Dundalk's Chris Shields was ruled out of the match due to suspension for picking up eight yellow cards during the season, which was described as a "clerical error" due to Dundalk losing track of the number of bookings during the season. Dundalk appealed the one match ban to the Football Association of Ireland but the appeal was rejected. Shamrock Rovers fans marched to the final behind a white horse as part of a tradition that dated back to the 1940s where fans decided to march to Dalymount Park, Dublin where the FAI Cup final used to be held behind a white horse. They marched behind a white horse due to a lack of other available or affordable forms of transportation at the time. The white horse was also suggested as a reference to the 1923 FA Cup Final in England which was known as the "White Horse Final".