2023 FAI Cup

Football tournament season
2023 FAI Cup
Tournament details
CountryRepublic of Ireland
Venue(s)Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Dates7 April – 12 November
Teams40
Final positions
ChampionsSt Patrick's Athletic
Runner-upBohemians
Tournament statistics
Top goal scorer(s)Jonathan Afolabi (4 goals)
(Note: All statistics do not include qualifying round)
← 2022
2024 →

The 2023 FAI Cup, known as the Sports Direct FAI Cup for sponsorship reasons,[1] was the 103rd edition of the Republic of Ireland's primary national cup competition. It featured teams from the League of Ireland Premier Division and the First Division, as well as non-league teams. The competition began with qualifying on 7 April 2023 and concluded with the final on 12 November 2023 in the Aviva Stadium.[2][3][4][5] The winners qualified for the second qualifying round of the 2024–25 UEFA Conference League.

St Patrick's Athletic won the cup on 12 November after a 3–1 win over Bohemians in the final, it was their fifth FAI Cup win.[6]

Teams

The 2023 FAI Cup is a knockout competition with 40 teams taking part. The competitors consist of the 20 teams from the League of Ireland and 20 teams from the regional leagues of the Republic of Ireland football league system.

League of Ireland Premier Division League of Ireland First Division Leinster Senior League Munster Senior League Ulster Senior League Other leagues
  • Ballynanty Rovers

(Limerick & District League)

(Tipperary South District League)

  • Newmarket Celtic

(Clare District League)

Preliminary round

The eight preliminary round ties began over the weekend of the 9th of April with the first round proper played in July. The four non-league teams receiving byes into the first round were; Lucan United, Gorey Rangers, Avondale United and Bangor Celtic.

St. Patrick's CY v Willow Park
7 April 2023 St. Patrick's CY 4–0Willow ParkIrishtown
19:30 Gregg 4'
Kinsella 18'
Daly 68' 85'		 Stadium: Irishtown Stadium
Attendance: 50
Referee: Robert Redmond
Portlaoise v Usher Celtic
7 April 2023 Portlaoise 2–1Usher CelticPortlaoise
19:45 Fitzpatrick 13' 29' Buckley 9'
Lynam Red card 70'		 Stadium: Rossleighan Park
Attendance: 150
Referee: David Gallagher
Cockhill Celtic v St. Mochta's
8 April 2023 Cockhill Celtic 5–4 (a.e.t.)St. Mochta'sBuncrana
13:00 McLaughlin 64' 75' 89'
Friel 104' 120+1'		 Brady 31'
Donnelly 41'
Scott 64' 117'
McWilliams Red card 61'		 Stadium: Charlie O'Donnell Sports Grounds
Attendance: 150
Referee: Barry Maxwell
Kilbarrack United v Drumcondra
8 April 2023 Kilbarrack United 5–0DrumcondraRaheny
14:00 Townley 5'
McCourt 8'
Fitzsimons 39'
Cummins 54'
Mulligan 82'		 Stadium: Greendale Astro
Attendance: 100
Referee: Liam McGuirk
Ringmahon Rangers v Killester Donnycarney
8 April 2023 Ringmahon Rangers 1–0Killester Donnycarney Mahon
14:00 Horgan 78' Kavanagh Red card 80' Stadium: Ringmahon Park
Attendance: 100
Referee: Edwin McNally
Skerries Town v Newmarket Celtic
9 April 2023 Skerries Town 4–0Newmarket CelticSkerries
14:00 Leonard 10'
Young 23' 68'
McKenna 51' (pen)		 Stadium: Park Lane
Attendance: 250
Referee: John McCarthy
Home Farm v Rockmount
9 April 2023 Home Farm0–0 (a.e.t.)
(1–4 p)		 Rockmount Whitehall
14:00 Mellah Red card 56'
McNevin soccer ball with red X
Hoban soccer ball with red X
Prizeman soccer ball with check mark		 Ahearne soccer ball with check mark
Casey soccer ball with check mark
Leonard soccer ball with check mark
Connolly soccer ball with check mark		 Stadium: Whitehall Stadium
Attendance: 115
Referee: Declan Troy
St. Michael's v Ballynanty Rovers
9 April 2023 St. Michael's 2–1Ballynanty Rovers Tipperary
15:00 McGrath 30'
Byron 61'		 Quinn 66' Stadium: Cooke Park
Attendance: 550
Referee: Alec McCormack

First round

The draw for the first round was made on June 6 and was made by FAI President Gerry McAnaney and former FAI Cup winner Derek Coughlan. All ties took place on the weekend of 23 July.[7][8]

UCD v Cobh Ramblers
21 July 2023 UCD 3–2Cobh RamblersBelfield
19:45 Keaney 23'
Frahill 50' (o.g.)
Norris 62'		 Report Holland 16'
Larkin 70'		 Stadium: UCD Bowl
Attendance: 174
Referee: Declan Toland
Kerry v Ringmahon Rangers
21 July 2023 Kerry 2–0Ringmahon RangersTralee
19:45 Kelliher 75', 84' Report Stadium: Mounthawk Park
Attendance: 665
Referee: Marc Lynch
Drogheda United v Sligo Rovers
21 July 2023 Drogheda United 2–1Sligo Rovers Drogheda
19:45 Foley 57'
Brennan 80' (pen.)		 Report Mata 42' (pen.)
Lafferty Red card 78'		 Stadium: Weaver's Park
Attendance: 1334
Referee: David Dunne
Bohemians v Shelbourne
21 July 2023 Bohemians 1–0Shelbourne Phibsborough
19:45 Afolabi 32' Report Stadium: Dalymount Park
Attendance: 4168
Referee: Paul McLaughlin
Kilbarrack United v Finn Harps
21 July 2023 Kilbarrack United 0–1 Finn Harps Kilbarrack
19:45 Report Hutchison 23' Stadium: Greendale Road
Attendance: 375
Referee: Kevin O’Sullivan
Wexford v Avondale United
21 July 2023 Wexford 3–0Avondale United Wexford
19:45 Boyle 45' (pen.)
Doran 63'
Kenny 90+5' (pen.)		 Report Stadium: Ferrycarrig Park
Attendance: 268
Referee: Gavin Colfer
Treaty United v Cork City
22 July 2023 Treaty United0–2 Cork City Garyowen
14:00 Nwankwo Red card 90' Report Honohan 54'
Owalabi 77'		 Stadium: Markets Field
Attendance: 909
Referee: Damien MacGraith
Cockhill Celtic v Bray Wanderers
22 July 2023 Cockhill Celtic1–3 Bray Wanderers Buncrana
14:00 McClure 42' Report Feeney 25'
Lyons 34'
Thompson 36'		 Stadium: Charlie O'Donnell Sports Grounds
Attendance: 200
Referee: Paul Norton
Gorey Rangers v Rockmount
22 July 2023 Gorey Rangers1–2 Rockmount Gorey
15:00 Molloy 90+4' Report O'Sullivan 42'
Courtney 76'		 Stadium: Ramstown
Attendance: 177
Referee: Daniel Murphy
St Michael's v Waterford
22 July 2023 St Michael's0–5 Waterford Tipperary
17:00 Report Coughlan 1'
Perry 26'
Parsons 42'
Cresswell 67'
Akachukwu 72'		 Stadium: Cooke Park
Attendance: 800
Referee: Ray Matthews
Galway United v Bangor Celtic
22 July 2023 Galway United 4–1Bangor CelticGalway
17:00 Aouachria 14'
Walsh 39' 45+4'
Brouder 52'		 Report Maher 1' Stadium: Eamonn Deacy Park
Attendance: 400
Referee: Alan Patchell
Lucan United v St Patrick's CY
23 July 2023 Lucan United2–3 St Patrick's CY Celbridge
11:00 Mooney 36' 89' Report Doyle 9'
Hanrahan 39'
Ivie 90'		 Stadium: O'Hanlon Park
Attendance: 200
Referee: David Gallagher
Portlaoise v Skerries Town
23 July 2023 Portlaoise0–3 Skerries Town Portlaoise
14:00 Report McKenna 14', 55', 90' Stadium: Rossleighan Park
Attendance: 675
Referee: Sean Boyd
Derry City v Athlone Town
23 July 2023 Derry City 3–0Athlone TownDerry
17:00 Patching 23' (pen.)
B.Kavanagh 90+3'
Duffy 90+5'		 Report Stadium: Brandywell Stadium
Attendance: 3100
Referee: Oliver Moran
Dundalk v Shamrock Rovers
23 July 2023 Dundalk 1–0Shamrock RoversDundalk
17:00 Hayden Muller 23'
Doyle Red card 31'		 Report Stadium: Oriel Park
Attendance: 2686
Referee: Rob Harvey
Longford Town v St Patrick's Athletic
23 July 2023 Longford Town1–2 St Patrick's Athletic Longford
18:00 Boudiaf 78'
Hand Red card 81'
Brady Red card 91'		 Report Murphy 64'
Forrester 80' (pen.)		 Stadium: Bishopsgate
Attendance: 1164
Referee: Rob Hennessy

Second round

The draw for the second round was made on 25 July and was broadcast live on RTE 2FM on the 'Game On' radio programme.[9] All ties took place on the weekend of 20 August.

Bohemians v Rockmount
18 August 2023 Bohemians 6–0RockmountPhibsborough
19:45 Clarke 18' 45+1'
Afolabi 23'
McDaid 55'
Twardek 66'
McDonnell 85'		 Report Stadium: Dalymount Park
Attendance: 2,746
Referee: David Dunne
Bray Wanderers v Dundalk
18 August 2023 Bray Wanderers0–1 Dundalk Bray
19:45 Report Horgan 86' Stadium: Carlisle Grounds
Attendance: 500
Referee: Rob Hennessy
Kerry v Drogheda United
18 August 2023 Kerry0–1 Drogheda United Tralee
19:45 Report Robinson 7' Stadium: Mounthawk Park
Attendance: 960
Referee: Kevin O'Sullivan
Finn Harps v Skerries Town
18 August 2023 Finn Harps 5–0Skerries TownBallybofey
20:00 Hutchison 4'
Flood 16' 58'
Ferry 47'
O'Donnell 55'		 Report Stadium: Finn Park
Attendance: 828
Referee: Damien MacGraith
St. Patrick's CY v Wexford
20 August 2023 St. Patrick's CY0–1 Wexford Ringsend
13:30 Report D Levingston 42' Stadium: Irishtown Stadium
Attendance: 500
Referee: Adriano Reale
Derry City v St Patrick's Athletic
20 August 2023 Derry City0–0 (a.e.t.)
(3–4 p)		 St Patrick's Athletic Derry
17:00 P.McEleney soccer ball with check mark
B.Kavanagh soccer ball with check mark
Mullen soccer ball with check mark
Duffy soccer ball with red X
Connolly soccer ball with red X		 Report Forrester soccer ball with check mark
Nolan soccer ball with check mark
Mulraney soccer ball with red X
Leavy soccer ball with check mark
Melia soccer ball with check mark		 Stadium: Brandywell Stadium
Attendance: 3,267
Referee: Neil Doyle
Cork City v Waterford
21 August 2023 Cork City 3–0WaterfordCork
19:45 Keating 1'
Honohan 17'
Bargary 87'		 Report Idowu Red card 90' Stadium: Turners Cross
Attendance: 2,407
Referee: Eoghan O'Shea
UCD v Galway United
21 August 2023 UCD1–5 Galway United Belfield
19:45 O'Reilly 86' Report Aouachria 5'
Hurley 15' 38'
Manning 45+1'
Manley 69'
Stadium: UCD Bowl
Attendance: 416
Referee: Rob Harvey
Note: Original fixture on 18 August abandoned at half time due to Storm Betty.

Quarter-finals

The draw for the quarter-finals of the FAI Cup was hosted by Shane Dawson and was made on 22 August 2023. FAI President Gerry McAnaney and former two time FAI Cup winner Barry Ferguson made the draw.[10] Games were played on 15 September 2023.

Drogheda United v Bohemians
15 September 2023 Drogheda United1–3 Bohemians Drogheda
19:45 Brennan 50' (pen) Report Nowak 44'
Afolabi 56' 90' (pen)		 Stadium: Weavers Park
Attendance: 2,344
Referee: Damien MacGraith
Finn Harps v St Patrick's Athletic
15 September 2023 Finn Harps1–2 St Patrick's Athletic Ballybofey
20:00 O'Donnell 24' Report Forrester 48' (pen)
Lonergan 85'		 Stadium: Finn Park
Attendance: 1,351
Referee: Rob Harvey
Galway United v Dundalk
15 September 2023 Galway United 4–0DundalkGalway
19:45 Walsh 8'
McCarthy 20'
Nugent 30'
Hurley 39' (pen)		 Report Stadium: Eamonn Deacy Park
Attendance: 4,300
Referee: David Dunne
Cork City v Wexford
15 September 2023 Cork City 2–1WexfordCork
19:45 Dijksteel 78'
Keating 90+2'		 Report Dobbs 45+2' Stadium: Turners Cross
Attendance: 2,141
Referee: Eoghan O'Shea

Semi-finals

The draw for the semi finals was made on 19 September and was hosted by Shane Dawson at FAI Headquarters in Abbotstown. The draw was made by FAI President Gerry McAnaney and for FAI Cup winner Shane Robinson.[11]

Galway United v Bohemians
7 October 2023 Galway United0–1 Bohemians Galway
14:40 Report Connolly 44'
Radkowski Red card 59'		 Stadium: Eamonn Deacy Park
Attendance: 4,300
Referee: Neil Doyle
Cork City v St Patrick's Athletic
8 October 2023 Cork City0–2 St Patrick's Athletic Cork
14:40 Report Doyle 12'
Carty 83'		 Stadium: Turners Cross
Attendance: 6,355
Referee: Rob Harvey

Final

The final was held on 12 November 2023 in the Aviva Stadium.

Bohemians v St Patrick's Athletic
12 November 2023 Bohemians1–3 St Patrick's Athletic Ballsbridge
15:00 Afolabi 9' (pen.) Report Doyle 23'
Nowak 48' (o.g.)
Lonergan 87'		 Stadium: Aviva Stadium
Attendance: 43,881
Referee: Paul McLaughlin

References

  1. ^ "Mike Ashley's Sports Direct to become new FAI Cup sponsors". FAI.ie. 27 April 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  2. ^ "Preliminary draw made FAI Official". FAI.ie. 15 March 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  3. ^ "Preliminary draw made on extratime.ie". extratime.ie. 16 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  4. ^ "Willow Park to learn FAI Senior Cup draw today". westmeathindepent.ie. 15 March 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  5. ^ "Draw for FAI Men's Senior Cup". strikeronline.ie. 15 March 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  6. ^ "St Pat's secure FAI Cup with comeback win to beat Bohs at the Aviva". Irish Independent. 12 November 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  7. ^ "Dundalk to meet Shamrock Rovers in FAI Cup first round". RTE Sport. 6 June 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  8. ^ "Preview: Dublin derby kicks off FAI Cup first round". RTE Sport. 21 July 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  9. ^ "FAI Cup second round draw recap as Derry take on St Pat's". Irish Mirror. 25 July 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  10. ^ "FAI Cup Quarter-Final draw completed". Extratime.com. 22 August 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  11. ^ "FAI Cup semi-final draw: Cork City to host St Pats, Galway to welcome Bohemians". Irish Examiner. 19 September 2023. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  • v
  • t
  • e
FAI Cup
Seasons
Finals
  • v
  • t
  • e
2023 in Republic of Ireland football
Leagues
Cup competitions
National teams
Club seasons
  • v
  • t
  • e
2022–23 in European men's football (UEFA)
Domestic leagues
Domestic cups
League cups
Supercups
UEFA competitions
International competitions
  • v
  • t
  • e
2023–24 in European men's football (UEFA)
Domestic leagues
Domestic cups
League cups
Supercups
UEFA competitions
International competitions