FAI Cup 2014

**Charlie Darwin** · 03/10/2014, 3:46 PM

I doubt there'll be any difficulty getting tickets on the day, but you might have to send a few people over to the Rovers side. There are a few people handing out fliers in Tallaght (lovely day for it) but I wouldn't expect anything more than 3,500, heavily assisted by Derry fans.

**MeathDrog** · 03/10/2014, 7:56 PM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1923_Ir...tate_Cup_Final

This is a great bit of trivia here. Getting an escort to the FAI cup final from the Rah. Something else.

Also, are Alton United the only team to win the FAI Cup and not defend the trophy?

**D24Saint** · 04/10/2014, 12:35 PM

Here is a list of our previous FAI cup games v Finn Harps.

First meeting between ourselves & Harps in the cup was
1972 13th February First round, Saints 2 (Murray,Burkett) - 1 Harps (Bradley)
1974 21st April Final Saints 1 (Byrne) - 3 Harps (Ferry,Bradley x2)
1977 13th February Second round Saints 2 (Martin,Byrne) - 1 Harps (Smith)
1993 14th February First round Saints 3 (Campbell,Ryan,Dunne) - 0 Harps

**DannyInvincible** · 04/10/2014, 5:37 PM

Originally Posted by MeathDrog

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1923_Ir...tate_Cup_Final

This is a great bit of trivia here. Getting an escort to the FAI cup final from the Rah. Something else.

Would the Alton United team (from the republican Falls Road in Belfast) have been under threat of attack in Dublin had there not been an armed IRA escort from the train station? It's interesting that Belfast's Falls District League (to which Alton United were party) was affiliated with the Dublin association at the time. Obviously, there were political reasons as to why the league and its clubs wouldn't or couldn't affiliate with the unionist-dominated Belfast association, but it also indicates how when the national association in Dublin (then the FAIFS and now the FAI, obviously) seceded from the IFA, the original intention was not necessarily to split and create a situation whereby two associations were governing football on the island. Rather, the FAIFS was ideally established as a new national association with the intention of replacing the IFA. It was only when the Dublin association applied for membership of FIFA that FIFA made confining its governance to the Free State a condition of entry in 1923. As a result, the Falls District League no longer fell under the jurisdiction of the FAIFS and Alton United dropped out. West Ham were another Falls club who had played in the FAIFS/FAI Cup until then.

Also, are Alton United the only team to win the FAI Cup and not defend the trophy?

Good question. Quite a lot of Irish clubs have been reformed or become defunct over the years, but I think Alton United would be the only winners not to have had the chance of defending their title. Cork United won the cup in 1947 and dissolved in February of 1948. Indeed, they immediately reformed as Cork Athletic and rejoined the league in 1948, but they presumably would have competed at the outset of the 1947-48 competition? I've had a quick look through the list of winners but don't think I can see any other possibles.

**Calcio Jack** · 04/10/2014, 9:54 PM

Originally Posted by MeathDrog

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1923_Ir...tate_Cup_Final

This is a great bit of trivia here. Getting an escort to the FAI cup final from the Rah. Something else.

Also, are Alton United the only team to win the FAI Cup and not defend the trophy?

Lovely other piece of trivia is that one of the Shels players name was.... Sammy Wilson!!

**DannyInvincible** · 04/10/2014, 10:31 PM

It seems Cork United did defend their 1947 win. They made it to the semi-finals in 1948 where they lost 2-0 to Drumcondra: http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/iercuphistfull.html

Those semi-finals were played in March of 1948, so my info above appears slightly off as United must have played beyond February then. This stated they withdrew from the League of Ireland on the 13th of February (oddly specific if it is indeed incorrect), although this states they resigned in October.

**atfconline** · 04/10/2014, 10:37 PM

Niall MacSweeney's book says they disbanded following their second Shield game on October 10th 1948.

**DannyInvincible** · 04/10/2014, 11:07 PM

Odd. I wonder where the 13th of February came from. I know it's Wiki and anyone can edit, but it seems unusually specific and why would a vandal make something like that up? I presume it must have been an innocent error.

**brendy_éire** · 05/10/2014, 1:20 AM

Just a wee reminder for the drive down; the A5 between Newbuildings and Strabane is closed on Sunday.
Southbound traffic is being diverted via Dunnamanagh, but obviously the route via Carrigans is handier.

**BonnieShels** · 05/10/2014, 2:20 AM

Originally Posted by D24Saint

Should be a good day Sunday, really looking forward to it, haven't played Harps for a good few years.If there are any thirsty harps fans looking for a pint in Inchicore before the match here is the pub goers guide to the area.There will sadly be no Football special & vodka available but there are a few decent boozers around. Sadly the great McDowells (nearest to Richmond) is no more, the alternatives are the Blacklion the start of Emmett road which is good traditional boozer with decent Guinness, next stop up emmett road is Timothy croughs, odd layout bit of the hotel bar feel to it but a €3.40 a pint not to be beaten for value, after that past the now derelict McDowells is Taveys, this is the closest to the away fans entrance under the arch but while a decent boozer it takes all of twenty people to fill it up,very popular with Pats fans so id say it will be jammed, across the road is Coffey's (avoid like the plague) , after that a bit down the hill is The Glen of Aherlow , O'Donoghues, decent boozer if not a bit of a time warp back to the seventies. Thats it enjoy your scoops if not the match.

Sure at that rate send them to the Tyrconnell House... Geddit... Tyrconnell...

*gets coat*

**adamd164** · 05/10/2014, 1:17 PM

Currently Pats 1-1 Harps.

Great free kick from Killian Brennan and a well taken equaliser for Harps (Mailey). Overall Harps have played quite well in spells.

**Acornvilla** · 05/10/2014, 1:23 PM

Originally Posted by adamd164

Currently Pats 1-1 Harps.

Great free kick from Killian Brennan and a well taken equaliser for Harps (Mailey). Overall Harps have played quite well in spells.

Good free, terrible goalkeeping, Winn's reactions are shocking altogether! I remember Nigel complaining about this months ago, I guess he was right!

**DannyInvincible** · 05/10/2014, 1:51 PM

Defending pretty poor for all goals, especially the set pieces. I'm not sure about Winn's positioning for Brennan's free-kick. Can't really see a way back for Harps here.