Sligo Rovers survived relegation on the last day while Sporting Fingal earned promotion in a play-off, now one side can round off a topsy-turvy year with a cup
Sligo might be uncomfortable with the favourites' tag, but for them to even be involved in today's FAI Cup final says a lot about the character of the club. When manager Paul Cook decided to step down before the season had even started, the signs were that this could be a troublesome year for The Bit O'Red.
Cook did return after the club's board raised extra funds, although things hardly improved as he was forced to work with a squad savaged by injuries and a fixture pile-up due to their involvement in both the Europa League and Setanta Sports Cup. As they slid down the league table and dropped out of Europe to Albanian minnows KS Vllaznia, morale sunk to a low ebb. It got so bad that for an away game against Cork City, he was only able to select two players on his substitutes' bench.
Having guided the club to a surprise fourth place finish in the Premier Division last term, the former Southport manager was eager to take the Connacht-based side to the next level yet he felt like he was stuck in Groundhog Day with the same issues cropping up again and again.
"What you're always trying to do at football clubs is progress," said Cook. "It's a big word – progression. It's hard because last year we did finish the season on a high with Europe. But it's finances, isn't it? I can only do what the club allow me to do. As a manager I just put the head down and get on with it. I don't think you should make excuses."
Solace was found midway through the season when Sligo were finally able to recruit new players. Suddenly the results started to change. A four-game unbeaten run in October highlighted their change in fortune, while the cup competitions also gave them a platform on which to shine.
They reached the semi-final of the EA Sports Cup, where they pushed Bohemians all the way into extra-time before eventually tumbling out, although they did get revenge over The Gypsies when they knocked them out of the FAI Cup en route to the final. Premier Division survival was secured on the last day and that has allowed Cook to turn his attentions towards this end-of-season showpiece event, which he is nervously looking forward to.
"If you get beaten you would have to say it would be at the bottom," he said. "I'm not being funny, it would be one of the biggest disappointments in your life. If you win though, I suppose it would have to be the best. That's what cup finals do to people."
In contrast to Sligo's topsy-turvy campaign, Sporting Fingal have been riding high over the past few months and are hoping for the perfect ending today. Liam Buckley's side did get off to a slow start and had to contend with long-term injuries to the first-choice centre-back pairing of Stephen Paisley and Shaun Maher. But they were never far from the top of the First Division table as they kept up the hunt for promotion.
The club's ability to attract players considered Premier Division quality aided that pursuit, but the undoubted star for the Dubliners this season has been ex-UCD winger Conan Byrne, who has netted 26 goals. Along with his superb scoring rate from midfield, Byrne is quite unique as he is also the club's Community Development Officer. With his added duties, it is not that surprising that he experiences the highs and lows of League of Ireland football much differently than his teammates.
"Some of the players would forget about a defeat and get on with things, but I have to go to schools and talk to kids about why we got beaten. So it does get you down, but when you win you get the other side of the coin," said Byrne. "I was born and raised in Swords, so when Liam Buckley had the chance to sign me, we didn't even talk about anything other than me wanting to sign for the club. I take it to my heart and 24 hours a day it is Fingal. I love doing it and I'm really enjoying it."
Byrne has already helped Sporting to achieve their target of promotion to the top flight following their play-off victory over Bray Wanderers, but he won't want the chance of picking up a winner's medal with his local club to pass him by.
Sporting, who knocked Shamrock Rovers out in the quarter-finals, are not to be under-estimated even if they do enter the final as underdogs. They are a team that operates in a counter attack style and their front duo of Eamon Zayed and Gary O'Neill should cause problems for the Sligo defence.
With a generous winner's cheque and a place in the Europa League qualifiers also on offer, both Sligo and Sporting should ensure this is an entertaining cup final as the League of Ireland season comes to a close.