Drogs are holding possession well but Derry are sitting back and almost daring them to come forward which they haven't been able to do so far.

Ten minutes gone and the two teams are settling into the game. Neither keeper really tested so far as the cup final nerves are on show for both sides.

The first stirrings for Derry as Ronan Boyce gets a cross in from the right but Danny Mullen and Michael Duffy get in each other's way and neither get a shot off.

Pierrot again causing trouble. His strike partner Douglas James-Taylor wins a flick on and only a good intervention from Mark Connolly stops Pierrot getting a shot away.

Five minutes gone and the Candystripes have had next to no ball.

Franz Pierrot has scored three goals and been sent off against Derry this season and he is already causing problems. He forced Ronan Boyce into running the ball out for a throw which the Candystripes defend well and he then almost gets on the end of a long ball.

The Haiti international is a lively customer.

We are underway at the Aviva Stadium! Can Drogheda win just a second FAI Cup in their history or will the Candystripes bring the cup back to the Brandywell for a seventh time and second in three years?

It's sure to be a belter as Derry get us underway attacking their fans in the South Stand.

Kick-off has been delayed here due to the smoke from flares set off behind the goal.

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.

Image source, Inpho

Jana McCabe
BBC Sport NI at the Aviva Stadium

Tony the Drogheda fan thinks that the Candystripes will be the 2-1 victors, but his partner Nicola stuck with the Drogs and she thinks they will win by the same scoreline.

Image source, BBC Sport

Brendan, who has travelled from Bangor for the game, thinks Derry will be the comfortable 3-0 winners this afternoon.

Image source, BBC Sport

Youngster Bobby and his dad are very confident that it’ll be an easy day for Ruaidhri Higgins men and think they will win 4-0.

Image source, BBC Sport

Derry City winger Michael Duffy says an FAI Cup final win "is needed now" after the Brandywell club's challenge to win the Premier Division title faltered over the latter stages of the season.

The Candystripes won just two of their last 11 league games to go from title contenders to finishing a hugely disappointing fourth in the table.

Ruaidhri Higgins' side has an opportunity to atone for that somewhat when they face Drogheda in Sunday's decider at the Aviva Stadium, with qualification for European club competition also on the line.

"It was a tough few weeks for everyone involved with the club. You go from being two games away from winning the league to finishing fourth, which is a bit mad," Duffy told BBC Sport NI.

"We move on from that now and we’re excited for trying to win this trophy. Hopefully we can go and do it.

"To get that trophy back in Derry next week and see everyone enjoy the moment and celebrating together would be special."

Image source, Inpho

Ruaidhri Higgins makes a pair of changes from Derry's final-day defeat to Shelbourne last Friday and that sees the McEleney brothers, Patrick and Shane return with Duncan Idehen and Colm Whelan the two dropping to the bench. There is also a place on that bench for Pat Hoban.

Drogheda manager Kevin Doherty also makes two changes from his side's goalless draw with Louth rivals Dundalk as Conor Kane and David Webster come in for Aaron Harper-Bailey and Luke Heeney. A strong side which shows he is focused fully on today despite their promotion/relegation playoff with Bray Wanderers next week.

Drogheda United: Dennison, Ahui, Bolger, Brennan, Farrell, James-Taylor, Kane, Markey, Pierrot, Quinn, Webster

Subs: Wogan, Bosakani, Davis, Deegan, Foley, Harper-Bailey, Heeney, Keaney, McNally

Derry City: Maher, Boyce, Connolly, Diallo, Duffy, P. McEleney, S. McEleney, McMullan, Mullen, O'Reilly, Wisdom

Subs: Ryan, Barr, Davenport, Doherty, Hoban, Idehen, Patching, Robertson, Whelan

Image source, Inpho

Tens of thousands of Derry City supporters hoping to cheer their team to cup final glory are making their way to Dublin.

About 20,000 Candystripes fans are expected to descend on the Irish capital as their team aims to take the FAI Cup back to the north west for a seventh time.

Among the red and white army at the Aviva Stadium are the McGonagle family.

Dad Aaron is very confident about the result.

“I think it's going to be a good final and hopefully Derry will win 3-0," he said.

His son Cillian, who is 9, is brimming with expectation too.

"I’m really excited and I think Derry’s gonna win 3-1 with Mickey Duffy getting two and Will Patching getting the other one."

Brother Malachi who is five said simply: “Derry all the way.”

Read more from supporters heading to the final here.

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.

Image source, Inpho

Derry City manager Ruaidhri Higgins spoke to BBC Sport NI earlier in the week on their end to the season and the cup final: "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."

Image source, Inpho

The Aviva Stadium in Dublin is ready for today's decider.

It will be interesting to see how the pitch holds up given that Ireland's opening Autumn Nations Series game against New Zealand was played here on Friday night.

Image source, BBC Sport

Also how nice is today's match programme!

Image source, BBC Sport

Good afternoon and welcome to our live text commentary of the FAI Cup final at the Aviva Stadium.

Derry City are aiming secure the FAI Cup for the second time in three years as they face Drogheda United.

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.

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 and after the game there will be a match report and post-match reaction.

Thanks for joining us - enjoy!

Image source, Inpho