The two sides had met twice already that season, with Shamrock Rovers winning both the President's Cup final and the league fixture in Milltown.

They reached the final by topping their group over Cork City, Drogheda United and EMFA, and then defeating St Patrick's Athletic (in a penalty shoot-out after a 0–0 draw) and Athlone Town (1–0).

In the 1986–87 season they would go on to win a League and FAI Cup Double, with Dundalk finishing as runners-up in both competitions.

[6] Dundalk's Dessie Gorman missed two early chances before they were awarded a controversial penalty in the 39th minute, when Noel Larkin was adjudged to have fouled Tom McNulty near the goal-line in a tussle for possession.

In a match described as "disappointing" in press reports,[6] both sides failed subsequently to create any real chances, with Martin Lawlor and Harry McCue performing well at the centre of a makeshift Dundalk defence, and new Rovers player-manager, Dermot Keely (a former Dundalk stalwart) dominating at the back for his side.