FAI CUP FINAL 2026 COUNTDOWN: Conan Noonan eyeing up the biggest day of his life

For most footballers, the dream begins long before the bright lights, packed stands and television cameras.

It begins on cold evenings and muddy pitches, imagining what it might feel like to play in the games that matter most.

Now, for Conan Noonan, that dream is about to become reality.

The Waterford FC attacker will walk out at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday, knowing he is just 90 minutes away from helping to write one of the most memorable chapters in the club's history.

"It's going to be the best day of my life so far," admitted the 23-year-old when speaking to the Waterford News & Star ahead of the final.

"I'm sure it will be the same for a lot of lads. It's something we're so excited for. It's going to be a really special occasion.

"The lads who have been there already have said it's unbelievable. We've all worked so hard to get here."

For Noonan, the significance of the occasion goes far beyond football. The former Shamrock Rovers academy player knows exactly how much sacrifice has gone into reaching this point and admits the day will mean as much to his family as it does to him.

"My family are so proud ever since I started playing for my dad's team in Kildare," he said.

"I think my dad comes to every game. To reward them for all the hard work they've done, bringing me to training for 12, 13, 14 years, I'm so happy for them, and they're so proud of me.

"I just want to repay them every time I can for them. Everyone has supported me since I was a young lad."

Noonan's journey has taken him from one of Ireland's most successful academies to a club-record move to Waterford, but he still views the final through the eyes of the young footballer who once dreamed about occasions like this.

"When you're playing local football, when you're young and you're dreaming of being a professional footballer, you just want to play in the big games, the big occasions like tonight and also the FAI Cup Final.

"It's probably the pinnacle of Irish football. To be there and to represent this amazing club, it's something special."

But everything hasn’t been plain sailing for the Kildare native since making the move from Rovers to the RSC.

"I'm not great with change so it hasn’t been straightforward," he said.

"As you said, I take time to settle in. To be fair here, I settled in really well.

"I've been through a lot in football in my short career. I've worked so hard to get where I am. In a season like this where it's been hard for the team, I haven't been able to display my best attributes.

"I've just tried to find ways to impact the team. A lot of the things I've done have probably gone unnoticed. Not maybe unnoticed, but the dirty side of the game.

"It probably took me a month or two to find a way to change how I play. I've probably never played how I have the last four or five months.

"I've had to find a way to be effective in the team and I really think I've done that. Like I said to you before, I'm proud of myself. I just put the head down and said I'll do whatever it is for the team."

Despite the frustrations, Noonan never stopped believing his moment would come.

"I've worked so hard this year. I've worked so, so hard since December 10 – the first day of pre-season. It's the hardest I've worked on everything in my game.

"Sometimes you think, are the goals going to come? Are the assists? When you have to play a little bit different, you don't get them as often. But to get them on a night like tonight is special. It makes it all worth it in the end."

Yet as much as the occasion excites him, Noonan's focus quickly turns to what Waterford have achieved in reaching this stage under Graham Coughlan.

"Since the gaffer came in, I think after the break we've only lost two games or something like that, which is crazy from where we were.

"It is a miracle what we've done. To survive and to make a cup final, I can't really put words into it. It’s actually incredible when you sit down and think about it."

The turnaround has fuelled an unwavering belief within the squad, but Noonan is quick to point towards the leaders who have helped drive standards throughout the season.

"The people, as you said, the leaders we have in the dressing room," he said.

"Kevin Long is the best player in the league. Never mind the defender.

"He's absolutely unbelievable. I think him and John and Benny and a lot of the team could have been in Team of the Year with the way they've played."

Long, John Mahon and club captain Padraig Amond have all played pivotal roles in Waterford's resurgence, while Noonan believes the experience of players who have been there before could prove invaluable.

Tommy Lonergan knows exactly what it feels like to score in and win an FAI Cup Final. Luke Heeney has lifted the trophy with Drogheda United, while Evan and Benny Couto experienced the showpiece occasion last season.

"We will lean on them for support and what they've taken from the experience," said Noonan. ‘They will be massive men for us and we’ll be hoping that they can steer us right on the day.

"We don't just want to go there and be there for the occasion. We want to go and win. We want to do that for the fans and the city of Waterford and everyone. We are going there to win the game, obviously.

"We have full belief in ourselves. We respect them, but it's about us and what we can do."

Despite everything he has achieved in reaching a first FAI Cup Final, personal glory is the furthest thing from his mind.

Instead, his thoughts return to his team-mates, the supporters and a city dreaming of silverware.

"I don't care if I score, if Stevie scores, I don't care who it is," he said.

"I just want to win that game so bad for everyone. I'd just be so proud of everyone if we could do it. We're just so excited and we can't wait for the day."

A few months ago, Noonan and Waterford were fighting for survival. Whilst he mightn’t think that people have noticed his workrate and passion for the jersey, they certainly have and he has been a massive player in the last number of months.

Now, under Coughlan, with leaders like Long, Mahon and Amond driving standards and a dressing room full of belief, Noonan stands just one game away from history.

For him and his family, the biggest day of his life is almost here.