2025 FAI Cup

Last updated
2025 FAI Cup
Tournament details
CountryRepublic of Ireland
Venue(s) Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Dates11 May 2025 – 9 November 2025
Teams44
Tournament statistics
Matches played36
Goals scored135 (3.75 per match)
Top goal scorer(s) Colm Whelan (4 goals)
  2024
2026  

The 2025 FAI Cup , known as the Sports Direct FAI Cup for sponsorship reasons, [1] is the 105th edition of the Republic of Ireland's primary national cup competition. It features 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.

Contents

The 2025 FAI Cup winners are set to enter the first qualifying round of the 2026–27 UEFA Europa League. [2]

Drogheda United are the defending champions, having won their second FAI Cup the previous year.

Round and dates

RoundDraw dateMatch datesNumber of fixturesTeamsNew entries this round
First Round8 April 202511–18 May [3] 1244 → 3224
Second Round5 June 202518–20 July1632 → 1620
Third Round22 July 202515–17 August816 → 8None
Quarter-finals19 August 202512–14 September48 → 4None
Semi-finalsTBD3–5 October24 → 2None
Final9 November12 → 1None

Teams

The 2025 FAI Cup is a knockout competition with 44 teams taking part. The competitors consist of the 20 teams from the League of Ireland and 24 teams from the regional leagues of the Republic of Ireland football league system.

League of Ireland Premier Division clubs
Bohemians Cork City Derry City Drogheda United Galway United
Shamrock Rovers Shelbourne Sligo Rovers St Patrick's Athletic Waterford
League of Ireland First Division clubs
Athlone Town Bray Wanderers Cobh Ramblers Dundalk Finn Harps
Kerry Longford Town Treaty United UCD Wexford
Provincial league clubs
Baldoyle United
(Leinster Senior League)
Bangor Celtic
(Leinster Senior League)
Castlebar Celtic
(Mayo Association Football League)
College Corinthians
(Munster Senior League)
Crumlin United
(Leinster Senior League)
Douglas Hall
(Munster Senior League)
Fairview Rangers
(Limerick & District League)
Fanad United
(Donegal Junior League)
Janesboro
(Limerick & District League)
Killester Donnycarney
(Leinster Senior League)
Leicester Celtic
(Leinster Senior League)
Liffey Wanderers
(Leinster Senior League)
Lucan United
(Leinster Senior League)
Midleton
(Munster Senior League)
North End United
(Wexford Football League)
Ringmahon Rangers
(Munster Senior League)
River Valley Rangers
(Leinster Senior League)
Salthill Devon
(Galway & District League)
St Mochta's
(Leinster Senior League)
St Michael's
(Tipperary South District League)
Tolka Rovers
(Leinster Senior League)
UCC
(Munster Senior League)
Usher Celtic
(Leinster Senior League)
Wayside Celtic
(Leinster Senior League)

First round

11 May 2025North End United1–4 Castlebar Celtic Wexford Town, County Wexford
14:00Murphy Soccerball shade.svg55' Report Hughes Soccerball shade.svg25'
Edwards Soccerball shade.svg57', 68'
Kelly Soccerball shade.svg84'
Stadium: Hollygrove
Attendance: 57
Referee: Seamus Kelly
15 May 2025 Wayside Celtic 4–0River Valley Rangers Kilternan, County Dublin
19:45Boylan Soccerball shade.svg33'
Kelly Soccerball shade.svg40'
Clucas Soccerball shade.svg58'
Whelan Soccerball shade.svg67' (o.g.)
Stadium: Jackson Park
Referee: Declan Troy
16 May 2025 Crumlin United 4–2Lucan United Crumlin, Dublin 12
20:00Friel Soccerball shade.svg5'
Kavanagh Soccerball shade.svg23', 90+4'
O'Donohoe Soccerball shade.svg51'
Byrne Soccerball shade.svg32'
Kendrick Soccerball shade.svg67'
Stadium: Pearse Park
Referee: Peter Mahoney
17 May 2025 Midleton 0–6 Killester Donnycarney Midleton, County Cork
14:00Jones Soccerball shade.svg23'
Bergin Soccerball shade.svg38', 83'
Nolan Soccerball shade.svg63'
Wall Soccerball shade.svg74', 75'
Stadium: Knockgriffin Park
Referee: Darren O'Sullivan
17 May 2025 College Corinthians 1–2 Bangor Celtic Douglas, County Cork
15:00Crowley Soccerball shade.svg37'Lovic Soccerball shade.svg59'
Samson Soccerball shade.svg90+2'
Stadium: Corinthians Park
Referee: Robert O'Leary
17 May 2025 Fairview Rangers 4–0Baldoyle United Garryowen, County Limerick
15:00Vysochan Soccerball shade.svg27', 88' (pen.)
Dore Soccerball shade.svg38'
Ahern Soccerball shade.svg89'
Stadium: Singland Park
Referee: Brian Higgins
17 May 2025Ringmahon Rangers1–3 UCC Mahon, County Cork
15:00Happi Soccerball shade.svg30'Power Soccerball shade.svg48'
Roberts Soccerball shade.svg83'
O'Brien Soccerball shade.svg86'
Stadium: Ringmahon Park
Referee: Declan Fogarty
17 May 2025 St Mochta's 4–0Douglas Hall Clonsilla, Dublin 15
15:30Atanda Soccerball shade.svg4'Red card.svg 45+2'
Chambers Soccerball shade.svg30'
Brady Soccerball shade.svg61'
Doherty Soccerball shade.svg65'
Stadium: Porterstown Road
Referee: John McCarthy
18 May 2025 Leicester Celtic 2–1 Fanad United Rathfarnham, Dublin 14
14:00Kevin Maguire Soccerball shade.svg30', 59'Carr Soccerball shade.svg80'Stadium: Loreto Park
Referee: Robert Redmond
18 May 2025 Salthill Devon 2–1 Liffey Wanderers Salthill, County Galway
14:00Molloy Soccerball shade.svg39'
Darcy Soccerball shade.svg47'
Ellis Soccerball shade.svg82'Stadium: Drom Soccer Park
Referee: Thomas Oates
18 May 2025 Tolka Rovers 3–1Janesboro Glasnevin, Dublin 11
14:00 Mashigo Soccerball shade.svg6'
O'Dwyer Soccerball shade.svg39' (o.g.)
Baramidze Soccerball shade.svg90+4'
Lynch Soccerball shade.svg63'
O'Dwyer Yellow card.svg 89' Yellow-red card.svg
Stadium: Frank Cooke Park
Referee: Jason Ray
18 May 2025 St Michael's w/oUsher Celtic Tipperary Town, County Tipperary
15:00Stadium: Cooke Park
Note: St Michael's were awarded a walkover.

Second round

18 July 2025 Bray Wanderers 3–0 Wayside Celtic Bray, County Wicklow
19:45Kinsella Bishop Soccerball shade.svg42'
P. Murphy Soccerball shade.svg66'
M. Murphy Soccerball shade.svg80' (pen.)
Report Stadium: Carlisle Grounds
Attendance: 1,186
Referee: Rob Hennessy
18 July 2025 Drogheda United 5–0 Crumlin United Drogheda, County Louth
19:45 Keeley Soccerball shade.svg44'
Oluwa Soccerball shade.svg48'
Thomas Soccerball shade.svg70' (pen.)
Markey Soccerball shade.svg76'
O'Sullivan Soccerball shade.svg85'
Report Stadium: Sullivan and Lambe Park
Attendance: 2,286
Referee: Oliver Moran
18 July 2025 Dundalk 0–2 Sligo Rovers Dundalk, County Louth
19:45 Report McManus Soccerball shade.svg51'
Doyle-Hayes Soccerball shade.svg54'
Stadium: Oriel Park
Attendance: 2,038
Referee: Aaron O'Dowd
18 July 2025 Finn Harps 3–0 UCD Ballybofey, County Donegal
19:45Lomboto Soccerball shade.svg30'
Mpongo Soccerball shade.svg52'
McNamee Soccerball shade.svg64'
Report Stadium: Finn Park
Attendance: 559
Referee: Neil Doyle
18 July 2025 Galway United 2–0 Tolka Rovers Galway, County Galway
19:45Walsh Soccerball shade.svg18'
Hurley Soccerball shade.svg74'
Report Stadium: Eamonn Deacy Park
Attendance: 1,033
Referee: Ryan Maher
18 July 2025 Kerry 2–1 (a.e.t.) Athlone Town Tralee, County Kerry
19:45 Adams Soccerball shade.svg90+7'
Amechi Soccerball shade.svg92'
Report Oyenuga Soccerball shade.svg56'Stadium: Mounthawk Park
Attendance: 590
Referee: Daryl Carolan
18 July 2025 Killester Donnycarney 0–7 Bohemians Phibsborough, Dublin 7
19:45 Report Strods Soccerball shade.svg8', 19'
Whelan Soccerball shade.svg18' (pen.), 37', 63' (pen.), 79'
Brennan Soccerball shade.svg67'
Stadium: Dalymount Park
Attendance: 3,484
Referee: Daniel Murphy
Note: Killester Donnycarney were drawn as the home team but both clubs agreed to switch the venue to Bohemians' Dalymount Park home ground.
18 July 2025 Treaty United 1–5 Derry City Garryowen, County Limerick
19:45Devitt Soccerball shade.svg79' Report Boyce Soccerball shade.svg59', 74', 85' (pen.)
Bannon Soccerball shade.svg71'
Mullen Soccerball shade.svg86'
Stadium: Markets Field
Attendance: 1,215
Referee: Lucas Keating
18 July 2025 Waterford 5–1 St Mochta's Waterford, County Waterford
19:45 Lonergan Soccerball shade.svg10', 85'
Noonan Soccerball shade.svg35'
Coyle Soccerball shade.svg83'
Amond Soccerball shade.svg87'
Report Casey Soccerball shade.svg38' (pen.)Stadium: RSC
Attendance: 1,322
Referee: Glen Geraghty
18 July 2025 Shamrock Rovers 4–0 Wexford Tallaght, Dublin 24
20:00 Ozhianvuna Soccerball shade.svg8'
Burke Soccerball shade.svg76'
Gaffney Soccerball shade.svg84'
Mandroiu Soccerball shade.svg90'
Report Stadium: Tallaght Stadium
Attendance: 2,420
Referee: Mark Houlihan
19 July 2025 Cork City 3–0 Leicester Celtic Turners Cross, County Cork
12:00Lutz Soccerball shade.svg69' (pen.)
Nelson Soccerball shade.svg72'
Curry Soccerball shade.svg88' (o.g.)
Stadium: Turners Cross
Attendance: 893
Referee: Darragh White
19 July 2025 Salthill Devon 1–0 St Michael's Salthill, County Galway
14:00Molloy Soccerball shade.svg13'Stadium: Drom Soccer Park
Attendance: 131
Referee: Declan Toland
19 July 2025 Bangor Celtic 0–2 Cobh Ramblers Crumlin, Dublin 12
15:00Bellis Soccerball shade.svg67'
Whelan Soccerball shade.svg87'
Stadium: Pearse Park
Attendance: 150
Referee: Rob Harvey
19 July 2025Fairview Rangers0–4 Shelbourne Garryowen, County Limerick
18:00 Martin Soccerball shade.svg4', 73', 86'
Kelly Soccerball shade.svg24'
Stadium: Singland Park
Attendance: 950
Referee: Marc Lynch
20 July 2025 Castlebar Celtic 3–6 Longford Town Castlebar, County Mayo
17:00Cunningham Soccerball shade.svg4'
Hughes Soccerball shade.svg16'
Loftus Soccerball shade.svg39' (pen.)
Murtagh Soccerball shade.svg11', 18', 22'
George Soccerball shade.svg75', 90+4'
Campbell Soccerball shade.svg89'
Stadium: Celtic Park
Referee: Damien MacGraith
20 July 2025 St Patrick's Athletic 8–0 UCC Inchicore, Dublin 8
18:00Murphy Soccerball shade.svg19' (o.g.)
Kavanagh Soccerball shade.svg40'
Keena Soccerball shade.svg43'
Forrester Soccerball shade.svg45+1', 68'
Kazeem Soccerball shade.svg46'
Mulraney Soccerball shade.svg49'
Carty Soccerball shade.svg51'
Stadium: Richmond Park
Attendance: 1,243
Referee: Alan Patchell

Third round

15 August 2025 Bohemians 0–1 Sligo Rovers Phibsborough, Dublin 7
19:45 Report Elding Soccerball shade.svg53'Stadium: Dalymount Park
Attendance: 4,246
Referee: Kevin O'Sullivan
15 August 2025 Cork City 2–1 Waterford Turners Cross, County Cork
19:45Murray Soccerball shade.svg3'
Kamara Soccerball shade.svg81'
Report Lonergan Soccerball shade.svg22'Stadium: Turners Cross
Attendance: 2,112
Referee: Rob Hennessy
15 August 2025 Finn Harps 3–1 Bray Wanderers Ballybofey, County Donegal
19:45Cullen Soccerball shade.svg14'
Hutchison Soccerball shade.svg27'
Mpongo Soccerball shade.svg30' (pen.)
Report Curtis Soccerball shade.svg8'
O'Neill Red card.svg 55'
Stadium: Finn Park
Attendance: 707
Referee: Damien Macgraith
15 August 2025 Kerry 2–0 Cobh Ramblers Tralee, County Kerry
19:45Brosnan Soccerball shade.svg10'
Adams Soccerball shade.svg64' (pen.)
Report O'Donovan Red card.svg 1'
Griffin Yellow card.svg Yellow-red card.svg 90'
Stadium: Mounthawk Park
Attendance: 520
Referee: Aaron O'Dowd
15 August 2025 Salthill Devon 0–4 Galway United Galway, County Galway
19:45 Report Buckley Soccerball shade.svg11'
Walsh Soccerball shade.svg36'
Hickey Soccerball shade.svg66'
McGuinness Soccerball shade.svg90+1'
Stadium: Eamonn Deacy Park
Attendance: 2,507
Referee: Paul Norton
Note: Salthill Devon were drawn as the home team but both clubs agreed to switch the venue to Galway United's Eamonn Deacy Park home ground.
16 August 2025 Derry City 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(0–3 p)
Drogheda United Derry, County Londonderry
20:00 Duffy Soccerball shade.svg73'
Doherty Red card.svg 120+2'
Report Quinn Soccerball shade.svg2'Stadium: Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium
Attendance: 2,662
Referee: Robert Harvey
Penalties
Stott Soccerball shade cross.svg
Frizzell Soccerball shade cross.svg
Mullen Soccerball shade cross.svg
Keeley Soccerball shad check.svg
Oluwa Soccerball shad check.svg
Lambe Soccerball shad check.svg
Note: Broadcast on RTÉ2
17 August 2025 St Patrick's Athletic 2–0 Shelbourne Inchicore, Dublin 8
17:00 Melia Soccerball shade.svg45+4'
Forrester Soccerball shade.svg53' (pen.)
Report Stadium: Richmond Park
Attendance: 3,003
Referee: Paul Mclaughlin
17 August 2025 Shamrock Rovers 2–1 Longford Town Tallaght, Dublin 24
19:00 McGovern Soccerball shade.svg8' (pen.)
Burke Soccerball shade.svg84' (pen.)
Report Ugbesia Soccerball shade.svg25'Stadium: Tallaght Stadium
Attendance: 1,744
Referee: Alan Patchell

Quarter Final

12 September 2025 Drogheda United v Shamrock Rovers Drogheda, County Louth
19:30Stadium: Sullivan and Lambe Park
12 September 2025 Finn Harps v Cork City Ballybofey, County Donegal
19:45Stadium: Finn Park
12 September 2025 Kerry v Sligo Rovers Tralee, County Kerry
19:45Stadium: Mounthawk Park
14 September 2025 St Patrick's Athletic v Galway United Inchicore, Dublin 8
18:00Stadium: Richmond Park

Top goalscorers

RankPlayerClubGoals
1 Flag of Ireland.svg Colm Whelan Bohemians 4
2 Flag of Ireland.svg Chris Forrester St Patrick's Athletic 3
Ulster Banner.svg Liam Boyce Derry City
Flag of Ireland.svg Tommy Lonergan Waterford
Flag of Ireland.svg John Martin Shelbourne
Flag of Ireland.svg Daragh Murtagh Longford Town
6 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Joe Adams Kerry 2
Flag of Ireland.svg Daniel Bergin Killester Donnycarney
Flag of Ireland.svg Dylan Edwards Castlebar Celtic
Flag of Ireland.svg Dean George Longford Town
Flag of Ireland.svg Eoghan Hughes Castlebar Celtic
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Hans Kamta Mpongo Finn Harps
Flag of Ireland.svg Reece Kavanagh Crumlin United
Flag of Ireland.svg Kevin Maguire Leicester Celtic
Flag of Ireland.svg Timmy Molloy Salthill Devon
Flag of Latvia.svg Markuss Strods Bohemians
Flag of Ireland.svg Oleg VysochanFairview Rangers
Flag of Ireland.svg James Wall Killester Donnycarney
Flag of Ireland.svg Stephen Walsh Galway United

Television rights

On 15 May 2025, RTÉ announced a broadcast agreement to show a record number of FAI Cup ties over the following two seasons. In the 2025 FAI Cup the deal included the broadcast of one third round fixture, two quarter-final fixtures, both semi-final fixtures, and the final. [4]

References

  1. "Mike Ashley's Sports Direct to become new FAI Cup sponsors". FAI.ie. 27 April 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  2. "Looking good for the League of Ireland UEFA coefficient". extratime.ie. 24 August 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  3. "Fixtures confirmed for 2025 Sports Direct Men's FAI Cup First Round". www.fai.ie. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
  4. "RTÉ and FAI announce two-year broadcast agreement to show record number of Sports Direct Men's FAI Cup ties". rte.ie. RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 19 July 2025.