2007 FAI Cup final

Cork City began the competition against First Division side Shelbourne. Cork City won the game 1-0; Roy O'Donovan's penalty in the 8th minute being the only goal of the game. O'Donovan won the penalty himself after a foul from Conor Rafferty.[1] The third round match against Kilkenny City finished 5-1 to Cork. Cork players Brian O'Callaghan, Leon McSweeney and Colin Healy all scored in a 6-minute period in the first half to put the home side 3-0 up. Although Kilkenny did pull a goal back, John O'Flynn scored two goals towards the end of the second half to seal a comfortable win.[2] Cork City required a replay to advance past the quarter-finals after initially drawing 1-1 against Waterford United. Waterford took the lead on 10 minutes through Dave Warren's free kick and they could have doubled their lead but for Alan Kearney's goal being ruled out on 28 minutes. Cork equalised early in the second half through Denis Behan but nearly fell behind again after Vinnie Sullivan hit the woodwork.[3] The replay was not such a close encounter as Cork, this time playing at home, comfortably won 4-0. Denis Behan scored a hat-trick. with Liam Kearney scoring the other goal.[4] Bohemians were the opposition in the semi-final. Although they were the away side, Cork guaranteed their place in final by winning 2-0. Liam Kearney scored both the goals.[5]

Longford Town faced Celbridge Town of the Leinster Senior League in their first tie. Longford won the game 1-0. Longford again faced non-League of Ireland opposition in the third round as they played Fanad United at home. Fanad United were in close-season and this handicap proved too much for them as they lost 1-0 to Longford.[6] Limerick 37 were the opposition in the quarter-finals. The match finished 3-1 in Longford's favour, although much of the action happened late in the game as Longford opened the scoring in the 72nd minute. Dave Mooney doubled Longford's advantage in the 81st minute before Limerick converted a penalty, although Jamie Duffy scored in the final minute of the match to ensure Longford's progression.[7] Longford then reached the final after a 1-0 win over UCD. Robbie Martin, a former UCD player, scored the winning goal.[8]

Many Cork City players were out of contract going into the match, a situation that had "unsettled" the players according to manager Damien Richardson.[12] Richardson's own future at the club was also unresolved.[12]

In a statement released before the club's final league match of the season, Cork City threatened to pull out of the final over a disagreement about the distribution of the revenue generated by the final between the participating teams.[13] Traditionally, the FAI would take 40% of the revenue[13] and the participating clubs would split the remaining money after running costs had been deducted.[13] This year, the FAI had proposed that the winners would receive a minimum of €100,000 in prize money and the runners-up would receive a minimum payment of €75,000,[13] which the organisation claimed was a substantial increase on the previous year's figures.[13] The FAI also claimed that representatives of Cork City and Longford Town, along with representatives of the other semi-finalists UCD and Bohemians, had been informed of, and agreed to, this financial package.[14]