2024 FAI Cup

[cláirseach]

Kerry were helped enormously by the opposition, good fortune with the goals and above all else by the pitch. There were two long balls played forward from L-R towards the empty end that took very sharp bounces to the left in a manner that you simply won't see on any other pitch. They looked as if there was an additional pass played by a phantom. One went over Kavanagh's head and could perhaps even have wound up a through ball if that disgraceful pitch allowed balls to run. A visit from a big Dublin club had the potential to shine a light somewhat on the standard of facility offered there which was surprisingly allowed into senior football and for which no plans for improvement have been signalled but Bohs' terrible performances will be the story instead.

[Mr_Parker]

The FAI should just amend it from next season than any suspension carried over from a cup competition in another jurisdiction is automatically applied to the newly registered player's next domestic LOI league fixture only, trying to update wording to a rule to measure cup competition levels around a multitude of Papa John's Trophy type cup competitions across 200+ global football associations is not even up for discussion

They just need to follow the current regulations set by FIFA for all national associations to apply. FIFA regulations take precedent.

[listowelceltic]

Super performance from Kerry. Battled to the end. Players out on their feet at the end. First time ive seen everyone in the stand up and chanting. Days like this will only help the club grow. Shout out to the Bohs fans who clapped Kerry off at the end.

[legendz]

Kerry can be content enough with this season so far. A Munster Cup final. Taking a big name to penalties in the Cup. Already double the points from last season. A bonus would be getting to at least 36 points but that might prove too much for this sophomore season.

[Martinho II]

Kerry are having some season. Dont fancy our chances when they come up to visit us Saturday. I was at 2022 FAI cup final there was a huge crowd at it. Derry brought a huge crowd majority of whom I saw in Connolly Station!

[legendz]

Bohs of Tralee almost fluff lines, according to the Indo! Appropriate for the weekend that's in it.

[ger121]

That must be the most relaxed shootout we’ve ever been in. Still in it so can still win it.

[legendz]

Current league ranking of the quarter-finalists:
1. Shelbourne
2. Derry City
8. Bohemians
10. Drogheda
12. Athlone
13. UCD
15. Wexford
18. Treaty

[Shearer]

Current league ranking of the quarter-finalists:
1. Shelbourne
2. Derry City
8. Bohemians
10. Drogheda
12. Athlone
13. UCD
15. Wexford
18. Treaty
So, you're telling me there's a chance.

[cobhlad]

To update my stat from earlier in the thread:

it's now one win (Maynooth v Cobh in 2021) , one draws (Kilbarrack v Treaty in the previous round) and 52 defeats for non-league teams against LOI opponents, in the past 6 seasons

If you think this is bad, the Women’s FAI Cup is something else. Saw a stat that a non-league club hasn’t scored a goal against league opposition since 2019

[sbgawa]

Gutted for Kerry yesterday, If Bohs had gone out the odds on a non top 3 team winning the cup would have been very long indeed.
When is the draw for the next round anyone know?

[outspoken]

Gutted for Kerry yesterday, If Bohs had gone out the odds on a non top 3 team winning the cup would have been very long indeed.
When is the draw for the next round anyone know?

Tuesday 12 or 12.30

[legendz]

Gutted for Kerry yesterday, If Bohs had gone out the odds on a non top 3 team winning the cup would have been very long indeed.
When is the draw for the next round anyone know?

Yesterday was a moral victory for Kerry. Played well above their current league position. Kerry's best result to date.
Kerry should be kicking themselves that they haven't challenged for the playoffs. Too many unnecessary dropped points.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Leahy red card rescinded so he’s ok for the weekend. Not a huge consolation mind you’d imagine.

[brendy_éire]

Leahy red card rescinded so he’s ok for the weekend. Not a huge consolation mind you’d imagine.

I know it was a mad decision, but are the grounds?
Thought it was only for mistaken identity?

[Another Bohemia]

I know it was a mad decision, but are the grounds?
Thought it was only for mistaken identity?

FAI are doing this solely to spite Rovers. To show they can change the decisions they just won't. At least that's what I expect the Rovers statement to say when released

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

I know it was a mad decision, but are the grounds?
Thought it was only for mistaken identity?

Don’t think it’s just mistaken identity. He clearly did nothing wrong (not that it’s ever mattered before).

[sbgawa]

This is 100% the FAI getting embarrassed about their rubber stamping "appeals committes" I'm delighted they are having to start treating the league with a bit of respect and not just giving us the usual 2 fingers. There have been even more obvious ones left stand then this in the past. Hopefully this new ability to admit mistakes are made will carry on when the spotlight is off them.

[gufct]

Time for referee inspectors to pull up refs on serious errors of judgement. The premier refs are shocking even worse than 1st division .

[Straightstory]

Live draw here:
https://www.youtube.com/live/0DxNJ0iFqwM

[pineapple stu]

UCD v Bohs
Athlone v Drogheda
Wexford v Treaty
Derry v Shels

The last pairing there really opens it up for the rest of the draw. Top two are potential play-off finals (still reckon it'll be Dundalk there, but even then they're indicators of the relative strength of the divisions) and it's genuinely hard to call any of those games.

[joey B]

UCD v Bohs
Athlone v Drogheda
Wexford v Treaty
Derry v Shels

[sbgawa]

Terrible draw for teams looking to get into Europe in 4th place.
Ill definitly head out to the Bowl to chear Finner on against Bohs (assuming we havet been reinstated by then ) :)

[joey B]

Drogheda won’t relish going to Athlone,another difficult pitch against a decent opponent….

[brendy_éire]

Can't say I'm delighted with that draw, but home at least.
Shades of 2022 there. We had top of the league Shamrock Rovers at home in the quarters, then had Treaty in the semis. Quite something that Treaty could be in their third semi-final in three years.

[legendz]

Athlone Town v Drogheda United
Wexford FC v Treaty United
All four will fancy their chances of getting through here.
Bohs will probably have to beat one of Derry or Shelbourne to win the cup. The winner of Derry v Shelbourne likewise will probably have to beat Bohs.
If the final isn't Bohs v Derry or Shelbourne, it might be one of the lower attended finals in recent years.

[EalingGreen]

To update my stat from earlier in the thread:

it's now one win (Maynooth v Cobh in 2021) , one draws (Kilbarrack v Treaty in the previous round) and 52 defeats for non-league teams against LOI opponents, in the past 6 seasonsJust had a v.quick scan of Irish Cup (NI) results over the same 6 season period and it's a little better, though not hugely so.

Looks like that in games between IL top two tier clubs and those outside that level, there were (I think) five wins for for the latter, though none against any of the big IL teams. (A few draws as well, though I didn't count the number)

Maybe we overestimate the "magic of the Cup"?

[oriel]

That's a serious chance for a smaller club to make the final now, and its just nuts that either Wexford or Treaty will be in the semi final.

I wonder do all these games still have to be decided on the night, if so although it looks a good draw for Drogs, I wouldn't be taking Athlone away for granted, they are easily the form club in the FD, and UCD are not far off it either.

Had a feeling Derry and Shels would come out together.

[ger121]

The magic of the cup indeed.

[ger121]

We could have 2 or even 3 FD sides in the semis. Amazing storylines this year.

[nr637]

A final with UCD at the Aviva, don't forget UCD has around 38,000 students, any chance they would attract a good percentage of that to a final!

[Burnsie]

zero chance

[Nesta99]

The magic of the cup indeed.

The magic dropped off a bit when St Pats broke their cup hoodoo, prior to that anyone and everyone could beat them in a cup tie, the plum cup draw at one time.

Its the possibility of a shock result rather than the realty. Its rare but stands out when it does happen being so rare - like every year in the FA Cup that Ronnie Radford goal from 1972 gets rolled out. Ashtownvilla haunts nearly 34 years on, non league beating Dundalk the eventual LoI champions 90/91 is as big an upset as any but could you see it happening today? All the more reason for non-league to align with the senior season and at least be mid season match fit.

Dont recall it but non league Cobh knocked Champions Dundalk out a decade previous to Ashtown Villa, Harps went next and then the 4 games to get past Sligo, is the most remarkable non league-cup run, more than St Francis imo.

[Shearer]

That's a serious chance for a smaller club to make the final now
You're right, Shels have a huge chance.

[ger121]

Duffer is either on for the double or a candidate for double bypass surgery.

[brendy_éire]

Maybe we overestimate the "magic of the Cup"?

The Irish Cup got rid of most replays in 2015, something similar with the FAI Cup? You'd have expected to see more upsets form non-league clubs as a result, but not bearing out that way.


All the more reason for non-league to align with the senior season and at least be mid season match fit.

Clubs under the FAI should align the LoI season regardless, but that's already the case for clubs under the IFA aliging to the IL season, and it doesn't seem to make much difference.

Does it just show that the League clubs, north and south, are simply improving at a quicker pace that non-league?

[Nesta99]

Full time senior clubs and training will inevitablly grow the gap. Having access to elite underage players feed directly to LoI clubs rather than actively keeping youths of of the LoI clutches will add to the gap too as those players mature. There was always a gap but say that to non-league people and they will off on Trumpian tirades of personal insults, try to offer horseshi1t reasons why its not the case, comment on crowd sizes and then spontaneously combust! My own comment about aligning seasons so they will be at minimum match 'fit' was more to do with them reigning their heads in and knowing their place although if training involves carrying slabs of beer from Lidl to the boot of a car then a good cohort of their players, dropped LoI hopefuls, well they'd be some of the fitest playares around and coud play 9am every Sunday morning without lads banging on their front door for an hour. Stats will probably show occasional but more frequesnt upsets the further back in LoI history you go but they were still standout moments in a generation like Ashtown Villa/Cobh/St Francis moments. My generalised ire for this part of the game here is due to how they abused a powerbase at the FAI to stunt development of LoI for decades, mainly from the league being run by the inept FAI as it was. Tey were Delaneys powerbase also and I have met too many people in that group that were very like that described above. It think it is changing as they are slowly seeing that its a matter of time before they are aligned in lower down the food chain so starting to play ball and co-operate with the development of the game nationally. There is that subset of 'football people' that intersects non-league and schoolboys that really are enamoured with their big fish in small ponds role that gradually being weeded out

Didnt intend for that to turn in to a rant but hey sometimes venting is good!

[EalingGreen]

The Irish Cup got rid of most replays in 2015, something similar with the FAI Cup? You'd have expected to see more upsets form non-league clubs as a result, but not bearing out that way.True.


Clubs under the FAI should align the LoI season regardless, but that's already the case for clubs under the IFA aliging to the IL season, and it doesn't seem to make much difference.Indeed.


Does it just show that the League clubs, north and south, are simply improving at a quicker pace that non-league?I get the impression in the LOI that the increasing professionalism of clubs (and not just financially) in recent years has probably led to an increasing gulf between league and non-league and compounded by the fact that it is concentrated in a relatively small number of clubs, which are themselves further protected by the lack of relegation/pyramid etc.

I don't think this has happened to the same degree to date in the IL, as evidenced by the relative success of newer/smaller clubs like Loughgall (Prem), Annagh or Newington (Champ), Ballymacash or Rathfriland (Intermed) etc who have managed to rise up the pyramid and compete adequately.

But I say "to date", since it's looking as though the push for f-t professionalism at a number of clubs in the Prem (Larne, Linfield, Glens, Coleraine), plus the next tier trying to play catch-up (Cliftonville, Crues etc) by building a hybrid model, will very likely create an even bigger gulf between the "haves" and the "have nots". While this gulf would be seriously widened, even cemented in place, should the IL ever move to a summer season without the rest of the pyramid following suit. Further, the impact of such a gulf would be even worse than we see in the LOI, when you consider how much smaller NI is vis-a-vis ROI (population, economy, resources etc). That is, by the end of the process we might expect the IL to maintain fewer "haves" (f-t clubs) than the LOI.

[Nesta99]

I know what you mean when saying protected by lack of relegation (we talk about St Pats and Bohs never been relegated but that wasnt possible from the only division until 1985, plenty of clubs finished last prior so this issue has been dealt with before), it has been painted that LoI cant attract clubs to expand the senior game, the financial burden would be too great etc. But there are junior and intermediate clubs that if owned by a Saudi Sheikh still wouldnt step up and risk not being the big fish in their own small pond, they might be shown up by LoI clubs and couldnt stomach that. If or when the entire FAI system is tiered and its join of be excluded that this issue of reluctant junior suits will be dealt with, they will have to face the reality that there is a gulf and build slowly to close the gap occasionally - we may have a few more Athlone models and risk accidental promotion!

*The Dalkey United v Dundalk incident is possibly the root of junior v senior game, or he proverbial straw at least, but its a long time ago and things would absolutely without any doubt be run like clockwork today without need for appeals, replayed games, or threats of legal action et al, it just wouldnt happen in this day and age, ever!!

[Shinkicker]

True.

Indeed.

I get the impression in the LOI that the increasing professionalism of clubs (and not just financially) in recent years has probably led to an increasing gulf between league and non-league and compounded by the fact that it is concentrated in a relatively small number of clubs, which are themselves further protected by the lack of relegation/pyramid etc.

I don't think this has happened to the same degree to date in the IL, as evidenced by the relative success of newer/smaller clubs like Loughgall (Prem), Annagh or Newington (Champ), Ballymacash or Rathfriland (Intermed) etc who have managed to rise up the pyramid and compete adequately.

But I say "to date", since it's looking as though the push for f-t professionalism at a number of clubs in the Prem (Larne, Linfield, Glens, Coleraine), plus the next tier trying to play catch-up (Cliftonville, Crues etc) by building a hybrid model, will very likely create an even bigger gulf between the "haves" and the "have nots". While this gulf would be seriously widened, even cemented in place, should the IL ever move to a summer season without the rest of the pyramid following suit. Further, the impact of such a gulf would be even worse than we see in the LOI, when you consider how much smaller NI is vis-a-vis ROI (population, economy, resources etc). That is, by the end of the process we might expect the IL to maintain fewer "haves" (f-t clubs) than the LOI.
Re Ballymacash and Rathfriland. They climbed the pyramid by being the two highest payers in the mid ulster league and amateur league respectively. It didn't come quickly as for years they both fired lots of money at bad players before they they got it right. I coached a club who beat both of these in the league and various cups. After the games our boys smiled because they won whilst the above smiled because they still got their brown envelopes. It's easier to stay in the league they are in now than to get promoted from the leagues below. Even relative success can be bought.

[pineapple stu]

*The Dalkey United v Dundalk incident is possibly the root of junior v senior game, or he proverbial straw at least, but its a long time ago and things would absolutely without any doubt be run like clockwork today without need for appeals, replayed games, or threats of legal action et al, it just wouldnt happen in this day and age, ever!!
Ah, the Dalkey/Dundalk controversy! Robbed us of a first Cup final appearance in 32 years.

I was thinking about it as well with this mess - though once we beat Bohs next month it's surely too late to let Rovers back in?!

[sbgawa]

We are going to wait until CAS rule in our favour in late October and take our place in the final

[kksaints]

We are going to wait until CAS rule in our favour in late October and take our place in the final

This isn't going to be like one of those WWE style things where the Rovers team come out after the final to challenge the winners announcing a successful CAS appeal.

[EalingGreen]

Re Ballymacash and Rathfriland. They climbed the pyramid by being the two highest payers in the mid ulster league and amateur league respectively. It didn't come quickly as for years they both fired lots of money at bad players before they they got it right. I coached a club who beat both of these in the league and various cups. After the games our boys smiled because they won whilst the above smiled because they still got their brown envelopes. It's easier to stay in the league they are in now than to get promoted from the leagues below. Even relative success can be bought.There's no doubt it takes money AND for that money to be properly applied etc. But as Nesta says, even if non-league clubs in ROI had the money, and there was some sort of pathway, they may still not want to try to bridge the gap.

Meanwhile, though I don't know about Rathfriland, Ballymacash have been very successful in raising money to develop great facilities, while their whole set-up includes reserves, youth and womens sections etc. I don't know how much further they can go, or how long it would last. But there's no lack of ambition and they're capitalising on the potential of a footballing area in a way which eg Distillery have failed to do.

[Nesta99]

Ah, the Dalkey/Dundalk controversy! Robbed us of a first Cup final appearance in 32 years.

I was thinking about it as well with this mess - though once we beat Bohs next month it's surely too late to let Rovers back in?!

Yup crossed my mind when Rovers appealed the appeal. it was pretty bad that Dundalk didnt insist on just playing the 1/4 final after requesting the game be called off, good faith and all that, Is it double standard to think Rovers should just move on considering? Wasnt the FAI Cup but still.

Had to check that Ballymacash wasnt loaded quip along the lines of $$hels from years back and considering the discussion.

[ger121]

How did Bohs fans get a link for tickets to the cup game with UCD and tickets don’t even seem to be available online to home supporters. Definitely one of the stranger ticketing arrangements I’ve seen.

[nr637]

Athlone can expect a big away following from Drogheda for their home FAI Cup Quarter-Final fixture. Drogheda have taken up their full allocation of around 500 tickets!
Well done to the Drogheda Club. :)

[Shinkicker]

How did Bohs fans get a link for tickets to the cup game with UCD and tickets don’t even seem to be available online to home supporters. Definitely one of the stranger ticketing arrangements I’ve seen.
There was a link advertised Tickets on general sale. I got 2, going home tonight and looking forward to Friday.

[2 Year Contract]

In true greatest league in the world fashion, Dawson Devoy is suspended for Bohs cup game this weekend for accumulated yellows :D

https://www.fai.ie/latest/suspension-list-sports-direct-mens-fai-cup-quarter-finals/

[RealJohn91]

I thought you needed five yellow cards to get a suspension? Or maybe I'm wrong. Doesn't feel like he's got that many since returning though.