First though, the size of the crowd. Thing is, last year's gathering of in and around 25,000 seems more an anomaly of recent times than part/start of any trend . . . it matched a Cork group on a bandwagon of success and hope with a Drogheda club in their first final for years so was always going to enchant the daytrippers. The previous year's showpiece between Longford and Waterford was overshadowed by the Manchester United/Arsenal clash on the same day and the crowd didn't reach the fivefigure mark . . . Daryl Murphy mentioned the lack of interest that day as the most disappointing aspect of his time at Waterford. Then, 2003 was a decent enough crowd for Longford/St Pat's but Tolka Park hosted the final for several years prior to that so figures were limited.

Suggestions for today are that Derry will bring anything up to between 5-6,000 supporters, with St Pat's 34,000 maximum, and on a cold winter's day you wouldn't expect too many neutrals to pop their heads in. All of which means the attendance figure will be doing well to push the respectable mark again for what is meant to be Irish football's big day.

Damien Richardson actually made a point last year, what with it being "summer football" and all, for the final to be held earlier in the season and perhaps there's something inherently wrong about the showpiece taking place on a dark, wet December evening with the wind swirling.

Anyway, what of the game itself? Well, chances are there mightn't be any potential Kevin Doyles trotting around Lansdowne today but a few guys should stand out.

Derry's Kevin Deery picked up the Young Player of the year award, was capped at Irish under-21 level and received a call-up for the B game last month . . . not a bad season for the midfielder, who's got buckets of energy and a knack of hitting the target from long range. Paddy McCourt is as tricky and skilful a ball player as you'll find in the league and will be looked to for any assists.

It shouldn't be a bad game either, weather-permitting.

St Pat's like to get to ball down . . . Michael Foley is a neat, tidy passer in midfield . . . and spread it out the wings as quickly as possible to the speedy likes of Mark Rutherford and Sean O'Connor.

Derry have been one of those good-to-watch sides for a few years with plenty of pace and invention in attack and potential goals from everywhere.

There's little doubt who are being labelled underdogs here. Derry were so close to the league title this season that they had an identical record to Shelbourne but were just seven goals out; they've been the most consistent team over the last two years; they've already won the league cup, beaten Gretna and IFK Gothenburg in Europe and taken seven points from nine in the games with St Pat's this season.

There is hope for St Pat's, waiting for their first cup win since 1961. Ciaran Martyn's bursts and goals (15 in all competitions) from midfield will be a loss for Derry. If St Pat's are going to win, it'll probably be a goal from Paul Keegan or Trevor Molloy to win it . . . Keegan has six goals in the league with his two in the cup, Molloy has six and five. And Stephen Quigley will need to keep McCourt's box of tricks firmly shut, the Derry left winger lit up a drab league game between the sides last month with an assist and a shot off the post when introduced.

But the feeling is that even if Mark Farren and Gary Beckett can be stopped up front . . . no easy task itself to halt their leading scorer and a league player of the year nominee . . . that Derry still have too much goal threat from other areas. It's damn hard to back against them giving Stephen Kenny as fitting a send off as he could want.

FAI CUP FINAL DERRY CITY v ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC
Lansdowne Road, 3.15 Live, RTE Two, 2.55