The big news from the Aviva Stadium is that Sligo will be without Joseph Ndo…

Shelbourne: Delany, Ryan, Boyle, Paisley (C), Byrne, Clancy, Sullivan, Dawson, McGill, Cassidy, Hughes.

Sligo: Clarke, Keane, Peers, McGuinness, Davoren, Dillon, Ryan (c), Ventre, Greene, Russell, Doyle.

Sligo are the favourites for this, of course, having finished second in the Premier Division. Shels, for their part, were beaten to the First Division title by a late, late Graham Cummin’s goal last Saturday evening.

Keane and Doyle are involved as Sligo start brightly.

David Cassidy will play a roving role this afternoon as Shels pack their midfield with five across the middle.

Philly Hughes will be a crucial man for Shels today, along with Cassidy.

John Dillon, meanwhile, is the man to benefit from Ndo’s absence. Rovers supporters will look to Richie Ryan to pull the strings today though, seeing as he missed last year’s showpiece because of suspension.

Hughes shoots on goal after some nice play by Sullivan. His effort is blocked by McGuinness though and Sligo eventually clear the subsequent corner.

Great chance for Shelbourne. Barry Clancy takes advantage of some sloppy Sligo play but is halted in his tracks by Gavin Peers. A follow-up shot is also blocked by Peers’ shoulder amid calls for a penalty kick. A good response from the Dublin side over the last few minutes.

Sligo are ahead in terms of possession but the better of the early chances have fallen to Shels, particularly Hughes at this stage.

Shels have done well so far. Mathews’ side have been well organised – rarely beaten all year – and Sligo are looking slightly off form at the moment. They’ll need to improve their play in the final third – Dean Delany with nothing to do in the opening 16 minutes.

Clancy lobs well over the bar from a Cassidy free-kick.

A shot off target from Danny Ventre. His final effort is rushed when they might have been other options available.

Rovers have managed to put a few passing moves together in the last few minutes – nothing that Eoin Doyle can make anything of though.

Both sets of supporters are contributing to a lively atmosphere in the ground.

Great defence from Shels’ Andy Boyle. Doyle breaks, but Boyle sticks with the Sligo striker and eventually tackles superbly to clear the danger.

Another good tackle from Stephen Paisley sees Sligo’s latest attack snuffled out.

Barry Clancy hits the crossbar with a superb header! All the hard work was Brendan McGill’s in the build up.

GOAL FOR SHELBOURNE. Philly Hughes sneaks by Gavin Peers to guide the ball home and put Shelbourne in front in this Cup final. Incredible scenes in the stands.

A skilled finish from the big man after a rather aimless ball was hoofed back into the Sligo box.

Shelbourne have been the busier of the two sides so far and deserve their advantage. Sligo almost respond immediately but brave goalkeeping from Dean Delany sees him clear the danger at the edge of the box with Rovers in full flight of attack.

Clancy is the first man into the referee’s notebook for a cynical challenge, which prevents a Sligo breakaway.

RED CARD for Clancy! Just moments after he’s booked correctly for a challenge, Clancy bursts into the Sligo Rovers box but goes down under soft contact from Russell. Richie Winters puts his hands straight into his pocket though and shows the Shels man a second yellow.

Clancy is devastated leaving the pitch. Mathews pulls Cassidy back into midfield as Shels go 4-4-1 in response.

Shels have been great so far today. Their players are working hard, doing lots of running. You have to feel for them and Clancy.

Sligo really haven’t offered any of the football we know they are capable of today. They will be disappointed with their performance so far – maybe Paul Cook needs to get Cork City’s Tommy Dunne on the phone at half-time, the Leesiders having beaten Shels twice this season!

The goal has brought more intensity into the game. Hopefully, we’re in for a cracking second half at the Aviva.

Aaron Greene gets a dangerous cross into the box. It’s just too high for John Russell, who sends his effort just over the bar. Sligo’s best chance of the game, but it comes deep in added time at the end of the first half.

HALF TIME TALKING POINTS: Cup of tea time and here’s what to mull over:

- Where are the Sligo we know and admire? They really haven’t fired at all today so far.

- Will Barry Clancy’s harsh sending off prove decisive? We hope not.

- Can Shels maintain their effort for another 45 minutes, especially after what has been a very busy and draining couple of weeks for them? Should they win, they’ll also be claiming the Cup having already lost a game in the competition…

The teams are back on the pitch at the Aviva…

Giovanni Trapattoni and Marco Tardelli are in the crowd today… when might we see another League of Ireland player capped at Senior level??

Mathews will have had time to re-organise his troops during the break. Sligo must be the ones to ask the questions in the second half.

GOAL FOR SLIGO. Full-back Iarfhlaith Davoren scores his first goal of the season by firing past Delany.

It could be argued that Delany might have been expecting the defender to cross the ball back into the box after it had pinged around for several half chances for Sligo. No matter – it’s now 1-1. Game on…

Hughes is booked for a frustrated-looking tackle on Peers. Shels need to keep theirs head, they are still right in this.

Sligo almost go ahead. Russell hits the crossbar with a ball into the box and when John Dillon reclaims possession and feeds Doyle, the latter gets his feet muddled up and Delany is able to come and gather.

Hughes and Dawson combine for another half chance for the men in red. The danger is cleared and Rovers pull all 11 men back to defend the subsequent corner. It’s end-to-end stuff at the moment.

Conan Byrne (Shels) and Matthew Blinkhorn (Sligo) are on John Sullivan and John Dillon respectively.

Blinkhorn almost scores with his first touch, collecting a free-kick and firing at goal. His effort is saved by Delany, however.

Stephen Paisley is booked for a clumsy tackle on Doyle. The Shels man is first to the ball but makes contact with his opponent during the follow through.

Shels are fighting for every ball with impressive determination at the moment. Sligo are seeing plenty of the ball though.

Boyle makes a rare mistake and though Blinkhorn retrieves the ball, he’s unable to get a shot in on target. Without doubt, a missed opportunity.

The official attendance at the Aviva: 21,662. Not as many as last year, but still a decent showing.

McGuinness’ shot is deflected clear after another Sligo corner.

Sligo continue to have plenty possession but, as with the first half, chances are limited and they are simply not putting Delany and his defence under enough pressure. Their latest effort sees Blinkhorn fire well off target, only drawing cheers from the Shelbourne sections of the crowd.

Rafael Cretaro has just been introduced by Paul Cook. Sligo have incredible depth on their bench today, compared to their opponents.

The crowd cheers in irony as Richie Winter awards Shels a free kick.

Conan Byrne takes a snapshot on Clarke’s goal. It’s deflected wide and Sligo eventually clear the danger. With just under ten minutes to go, the nerves are settling in.

Phily Hughes and Conan Byrne combine to cause panic at the back for Sligo. Sean Byrne is the man to get a shot on goal eventually but his final effort is well wide.

As mentioned earlier, Shels have had an intense couple of weeks in the lead up to this game – their concentration, determination and spirit 86 minutes into this contest is a massive credit to the players and management as a result.

We will have extra time and penalties if needed – should there not be a winning goal in the next couple of minutes.

Gavin Peers is booked for a foul on Cassidy, as the latter breaks forward. Free to Shels with two minutes to go…

It’s Cassidy’s free-kick, but while Paisley falls to the ground in the penalty box… there’s no second yellow on this occasion.

Aaron Greene is next into the book – for a foul on Cassidy. The free-kick is cleared and extra-time beckons as Blinkhorn’s fires into the crowd yet again.

Superb defending from Ian Ryan blocks down Greene’s latest effort.

Winter blows his whistle. Extra-time on its way shortly…

Legs stretched… we’re ready to go for the next 30 minutes of extra time.

Shelbourne have played nearly an hour now with ten men…

Dawson is booked for a foul on Richie Ryan. More importantly, the free-kick has been given just outside the Shels box…

Ryan goes for goal himself but his shot rebounds off Ian Ryan and the danger is cleared.

Davoren strikes from distance and the ball goes out for a corner off Paisley. Shels are playing very deep at the moment, even if there seems to be cover everywhere Sligo go right now.

Cretaro sends a cross fizzing across Delany’s goal but Doyle isn’t on hand to finish. More Sligo hands on heads…

Sligo are lining up to take their chances. Blinkhorn, Doyle and Ryan all fail to find their Midas touch, however.

Another Greene cross sees Paisley concede a corner under pressure from Blinkhorn. Winter awards a free out from the subsequent corner…

Sean Byrne stops Cretaro in his tracks with a wonderful tackle. A free-kick out will give their defence some brief respite.

A Sligo corner will be the final action of the first half of extra time, and though Greene gets the ball back into the six yard box, there’s no man in white to knock it beyond Delany. Still even at the Aviva.

Shels earn their first corner of extra time. There’s no mistaking the weary runs of Paisley and Boyle as they come forward. It’s easily cleared, however.

A decent move from Sligo but Alan Keane made his decisive move just too soon for the assistant referee and his flag.

David Cassidy is getting some medical attention near the centre circle. Not sure what can be done for someone who has run themselves ragged though!

Paisley clears with Blinkhorn ready to pounce. Brendan McGill then clears with Davoren hovering. Incredible from Shelbourne. Meanwhile, reserve goalkeeper Ciaran Kelly, penalty hero in 2010, is warming up on the sidelines…

Shelbourne continue to repel all Sligo attacks. Less than four minute to go now.

Colm James is coming in for David Cassidy – a blow for Shels if this goes to penalties, but Cassidy clear has absolutely nothing left to give.

Neat play from Greene and Cretaro finds only space in the Shels penalty area. Sligo have a free-kick though, with less than a minute of extra time left.

Stephen Paisley has been named Man of the Match as Sligo introduce Ciaran Kelly for Brendan Clarke with 30 seconds remaining. Two minutes of added time.

Karl Bermingham is on for Brendan McGill, meanwhile. Another potential penalty taker for Shels.

Shels, deservedly, clear the danger from what is surely the final free-kick of the game.

It’s penalties for the second year running. Will Cook’s gamble with Ciaran Kelly pay off? Have Shels anything left in the tank for a dramatic finale? We’ll find out very shortly.

Both sets of supporters raise their voices as the managers have their final say. Always eventful, does either side deserve to lose a final by spot kicks??!

Many observers had Sligo pegged down for a comfortable win this afternoon. It’s been anything but that. Shelbourne have been incredible; Sligo not as good as they can be in the final third. Penalties will decide the final outcome.

Sligo go first…

Eoin Doyle puts Sligo ahead.

Colm James makes it 1-1

Richie Ryan beats Delany to put Sligo 2-1 ahead.

Kelly saves from Kevin Dawson… Sligo 2-1.

Alan Keane puts Sligo 3-1 up with a superb dink…

Kelly saves from Karl Bermingham, leaving Sligo 3-1 up

Cretaro nails his kick to secure the Cup for Sligo….

Sligo Rovers retain the FAI Cup! Ciaran Kelly, who saved four penalties last year, saves two this year to secure further glory.

A MASSIVE, MASSIVE shout out has to go to Shelbourne, who put in an incredible shift to make this Cup final what it was. They’ve lost out on the First Division title and FAI Cup final in the past week, but will be back in the big time next season regardless.

Paul Cook has returned to the pitch, having watched the shoot out under the main stand! Brilliant!

That just about wraps up our coverage of events at the Aviva Stadium. Sligo retain the Cup without Joseph Ndo. They finished second in the League and will surely look to go one better with Paul Cook at the helm next season.

Shelbourne will reflect on what might have been, but on this showing will be hoping for further progress in the Premier Division next season.