2025 FAI Cup

2025 FAI Cup

Tournament details
Country	Republic of Ireland
Dates	11 May – 9 November 2025
Teams	44
Tournament statistics
Matches played	36
Goals scored	151 (4.19 per match)
Top goal scorer(s)	Owen Elding Chris Forrester Colm Whelan (4 goals each)
←  2024 2026  → All statistics correct as of 14 September 2025.

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.

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. ^[2]

The 2025 FAI Cup winners are set to enter the first qualifying round of the 2026–27 UEFA Europa League. ^[3]

The defending champions, Drogheda United, were beaten in the quarter-finals by Shamrock Rovers.

Round and dates

Round	Draw date	Match dates	Number of fixtures	Teams	New entries this round
First Round	8 April 2025	11–18 May [4]	12	44 → 32	24
Second Round	5 June 2025	18–20 July	16	32 → 16	20
Third Round	22 July 2025	15–17 August	8	16 → 8	None
Quarter-finals	19 August 2025	12–14 September	4	8 → 4
Semi-finals	15 September 2025	3–5 October	2	4 → 2
Final	—	9 November	1	2 → 1

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

North End United v Castlebar Celtic

11 May 2025	North End United	1–4	Castlebar Celtic	Wexford Town, County Wexford
14:00	Murphy 55'	Report	Hughes 25' Edwards 57', 68' Kelly 84'	Stadium: Hollygrove Attendance: 57 Referee: Seamus Kelly

Wayside Celtic v River Valley Rangers

15 May 2025	Wayside Celtic	4–0	River Valley Rangers	Kilternan, County Dublin
19:45	Boylan 33' Kelly 40' Clucas 58' Whelan 67' (o.g.)			Stadium: Jackson Park Referee: Declan Troy

Crumlin United v Lucan United

16 May 2025	Crumlin United	4–2	Lucan United	Crumlin, Dublin 12
20:00	Friel 5' Kavanagh 23', 90+4' O'Donohoe 51'		Byrne 32' Kendrick 67'	Stadium: Pearse Park Referee: Peter Mahoney

Midleton v Killester Donnycarney

17 May 2025	Midleton	0–6	Killester Donnycarney	Midleton, County Cork
14:00			Jones 23' Bergin 38', 83' Nolan 63' Wall 74', 75'	Stadium: Knockgriffin Park Referee: Darren O'Sullivan

College Corinthians v Bangor Celtic

17 May 2025	College Corinthians	1–2	Bangor Celtic	Douglas, County Cork
15:00	Crowley 37'		Lovic 59' Samson 90+2'	Stadium: Corinthians Park Referee: Robert O'Leary

Fairview Rangers v Baldoyle United

17 May 2025	Fairview Rangers	4–0	Baldoyle United	Garryowen, County Limerick
15:00	Vysochan 27', 88' (pen.) Dore 38' Ahern 89'			Stadium: Singland Park Referee: Brian Higgins

Ringmahon Rangers v UCC

17 May 2025	Ringmahon Rangers	1–3	UCC	Mahon, County Cork
15:00	Happi 30'		Power 48' Roberts 83' O'Brien 86'	Stadium: Ringmahon Park Referee: Declan Fogarty

St Mochta's v Douglas Hall

17 May 2025	St Mochta's	4–0	Douglas Hall	Clonsilla, Dublin 15
15:30	Atanda 4' 45+2' Chambers 30' Brady 61' Doherty 65'			Stadium: Porterstown Road Referee: John McCarthy

Leicester Celtic v Fanad United

18 May 2025	Leicester Celtic	2–1	Fanad United	Rathfarnham, Dublin 14
14:00	Kevin Maguire 30', 59'		Carr 80'	Stadium: Loreto Park Referee: Robert Redmond

Salthill Devon v Liffey Wanderers

18 May 2025	Salthill Devon	2–1	Liffey Wanderers	Salthill, County Galway
14:00	Molloy 39' Darcy 47'		Ellis 82'	Stadium: Drom Soccer Park Referee: Thomas Oates

Tolka Rovers v Janesboro

18 May 2025	Tolka Rovers	3–1	Janesboro	Glasnevin, Dublin 11
14:00	Mashigo 6' O'Dwyer 39' (o.g.) Baramidze 90+4'		Lynch 63' O'Dwyer  89'	Stadium: Frank Cooke Park Referee: Jason Ray

St Michael's v Usher Celtic

18 May 2025	St Michael's	w/o	Usher Celtic	Tipperary Town, County Tipperary
15:00				Stadium: Cooke Park
Note: St Michael's were awarded a walkover.

Second round

Bray Wanderers v Wayside Celtic

18 July 2025	Bray Wanderers	3–0	Wayside Celtic	Bray, County Wicklow
19:45	Kinsella Bishop 42' P. Murphy 66' M. Murphy 80' (pen.)	Report		Stadium: Carlisle Grounds Attendance: 1,186 Referee: Rob Hennessy

Drogheda United v Crumlin United

18 July 2025	Drogheda United	5–0	Crumlin United	Drogheda, County Louth
19:45	Keeley 44' Oluwa 48' Thomas 70' (pen.) Markey 76' O'Sullivan 85'	Report		Stadium: Sullivan and Lambe Park Attendance: 2,286 Referee: Oliver Moran

Dundalk v Sligo Rovers

18 July 2025	Dundalk	0–2	Sligo Rovers	Dundalk, County Louth
19:45		Report	McManus 51' Doyle-Hayes 54'	Stadium: Oriel Park Attendance: 2,038 Referee: Aaron O'Dowd

Finn Harps v UCD

18 July 2025	Finn Harps	3–0	UCD	Ballybofey, County Donegal
19:45	Lomboto 30' Mpongo 52' McNamee 64'	Report		Stadium: Finn Park Attendance: 559 Referee: Neil Doyle

Galway United v Tolka Rovers

18 July 2025	Galway United	2–0	Tolka Rovers	Galway, County Galway
19:45	Walsh 18' Hurley 74'	Report		Stadium: Eamonn Deacy Park Attendance: 1,033 Referee: Ryan Maher

Kerry v Athlone Town

18 July 2025	Kerry	2–1 (a.e.t.)	Athlone Town	Tralee, County Kerry
19:45	Adams 90+7' Amechi 92'	Report	Oyenuga 56'	Stadium: Mounthawk Park Attendance: 590 Referee: Daryl Carolan

Killester Donnycarney v Bohemians

18 July 2025	Killester Donnycarney	0–7	Bohemians	Phibsborough, Dublin 7
19:45		Report	Strods 8', 19' Whelan 18' (pen.), 37', 63' (pen.), 79' Brennan 67'	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.

Treaty United v Derry City

18 July 2025	Treaty United	1–5	Derry City	Garryowen, County Limerick
19:45	Devitt 79'	Report	Boyce 59', 74', 85' (pen.) Bannon 71' Mullen 86'	Stadium: Markets Field Attendance: 1,215 Referee: Lucas Keating

Waterford v St Mochta's

18 July 2025	Waterford	5–1	St Mochta's	Waterford, County Waterford
19:45	Lonergan 10', 85' Noonan 35' Coyle 83' Amond 87'	Report	Casey 38' (pen.)	Stadium: RSC Attendance: 1,322 Referee: Glen Geraghty

Shamrock Rovers v Wexford

18 July 2025	Shamrock Rovers	4–0	Wexford	Tallaght, Dublin 24
20:00	Ozhianvuna 8' Burke 76' Gaffney 84' Mandroiu 90'	Report		Stadium: Tallaght Stadium Attendance: 2,420 Referee: Mark Houlihan

Cork City v Leicester Celtic

19 July 2025	Cork City	3–0	Leicester Celtic	Turners Cross, County Cork
12:00	Lutz 69' (pen.) Nelson 72' Curry 88' (o.g.)			Stadium: Turners Cross Attendance: 893 Referee: Darragh White

Salthill Devon v St Michael's

19 July 2025	Salthill Devon	1–0	St Michael's	Salthill, County Galway
14:00	Molloy 13'			Stadium: Drom Soccer Park Attendance: 131 Referee: Declan Toland

Bangor Celtic v Cobh Ramblers

19 July 2025	Bangor Celtic	0–2	Cobh Ramblers	Crumlin, Dublin 12
15:00			Bellis 67' Whelan 87'	Stadium: Pearse Park Attendance: 150 Referee: Rob Harvey

Fairview Rangers v Shelbourne

19 July 2025	Fairview Rangers	0–4	Shelbourne	Garryowen, County Limerick
18:00			Martin 4', 73', 86' Kelly 24'	Stadium: Singland Park Attendance: 950 Referee: Marc Lynch

Castlebar Celtic v Longford Town

20 July 2025	Castlebar Celtic	3–6	Longford Town	Castlebar, County Mayo
17:00	Cunningham 4' Hughes 16' Loftus 39' (pen.)		Murtagh 11', 18', 22' George 75', 90+4' Campbell 89'	Stadium: Celtic Park Referee: Damien MacGraith

St Patrick's Athletic v UCC

20 July 2025	St Patrick's Athletic	8–0	UCC	Inchicore, Dublin 8
18:00	Murphy 19' (o.g.) Kavanagh 40' Keena 43' Forrester 45+1', 68' Kazeem 46' Mulraney 49' Carty 51'			Stadium: Richmond Park Attendance: 1,243 Referee: Alan Patchell

Third round

Bohemians v Sligo Rovers

15 August 2025	Bohemians	0–1	Sligo Rovers	Phibsborough, Dublin 7
19:45		Report	Elding 53'	Stadium: Dalymount Park Attendance: 4,246 Referee: Kevin O'Sullivan

Cork City v Waterford

15 August 2025	Cork City	2–1	Waterford	Turners Cross, County Cork
19:45	M.Murray 3' Kamara 81'	Report	Lonergan 22'	Stadium: Turners Cross Attendance: 2,112 Referee: Rob Hennessy

Finn Harps v Bray Wanderers

15 August 2025	Finn Harps	3–1	Bray Wanderers	Ballybofey, County Donegal
19:45	Cullen 14' Hutchison 27' Mpongo 30' (pen.)	Report	Curtis 8' O'Neill  55'	Stadium: Finn Park Attendance: 707 Referee: Damien Macgraith

Kerry v Cobh Ramblers

15 August 2025	Kerry	2–0	Cobh Ramblers	Tralee, County Kerry
19:45	Brosnan 10' Adams 64' (pen.)	Report	O'Donovan  1' Griffin   90'	Stadium: Mounthawk Park Attendance: 520 Referee: Aaron O'Dowd

Salthill Devon v Galway United

15 August 2025	Salthill Devon	0–4	Galway United	Galway, County Galway
19:45		Report	Buckley 11' Walsh 36' Hickey 66' McGuinness 90+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.

Derry City v Drogheda United

16 August 2025	Derry City	1–1 (a.e.t.) (0–3 p)	Drogheda United	Derry, County Londonderry
20:00	Duffy 73' Doherty  120+2'	Report	Quinn 2'	Stadium: Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium Attendance: 2,662 Referee: Robert Harvey
	Penalties
	Stott Frizzell Mullen		Keeley Oluwa Lambe
Note: Broadcast on RTÉ2

St Patrick's Athletic v Shelbourne

17 August 2025	St Patrick's Athletic	2–0	Shelbourne	Inchicore, Dublin 8
17:00	Melia 45+4' Forrester 53' (pen.)	Report		Stadium: Richmond Park Attendance: 3,003 Referee: Paul Mclaughlin

Shamrock Rovers v Longford Town

17 August 2025	Shamrock Rovers	2–1	Longford Town	Tallaght, Dublin 24
19:00	McGovern 8' (pen.) Burke 84' (pen.)	Report	Ugbesia 25'	Stadium: Tallaght Stadium Attendance: 1,744 Referee: Alan Patchell

Quarter Final

Drogheda United v Shamrock Rovers

12 September 2025	Drogheda United	1–1 (a.e.t.) (4–5 p)	Shamrock Rovers	Drogheda, County Louth
19:30	Quinn 90+5'	Report	Burke 23'	Stadium: Sullivan and Lambe Park Attendance: 2,594 Referee: Neil Doyle
	Penalties
	Conor Keeley Oluwa Lambe Doyle Quinn Markey Kareem		McGovern Noonan Grant O'Neill McEneff Cleary Lopes

Finn Harps v Cork City

12 September 2025	Finn Harps	0–3	Cork City	Ballybofey, County Donegal
19:45		Report	McLaughlin 2', 74' Maguire 11'	Stadium: Finn Park Attendance: 1,675 Referee: Paul Norton

Kerry v Sligo Rovers

12 September 2025	Kerry	4–3 (a.e.t.)	Sligo Rovers	Tralee, County Kerry
19:45	Brosnan 65' Adams 77' (pen.) Brosnan 90+2' Okwute 117'	Report	Elding 15', 16', 61'	Stadium: Mounthawk Park Attendance: 1,150 Referee: Kevin O'Sullivan

St Patrick's Athletic v Galway United

14 September 2025	St Patrick's Athletic	3–1 (a.e.t.)	Galway United	Inchicore, Dublin 8
18:00	Mulraney 83' Forrester 105+1' Garrick 115'	Report	Hurley 90' Brouder  105'	Stadium: Richmond Park Referee: Paul McLaughlin

Semi Final

Cork City v St Patrick's Athletic

3 October 2025	Cork City	v	St Patrick's Athletic	Turners Cross, County Cork
19:30				Stadium: Turners Cross

Shamrock Rovers v Kerry

5 October 2025	Shamrock Rovers	v	Kerry	Tallaght, Dublin 24
18:00				Stadium: Tallaght Stadium

Top goalscorers

Rank	Player	Club	Goals
1	Chris Forrester	St Patrick's Athletic	4
	Owen Elding	Sligo Rovers
	Colm Whelan	Bohemians
4	Graham Burke	Shamrock Rovers	3
	Liam Boyce	Derry City
	Tommy Lonergan	Waterford
	John Martin	Shelbourne
	Daragh Murtagh	Longford Town
	Joe Adams	Kerry
	Cian Brosnan	Kerry

See also

• 2025 League of Ireland Premier Division
• 2025 League of Ireland First Division

References

1. "Mike Ashley's Sports Direct to become new FAI Cup sponsors". FAI.ie. 27 April 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
2. "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.
3. "Looking good for the League of Ireland UEFA coefficient". extratime.ie. 24 August 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
4. "Fixtures confirmed for 2025 Sports Direct Men's FAI Cup First Round". www.fai.ie. Retrieved 2025-05-22.