2018 League of Ireland Cup

2018 League of Ireland Cup
EA Sports Cup
Tournament details
Country Republic of Ireland
Dates12 March – 16 September
Teams24
Final positions
ChampionsDerry City
Runner-upCobh Ramblers
Tournament statistics
Matches played23
Top goal scorer(s)Ronan Curtis (Derry City)
Aaron McEneff (Derry City)
James English (Shelbourne)
Jamie Doyle (Shelbourne)
(3 each)
← 2017
2019 →

The 2018 League of Ireland Cup, known for sponsorship reasons as the 2018 EA Sports Cup, was the 45th season of the League of Ireland's secondary knockout competition. The EA Sports Cup features teams from the SSE Airtricity League Premier and First Divisions, as well as some intermediate level teams. Derry City won the cup for a record 11th time.

Teams

Pool 1 Pool 2 Pool 3 Pool 4

Clubs denoted with * received a bye into Second round

First round

All teams were divided into four pools based on geographical location. Two random teams per pool received a bye into the second round. The draw for the first round took place on 9 February 2018. Ties were scheduled to begin on 5 March 2018 but were subsequently postponed due to the aftermath of extreme weather from a cold wave known as the Beast from the East combined with Storm Emma. Rescheduled ties were set for various dates across March and April 2018.

12 March 2018 Finn Harps 4–3 Mayo League Finn Park
19:45 7' Devers

41' O'Connor 51' Toland

56' O'Flynn		 59' 82' Lavelle 71 ' Morrissey
13 March 2018 Wexford 0–0 (a.e.t.)
(7–8 p)		 Cobh Ramblers* Ferrycarraig Park
20:00
19 March 2018 Galway United 1–0 Cockhill Celtic Eamonn Deacy Park
19:45 51' Gill (OG)
26 March 2018 Waterford 4–1 UCC Regional Sports Centre
19:45 11' Martin 32' Puri 40' Daly 66' Akinade 55' Hennessy
26 March 2018 Bray Wanderers 0–3 Shelbourne Carlisle Grounds
19:45 24' 61' English 29' Boyne Attendance: 208
Referee: Alan Carey
26 March 2018 Bohemians 5–1 Cabinteely Dalymount Park
19:45 37' 76' Watts 38' 42' Manley 65' Grant 8' Fitzpatrick
27 March 2018 Athlone Town 0–2 UCD Athlone Town Stadium
19:45 34' Molloy 84' Mahdy
9 April 2018 Drogheda United 3–2 St Mochta's United Park
19:45 28' Doyle 31' McPhillips 40' Meaney 20' Kelly (Pen) 89' Hughes

Second round

The draw for the Second round took place on 22 March 2018 and was made on a regional pool basis. Ties were scheduled for Easter Monday 2 April 2018. Four second round fixtures were postponed due to heavy rainfall causing unplayable pitches. Rearranged fixtures were set for 9 April, 23 April and 24 April.

2 April 2018 Bohemians 2–2 (a.e.t.)
(5–3 p)		U.C.D.Dalymount Park
15:00 Eoghan Stokes 54'
Jonathan Lunney 85' (pen.)		 Report Yousef Mahdy 21'
Gary O’Neill 35'		 Attendance: 314
Referee: Derek Tomney
Penalties
Dan Casey soccer ball with check mark
Jamie Hamilton soccer ball with check mark
Ryan Graydonsoccer ball with check mark
Jonathan Lunney soccer ball with check mark
Eoghan Stokes soccer ball with check mark		 soccer ball with check mark Gary O’Neill
soccer ball with check mark Timmy Molloy
soccer ball with check mark Ben Hanrahan
soccer ball with red X Paul Doyle
2 April 2018 Finn Harps1–2 Derry City Finn Park
17:00 Ciaran Coll 11' Report Aaron McEneff 29' (pen.)
Rory Patterson 63'		 Attendance: 935
Referee: John McLoughlin
2 April 2018 Galway United0–1 Sligo Rovers Eamonn Deacy Park
17:00 Report Adam Morgan 83' Referee: Raymond Matthews
2 April 2018 St Patrick's Athletic 4–4 (a.e.t.)
(7–8 p)		 Dundalk* Richmond Park
17:00 Fagan 58'
Kelly 60'
Leahy 97'
Leahy 104'		 Tagbajumi 3'
Murray 45'
Leahy 102' (og.)
Massey 120'		 Referee: Adriano Reale
Penalties
Fagan soccer ball with check mark
Clarke soccer ball with red X
Doona soccer ball with check mark
Kelly soccer ball with check mark
Lennon soccer ball with check mark
Toner soccer ball with check mark
Leahy soccer ball with check mark
Madden soccer ball with check mark
Markey soccer ball with red X		 Massey soccer ball with red X
McGrath soccer ball with check mark
Poynton soccer ball with check mark
Adorján soccer ball with check mark
Gartland soccer ball with check mark
Mountney soccer ball with check mark
O'Donnell soccer ball with check mark
Folan soccer ball with check mark
Tagbajumi soccer ball with check mark
9 April 2018 Limerick 0–1Cobh RamblersMarkets Field
20:45 90' O'Riordan Referee: Anthony Buttimer
23 April 2018 Waterford* 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(5–3 p)		 Cork City Regional Sports Centre
19:45 100' Duffus 112' O'Hanlon
24 April 2018 Shelbourne 7–2 Drogheda United Tolka Park
20' Mulcahy 22' Rooney 25' Kavanagh
27' 48' 90' Doyle 60' Farrell		 69' Trimble 70' Hondermack
24 April 2018 Shamrock Rovers0–1 Longford Town Tallaght Stadium
19:45 Report Daniel O’Reilly 89' Attendance: 304
Referee: Thomas Dempsey

Quarter-finals

The draw for the quarter-finals took place on 10 April 2018 and was an open draw, unlike previous rounds which were drawn on a geographic pooled basis. Ties are due to be played on 7/8 May 2018.

7 May 2018 Derry City 7–3ShelbourneBrandywell Stadium
17:00 Ronan Curtis 5', 15', 40'
Ronan Hale 36'
Aaron McEneff 43' (pen.)
Nicky Low 83'
Nathan Boyle 90'		 Report David O’Sullivan 21', 28'
James English 81'		 Attendance: 1000 (estimate)
Referee: Damien MacGrait
8 May 2018 Cobh Ramblers 2–0Longford TownSt. Colman's Park
19:30 Darren Murphy 43'
Andrew Wall 88'		 Report Referee: Anthony Buttimer
8 May 2018 Dundalk 3–0BohemiansOriel Park
19:45 Dylan Connolly 8', 21'
Jamie McGrath 88'		 Report Attendance: 1,000 (estimate)
Referee: Robert Rogers
8 May 2018 Sligo Rovers 1–0WaterfordThe Showgrounds
19:45 David Cawley 63' Report Referee: Paul McLaughlin

Semi-finals

The draw for the semi-finals of the 2018 EA Sports Cup was made on 13 May 2018. Both ties were played on 6 August 2018.

6 August 2018 Sligo Rovers0–1 Derry City The Showgrounds
17:00 Report Rory Hale 24' Referee: Graham Kelly
6 August 2018 Cobh Ramblers 1–0DundalkSt. Colman's Park
17:00 Christopher Hull 75' Report Referee: Sean Grant

Final

The final of the League of Ireland Cup took place on 16 September 2018. Home advantage was decided by a coin toss, which Derry City won.

16 September 2018 Derry City 3–1Cobh RamblersBrandywell Stadium
16:00 Ronan Hale 23'
Darren Cole 54'
Aaron McEneff 72' (pen.)		 Report Christopher Hull 26' Attendance: 3,500
Referee: Ben Connolly

References

  • [1] EA Sports Cup first round draw courtesy of sseairtricityleague.ie
  • [2] First round draw postponements courtesy of extratime.ie
  • [3] EA Sports Cup second round draw courtesy of extratime.ie
  • [4] Second round postponements courtesy of irishmirror.ie
  • [5] Quarter-final draw courtesy of sseairtricityleague.ie
  • [6] Semi-final draw courtesy of fai.ie