Rovers Secure Double with 2-0 Cup Win Over Cork

Shamrock Rovers secured their first League of Ireland and FAI Cup double in 38 years with a 2-0 victory over 10-man Cork City in the final at Aviva Stadium on November 9, 2025. Rory Gaffney scored both goals in a decisive second-half spell, capping a dominant season for the champions in front of 35,252 spectators.

The match began with Cork City showing early promise despite finishing bottom of the Premier Division and facing relegation. In the opening minutes, Darragh Crowley forced a save from Rovers goalkeeper Ed McGinty with a 25-yard shot from a corner, and Sean Maguire tested him again after a low cross from Alex Nolan. Rovers, fresh from a 1-1 draw against AEK Athens in the UEFA Conference League three days earlier, appeared sluggish and managed only limited chances, including a high header from captain Roberto Lopes and a 30-yard effort from Graham Burke that bounced just before Conor Brann in the Cork goal.

The game's turning point came in the 43rd minute when Cork defender Harry Nevin received a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Josh Honohan, a former Cork player now with Rovers. Referee Paul Norton dismissed Nevin after the studs-up tackle caught Honohan on...