Both bosses are already in credit...

NO MATTER the outcome of today’s final between Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers, Vinny Perth has overseen a superb first season after taking over from Stephen Kenny.

Perth was promoted from within, so knew the players, and the ethos of the club, which helped, but he deserves huge praise as the Dundalk gig could have backfired.

He’d love to crown the season with the treble but if not, he’s firmly in credit with his employers.

‘You see the way people talk about that Derry team (1989 treble winners),’ he said.

‘That’s why the final is a great opportunity for us. It’s not a season-defining game but offers the chance to cement ourselves as one of the all-time great teams.’

Just as Perth always looks for an edge – he was spotted at a Leinster Rugby training session recently – so Rovers head coach Stephen Bradley (above) is not afraid to tap others for information.

A close confidante is Michael O’Neill, the highly-regarded Northern Ireland manager whom Bradley played for at Rovers. Over the years, the 34-year-old Rovers boss has faced his share of challenges.

‘I nearly died from being stabbed. I watched my mother (Bernadette) die from cancer at 58. There’s nothing that can happen on a football pitch, or around a game, that can really, really hurt me,’ he said.

Like Perth, Bradley is in credit after steering Rovers to their first Cup final in nine years and a strong second in the Premier Division. ‘I can give them my experience of playing in the Cup final but as a player you don’t always take it in, you’ve got to embrace it and whatever you can bring to the team, bring it,’ he added.

‘You might never play in another one. We’re definitely going in the right direction but we’re not finished.’ Extra.ie FAI Cup Final (3.40pm) Dundalk v Shamrock Rovers, Aviva Stadium, LIVE RTÉ2