2024 FAI Cup

2024 FAI Cup
Tournament details
CountryRepublic of Ireland
Venue(s)Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Dates17 May 2024 – 10 November 2024
Teams40
Final positions
ChampionsDrogheda United
Runner-upDerry City
Tournament statistics
Matches played39
Goals scored137 (3.51 per match)
Top goal scorer(s)Douglas James-Taylor (7 goals)
← 2023
2025 →

The 2024 FAI Cup, known as the Sports Direct FAI Cup for sponsorship reasons,[1] was the 104th 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 teams from the regional leagues of the Republic of Ireland football league system.

Drogheda United defeated Derry City in the final, winning their first FAI Cup since 2005. As winners, Drogheda United qualified for the second qualifying round of the 2025–26 UEFA Conference League.

St Patrick's Athletic were defending champions, but were eliminated by Derry City in the second round.

The competition format for this season was altered slightly, with no qualifying rounds. The preliminary round, traditionally held before the first round, was merged with the first round of the competition. This year the first round featured 20 clubs, comprising the last 16 teams from the 2023-24 FAI Intermediate Cup and the final four clubs from the 2023-24 FAI Junior Cup. Following the completion of the first round, League of Ireland clubs entered the competition in the second round.[2]

Teams

The 2024 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 Other leagues

First round

The draw for the first round ties was made on 17 April and was made by former FAI Cup winner Stephen McGuiness and FAI President Paul Cooke.[3] All ties were played the week ending 19 May. Teams receiving byes into the second round were: Carrigaline United, Ringmahon Rangers, Leeds and Kilbarrack United.

17 May 2024 Wayside Celtic 2–1 (a.e.t.)CollinstownKilternan, County Dublin
19:45 Darragh O’Connor 102'
Dylan O’Connor 119' (pen.)		 McNeil 112' Stadium: Jackson Park
Attendance: 78
Referee: Declan Troy
18 May 2024 Midleton 3–0 St. FrancisMidleton, County Cork
14:00 Murray-Duggan 82' (pen.)
Kelly-Noonan 90+2'
Hegarty 90+5'		 Stadium: Knockgriffin Park
Attendance: 52
Referee: Vincent Coonan
18 May 2024 Maynooth University Town1–4 Gorey Rangers Maynooth, County Kildare
15:00 Warfield 81' Greene 7'
Brennan 55'
Byrne-Murphy 71' 79'		 Stadium: Rathcoffey Road
Attendance: 64
Referee: Liam McGuirk
18 May 2024 College Corinthians4–5 Cobh Wanderers Douglas, County Cork
16:00 Crowley 4' 34' 71'
Browne 55'		 Foster-O'Reilly 29'
Griffin 59' 67' (pen.) 81' 90+5' (pen.)		 Stadium: Corinthians Park
Attendance: 180
Referee: Robert O'Leary
19 May 2024 Cockhill Celtic 7–1Ayrfield UnitedBuncrana, County Donegal
14:00 Rudden 6' 64'
McColgan 18'
Mullen 62'
Bradley 85' 87' 90'		 Madden 67' (pen.) Stadium: Charlie O'Donnell Sports Grounds
Attendance: 344
Referee: Thomas Oates
19 May 2024 Pike Rovers 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(3–1 p)		Villa FCLimerick, County Limerick
14:00 Lipper 24' Walsh 76' Stadium: Pike Rovers Complex
Attendance: 43
Referee: Brian Higgins
19 May 2024 Ballyfermot United 3–0RockmountClondalkin, County Dublin
14:00 Wasser 41'
Caffrey 56'
Nolan 90+3'		 Stadium: Cloverhill Road
Attendance: 218
Referee: Owen Murphy
19 May 2024 Wilton United 1–0Glebe NorthWilton, County Cork
14:30 McCarthy 22' Stadium: Pat Bowdren Park
Attendance: 80
Referee: Simon Drislane

Second round

The draw for the second round took place on 6 June. Ties were played on the week ending 21 July.[4]

19 July 2024 Athlone Town 1–0Ringmahon RangersAthlone, County Westmeath
19:45 Torre 47' Report Stadium: Athlone Town Stadium
Attendance: 216
Referee: Alan Patchell
19 July 2024 Bohemians 1–0Shamrock RoversPhibsborough, County Dublin
19:45 Rooney 69' (pen.) Report Stadium: Dalymount Park
Attendance: 4,431
Referee: Rob Hennessy
19 July 2024 Cobh Ramblers0–2 Kerry Cobh, County Cork
19:45 O'Brien-Whitmarsh Red card 61' Report Brosnan 9'
Kelliher 11' (pen.)		 Stadium: St Colman's Park
Attendance: 456
Referee: Declan Toland
19 July 2024 Drogheda United 2–1DundalkDrogheda, County Louth
19:45 Bolger 16'
Davis 74'		 Report Faulkner 90+2' Stadium: Weavers Park
Attendance: 2,280
Referee: Damien MacGraith
19 July 2024 Galway United 6–0Longford TownGalway, County Galway
19:45 Lomboto 9'
Nugent 12'
Hickey 24'
Hurley 59'
Keohane 68'
Ogedi-Uzokwe 87'		 Report Stadium: Eamonn Deacy Park
Attendance: 1,204
Referee: David Dunne
19 July 2024 Treaty United 0–0 (a.e.t.)
(4–1 p)		Kilbarrack UnitedLimerick, County Limerick
19:45 Report Stadium: Markets Field
Attendance: 383
Referee: Daniel Murphy
Penalties
Curran soccer ball with check mark
Lynch soccer ball with check mark
Christopher soccer ball with check mark
O'Reilly soccer ball with check mark		 Townley soccer ball with red X
McHugh soccer ball with red X
Fitzsimons soccer ball with check mark
19 July 2024 Waterford 2–1Cockhill CelticWaterford, County Waterford
19:45 Arubi 21'
Burke 47'		 Report Rudden 13' Stadium: RSC
Attendance: 1,487
Referee: Marc Lynch
19 July 2024 Wilton United 2–1Carrigaline UnitedCarrigaline, County Cork
19:45 McCarthy 32'
Olajitan 56'		 Report Walker 36' Stadium: Ballea Park
Attendance: 110
Referee: Lucas Keating
20 July 2024 Pike Rovers 3–1MidletonLimerick, County Limerick
15:00 Murphy 39'
Walsh 72'
Clarke 79'		 Report Kelly-Noonan 71' Stadium: Pike Rovers Complex
Attendance: 95
Referee: Aaron O'Dowd
20 July 2024 Cork City 1–0Finn HarpsTurners Cross, County Cork
17:00 Dijksteel 39' Report Stadium: Turners Cross
Attendance: 1,359
Referee: Gavin Colfer
21 July 2024 Ballyfermot United 3–1Leeds AFCClondalkin, County Dublin
14:00 Nolan 42' (pen.)
Henderson 67'
J.Kelly 74' (pen.)		 E.Murphy 15' Stadium: Coldcut
Attendance: 330
Referee: Ryan Maher
21 July 2024 Gorey Rangers0–4 UCD Gorey, County Wexford
14:00 Report Doyle 32'
Behan 60'
Norval 84'
Ragget 90+1'		 Stadium: Altura Credit Union Park
Attendance: 150
Referee: Oliver Moran
21 July 2024 Bray Wanderers0–1 Shelbourne Bray, County Wicklow
15:00 Report Boyd 9' Stadium: Carlisle Grounds
Attendance: 2,339
Referee: Paul Norton
21 July 2024 Wayside Celtic1–3 Wexford Kilternan, County Dublin
15:00 O'Connor 52' Report Rowe 11'
Dobbs 50'
Curtis 87'		 Stadium: Jackson Park
Attendance: 290
Referee: Jason Moore
21 July 2024 Derry City 3–0St Patrick's AthleticDerry
18:00 Grivosti 52' (o.g.)
Mullen 58'
Duffy 67'		 Report Stadium: Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium
Attendance: 2,190
Referee: Rob Harvey
21 July 2024 Sligo Rovers 3–0Cobh WanderersSligo, County Sligo
18:00 Waweru 16' 75' 90+4' (pen.) Report Stadium: The Showgrounds
Attendance: 1,332
Referee: Eoghan O'Shea

Third round

The draw for the third round of the FAI Cup took place on 23 July. Ties were played on the weekend of 18 August.

16 August 2024 Ballyfermot United0–3 Wexford Clondalkin, County Dublin
19:45 Curtis 33', 58'
Oluwa 82'		 Stadium: Coldcut
Attendance: 392
Referee: Declan Toland
16 August 2024 Cork City0–1 Derry City Turners Cross, County Cork
19:45 Report Todd 72' Stadium: Turners Cross
Attendance: 3,169
Referee: Marc Lynch
16 August 2024 Drogheda United 9–0Wilton UnitedDrogheda, County Louth
19:45 James-Taylor 9' 14' 21'
Brennan 31'
Pierrot 47'
Quinn 51'
Bosakani 73' 84' 89'		 Report Stadium: Weavers Park
Attendance: 953
Referee: Eoghan O'Shea
16 August 2024 Shelbourne 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(5–3 p)		Galway UnitedDrumcondra, County Dublin
19:45 O'Brien 94' Report Keohane 116' Stadium: Tolka Park
Attendance: 1,639
Referee: Robert Harvey
Penalties
O'Brien soccer ball with check mark
Lunney soccer ball with check mark
Coyle soccer ball with check mark
Coote soccer ball with check mark
Burt soccer ball with check mark		 Hurley soccer ball with check mark
Keohane soccer ball with check mark
Clarke soccer ball with check mark
Buckley soccer ball with red X
16 August 2024 Treaty United 7–0Pike RoversLimerick, County Limerick
19:45 Molloy 2', 37', 47'
Curran 5' (pen.)
Vrljičak 41', 52'
R.Lynch 77'		 Report Stadium: Markets Field
Attendance: 1,838
Referee: Paul Norton
16 August 2024 Waterford2–3 (a.e.t.) Athlone Town Waterford, County Waterford
19:45 Amond 41' (pen.), 105' Report Ebbe 77'
Connolly 116'
McGregor 120+1'
Stadium: RSC
Attendance: 1,545
Referee: David Dunne
17 August 2024 Sligo Rovers0–2 UCD Sligo, County Sligo
19:45 Report O'Regan 78'
Wells 82'		 Stadium: The Showgrounds
Attendance: 1,862
Referee: Damien MacGraith
18 August 2024 Kerry2–2 (a.e.t.)
(2–4 p)		 Bohemians Tralee, County Kerry
16:00 Kelliher 43', 52'
 Report Clarke 22'
Greive 44'
 Stadium: Mounthawk Park
Attendance: 1,110
Referee: Neil Doyle
Penalties
Brosnan soccer ball with check mark
Amechi soccer ball with red X
Barrett soccer ball with red X
Crowe soccer ball with check mark
Tierney soccer ball with check mark
Devoy soccer ball with check mark
Grant soccer ball with check mark
McDaid soccer ball with check mark

Quarter-finals

The draw for the quarter-finals took place on 20 August 2024. The draw was made by Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson. Ties were played on the weekend of 15 September.

13 September 2024 UCD0–4 Bohemians Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown, Dublin
19:45 Report Tierney 34', 54'
Greive 89'
Miller 90+3'		 Stadium: UCD Bowl
Attendance: 2,233
Referee: Damien MacGraith
13 September 2024 Athlone Town1–4 Drogheda United Lissywollen, Athlone
19:45 Ebbe 85' (pen.) Report James-Taylor 12', 52'
Brennan 65'
Foley 81'		 Stadium: Athlone Town Stadium
Attendance: 1,132
Referee: Paul Norton
13 September 2024 Wexford 4–1Treaty UnitedCrossabeg, County Wexford
19:45 Isamala 9', 27'
Oluwa 11' (pen.), 45+4'		 Report Vrljicak 90+1' Stadium: Ferrycarrig Park
Attendance: 1,063
Referee: Gavin Colfer
14 September 2024 Derry City 2–0ShelbourneDerry, Northern Ireland
17:45 Duffy 23'
Mullen 64'		 Report Stadium: Brandywell Stadium
Attendance: 3,150
Referee: Rob Harvey
Note: Game shown live on RTE 2 television

Semi-finals

The draw for the semi-finals was made on 14 September live on RTE2 following a televised game. Ties were played on the weekend of 6 October.

4 October 2024 Bohemians0–2 Derry City Phibsborough, Dublin
19:45 Report Duffy 40', 72' Stadium: Dalymount Park
Attendance: 4,430
Referee: Paul McLaughlin
Note: Game shown live on RTÉ2 Television
6 October 2024 Drogheda United 3–2WexfordDrogheda, County Louth
14:50 Foley 65', 90+2'
James-Taylor 77'		 Report Dobbs 42', 79' Stadium: Weavers Park
Attendance: 2,543
Referee: Damien MacGraith
Note: Game shown live on RTÉ2 Television

Final

The final was held on 10 November 2024 at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

Main article: 2024 FAI Cup final
10 November 2024 Drogheda United 2–0 Derry City Dublin
15:00 Quinn 37'
James-Taylor 58' (pen.)		 Report Stadium: Aviva Stadium
Attendance: 38,723
Referee: Rob Harvey

References

  1. ^ "Mike Ashley's Sports Direct to become new FAI Cup sponsors". FAI.ie. 27 April 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  2. ^ "FAI Cup sees format change with updated first round". extratime.com. 11 April 2024. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  3. ^ "2024 Sports Direct Men's FAI Cup First Round Draw Live". youtube.com. 17 April 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  4. ^ "FAI Cup: Bohs to meet Shamrock Rovers, Drogs to host rivals Dundalk". irishexaminer.com. 6 June 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2024.