BBCTens 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 will be Steelstown Primary School pupils Lorcan and Charlie.
“We are travelling down to Dublin for the match on Sunday and staying over in a hotel so it’s going to be a great day,” Lorcan told BBC Radio Foyle’s North West Today programme.
“I’m really hoping that Derry is going to take home the cup”.
Derry’s last FAI Cup triumph was in 2022 when they beat Shelbourne 4-0 to claim the cup for the first time in a decade.
They take on Drogheda United in Sunday’s showpiece.
Stormont’s transport minister has deployed extra resources to ensure roadworks on part of the A5 – the main Londonderry to Dublin road – will be completed on Saturday ahead of the red and white army’s passage south.
A fleet of special supporters’ buses is to leave Derry city centre early on Sunday morning, as will a special cup final train from Derry to Dublin.
Charlie and Lorcan were among the throng of superfan pupils allowed to swap lessons for a red and white fan day at school this week.
Both football-mad, they are hoping to play for their “favourite club in the world” when they grow up.
“I play goalkeeper with my school team and I also play striker with my club outside of school,” Charlie said.
“I just love football and it’s my dream to be playing for Derry someday.”
Lorcan said as part of the school festivities, they got to perform a guard of honour for the team and meet some of their favourite players.
Charlie and Lorcan think it will be a tight game at the Aviva Stadium but are confident the Candystripes will edge the match.
Teacher Rory O’Donnell said staff and pupils had been flat out over recent days decorating the entire school in Derry City colours.
“Having that connection with the team and that connection with the community is so important,” Mr O’Donnell, an avid Derry City fan, said.
It was a season that saw a challenge for the league title falter.
The team’s journey to the final had given rise to a palpable sense of excitement and anticipation in the city, Mayor of Derry Lilian Seenoi-Barr said.
“I have experienced first-hand the special relationship that exists between the team and the supporters of this wonderful football club,” she said.
“The support of the fans is like having a 12th man on the pitch and can lift the players to new heights this weekend.”
Six-year-old City fan Braelin and his dad Darren Toland are among the crowds off to Dublin.
Braelin went to his first game at the Brandywell when he was just 10 weeks old.
He is in no doubt as to what result he wants on Sunday.
“I hope they win, three-nil to Derry. I hope they win it, bring it back up on Monday. Let’s go City,” he told BBC Radio Foyle.
Darren said they were both upbeat about their team’s chances of cup glory.
“There are thousands going down the road,” he said.
“Once everyone’s down there, the buzz will kick in, the place will be rocking as usual with the Derry following”.
‘Last one out turn off the light’
Derry City Supporters’ liaison officer Karen Pyne said she was both nervous and excited.
The anticipation and support among fans – especially the younger ones – had been amazing, she added.
“The youngsters are just amazing, they love the buzz, they love the players. They’re just red and white, they’re City through and through,” she said.
“It definitely lifts the players, 100%. It gives them that bit of boost.
“I have goosebumps now even thinking about it.”
