Forrester aiming for historic third FAI Cup win but Bohs hoping for Devine intervention

Declan Devine will be involved in the FAI Cup Final for the fifth time in his career when his Bohemians side take on St Patrick’s Athletic in Sunday’s showpiece occasion at the Aviva Stadium.

And from his previous four finals, he’s in no doubt what the biggest lesson he has learned is.

“Make sure you win,” he insists.

That is because his record from those four matches, in which his involvement has varied from being a player, to a coach, to an assistant manager and then a manager, currently stands at two wins and two losses.

Having experienced both winning and losing the very last game of the season (twice), he’s in a good position to sum up the true difference between the two.

“They’re the best and most painful days of your life,” continues Devine.

“It’s all on the day, making sure you leave nothing behind in terms of getting caught up the moments before and handling all the stuff that goes on.

“You’ve to remember to play the game. We’ve spoken about it as a group. We’ve got a few people. Jordan Flores and Dylan Connolly have won the FAI Cup, so has James Akintunde while James Talbot, Bucko and Ali Coote were part of the group that lost the 2021 final.

“We’ve players on both sides of it but the main thing is embracing the game. Players must embrace it, blank out the noise and understand it’s just another game of football."

But sometimes it can mean so much more than just another game of football.

Devine was on the books at Derry City back in 1997 when victory against Shelbourne at Dalymount Park would secure a historic league and cup double for the Candystripes.

But unfortunately, just 24 hours before kick-off, the club was rocked by the sudden death of Conor O’Dowd, the brother of goalkeeper Tony, which resulted in