reporter with all the news before, during and after the game.

You can also listen to the live audio coverage on the BBC Sport website, where Mark Strange will provide a live text commentary, plus there will be a match report and post-match reaction.

How did the sides get to the final?

Derry City are aiming to clinch a seventh FAI Cup success, with their most recent victory coming courtesy of a comprehensive 4-0 win over Shelbourne in the 2022 final.

The club's road to this year's decider has been a difficult one, with Ruaidhri Higgins' side securing wins over St Patrick's Athletic, Cork City, Shelbourne and Bohemians without conceding goal en route to their impending encounter with Drogheda.

Danny Mullen grabbed a double and Michael Duffy was on target as St Pat's were dispatched 3-0 in the second round at the Brandywell.

Round three saw Sam Todd net the winner in a 1-0 triumph over First Division champions Cork at Turner's Cross.

Duffy and Mullen secured a goal apiece in a 2-0 win over eventual Premier Division champions Shels at the Brandywell in the quarter-finals, and Duffy continued his goalscoring exploits in a 2-0 success over Bohs at Dalymount Park in the last four.

Drogheda have defeated Dundalk 2-1, Wilton United 9-0, Athlone Town 4-1 and Wexford Youths 3-2 to book their place in the final.

Derry City's Patrick McEleney in action against Darragh Markey of Drogheda United

League form be a guide?

Derry City's bid to win the Premier Division faltered dramatically in the latter stages of the season and they ended up fourth in the final league table, eight points adrift of champions Shelbourne.

From being challengers throughout the League of Ireland term, Derry's form dipped to the extent that they won just two of their last 11 fixtures, picking up just 11 points from those matches.

Inconsistency plagued their efforts to lift the biggest prize in the domestic game and also saw them fall to an unexpected aggregate loss to Maltese side Magpies in the first qualifying round of the Uefa Conference League.

Drogheda finished ninth in the table, 21 points worse off than their opponents on Sunday, with just seven victories from their 36 league outings.

Six days after the final, Kevin Doherty's side face a relegation play-off tie against Bray Wanderers as they bid to retain their top-flight status.

Head to head this season

The league meetings between the finalists this season have resulted in one win apiece and a draw.

The sides drew 2-2 at United Park in April but Derry ran out convincing 5-1 winners at the Brandywell in June.

Drogs exacted a degree of revenge for that reverse with a 2-1 success in September.

What the Derry City manager says

Derry City manager Ruaidhri Higgins speaking to BBC Sport NI: "We didn’t show enough consistency throughout the season but we now have an opportunity to finish the season on a really high note and give this city something to cheer about and make a lot of people happy.

"That’s what we’re in football for, to have special days like this. Cup finals are all about winning so whatever we need to win it we need to do.

"If we can play anywhere near the levels of performance from a couple of years ago [the win over Shels] then we give ourselves a really good chance.

"I can’t remember a route to the final like it. Every time a draw was made you’re wincing, such difficult ties, but the players deserve so much credit, showing real strength of character at difficult venues and at home. I hope we can go one better, it would mean so much to everyone connected with the club.

"We know we are slight favourites in some people’s eyes. We have to embrace and enjoy everything about it. We’ve a chance to win two in three years and that’s the motivation."

Derry have the opportunity to qualify for European competition with a cup final win.

"We are a club that expects to be in European competition. There’s no doubt about that.

"It’s been a strange few weeks, we had a chance of winning the league and now we need to win the cup to qualify for Europe. It’s been a rollercoaster year, some good performances, some not so good, but we know we’re capable on these types of occasions to play well and perform well."