FAI Junior Cup

Last updated

FAI Junior Cup
Organiser(s) Football Association of Ireland
Founded1923
RegionRepublic of Ireland
Current champions Fairview Rangers A.F.C.
Most championshipsFairview Rangers
(10 titles) [1]
Broadcaster(s) TG4
Setanta Sports
Irish TV
eir Sport
Website FAI Junior Cup @ www.fai.ie

The FAI Junior Cup is a cup competition organized by the Football Association of Ireland for amateur junior association football clubs from the Republic of Ireland. The competition also serves a qualifier for the senior FAI Cup with the eight quarter-finalists all invited to take part in the FAI Cup.

Contents

According to the FAI, the Junior Cup is one of the largest national amateur cup competitions in Europe. The 2011–12 competition had 597 clubs participate and the 2012–13 competition saw an estimated 600 clubs enter the cup. [2] [3] The inaugural winners were Brideville. [4] [5] The competition's most successful club is Fairview Rangers of the Limerick & District League who have been winners ten times. [1] [6]

History

League of Ireland

The cup's first winners were Brideville who beat Cobh Ramblers in the inaugural 1923–24 final. [4] [5] Brideville and Cobh Ramblers also became the first of several future League of Ireland members to feature in an FAI Junior Cup final. Sligo Rovers, Evergreen United, St Patrick's Athletic, Bray Wanderers, Home Farm, Finn Harps and St Francis all won the cup before joining the national league. Drogheda United were finalists on four occasions but never winners while Athlone Town won the cup twice during the 1930s after dropping out of the League of Ireland. [4] [5] [7]

Recent finals

On 2 June 2013 the FAI Junior Cup final was played at the Aviva Stadium for the first time. It was played before a friendly international between the Republic of Ireland and Georgia. [3] In 2013 Aviva joined Umbro as sponsors of the FAI Junior Cup and as part of the arrangement all the finals since then have been played at the Aviva Stadium. Sheriff Y.C. became the first club to win the cup following a final at the Aviva. [4] [8] The 2014–15 and 2015–16 finals were both played as double headers along with the FAI Intermediate Cup finals. [9] [10]

Television coverage

TV coverage debuted on TG4 and Setanta Sports in 2014 from the quarter-finals stage. Irish TV replaced TG4 as free-to-air broadcaster in 2015, and all three channels showed coverage in 2016, again from the quarter-finals stage.

In a major change, the 2016–17 season saw coverage begin with the third round in October, running on the newly renamed eir Sport, IrishTV until its closure in March 2017, and TG4 from the quarter-finals stage.

FAI Senior Cup

The semi-finalists of the Junior Cup have traditionally been invited to play in the preliminary rounds of the FAI Senior Cup. [2] In April 2024, this was officially changed to grant the four semi-finalists automatic qualification into the FAI Cup. [11] [12] The number of clubs increased ahead of the 2025 season, with all 8 quarter-finalists from the FAI Junior Cup now eligible. [13]

In August 2025, the FAI announced that the Junior Cup would move to a calendar season, in line with the League of Ireland and the FAI Senior Cup. [14]

List of finals

SeasonWinnersResultRunner-UpVenue
2024–25 Fairview Rangers 4–1North End United (Wexford) Turners Cross [15]
2023–24 Cockhill Celtic 1–1 [note 1] Gorey Rangers Eamonn Deacy Park [16]
2022–23Newmarket Celtic1–1 [note 2] St. Michael's Jackman Park [17]
2021–22 Villa FC 1–0 Pike Rovers Turners Cross [18]
2020–21Competition not held due to Coronavirus pandemic
2019–20 Fairview Rangers 1–0Usher Celtic Eamonn Deacy Park [19]
2018–19 St. Michael's 1–0 Sheriff Y.C. Eamonn Deacy Park [20]
2017–18North End United (Wexford)1–1 [note 3] Pike Rovers Aviva Stadium [21]
2016–17 Sheriff Y.C. 2–0Evergreen (Kilkenny) Aviva Stadium [22]
2015–16 Sheriff Y.C. 1–0 Pike Rovers Aviva Stadium [23]
2014–15 Liffey Wanderers 2–1 (a.e.t.) Sheriff Y.C. Aviva Stadium [9]
2013–14 St. Michael's 4–0Ballynanty Rovers (Limerick) Aviva Stadium [24]
2012–13 Sheriff Y.C. 0–0 [note 4] Kilbarrack United Aviva Stadium [25]
2011–12 Sheriff Y.C. 3–1 Kilbarrack United Tolka Park [26]
2010–11 Pike Rovers 2–1 St. Michael's Turners Cross [27]
2009–10 Fairview Rangers 0–0 [note 5] St. Michael's Turners Cross [28]
2008–09Ballymun United2–0St. Peter's (Athlone) Tolka Park [29]
2007–08Carrick United (Tipperary) [a] 2–1 Killester United Waterford RSC [31] [32]
2006–07 Killester United 3–0St. John Bosco (Dublin) Dalymount Park [33]
2005–06 Waterford Crystal 1–0Athenry Terryland Park [34]
2004–05 Westport United 2–0 Waterford Crystal Buckley Park [35] [36]
2003–04Fairview Rangers3–0Carrick United (Tipperary) [note 6] Waterford RSC [37] [38]
2002–03Fairview Rangers2–0Portmarnock FCTolka Park [39]
2001–02Fairview Rangers3–0St Michael's FC
2000–01Ballymun United St. Kevin's Boys F.C. Tolka Park
1999–2000Portmarnock2-0St Michael's FC Tolka Park
1998–99Fairview RangersBallymun United
1997–98Fairview RangersWaterford Crystal
1996–97Fairview RangersPortmarnock FC
1995–96Bohemians (Waterford)Mungret Regional
1994–95 Cherry Orchard 1.1(pens)Kilmore United
1993–94Clonmel Town [40] 5–1New Ross Celtic
1992–93 Kinvara Boys St. Kevin's Boys F.C.
1991–92Neilstown RangersRosemount
1990–91 Cherry Orchard 1.0Donaghmede Celtic
1989–90 Cherry Orchard 2.0Avenue United (Clare)
1988–89 Tolka Rovers Waterford Bohemians
1987–88Usher Celtic Beggsboro
1986–87 Cherry Orchard 1.0Temple United (Cork)
1985–86 Cherry Orchard 2.0Usher Celtic
1984–85 Cherry Orchard 2.1 St. Kevin's Boys F.C.
1983–84 Beggsboro Evergreen (Kilkenny)
1982–83 St Francis 3–1 [note 7] [41] Ballynanty Rovers (Limerick) Jackman Park [42]
1981–82 Cherry Orchard 2.0Diamond Celtic
1980–81St Teresa'sBelgrave
1979–80East Wall UnitedArbour United
1978–79 St. Patrick's C.Y.M.S. East Wall United
1977–78Inchicore [note 8] 3.0 Cherry Orchard
1976–77Dunleary CelticDingle United
1975–76Whitehall Rangers2–0Ballynanty Rovers (Limerick) [42]
1974–75Dunleary CelticArbour United
1973–74 St. Michael's Tolka Rovers
1972–73 Tolka Rovers St. Patrick's C.Y.M.S.
1971–72Talbot United St. Mary's (Cork)
1970–71Hoganville (Dublin)Caledonians (Limerick)
1969–70Caledonians (Limerick) [41] Tolka Rovers
1968–69 St Francis Talbot United
1967–68 Finn Harps Telephones United (Dublin)
1966–67Swilly Rovers (Donegal)Orchard United (Dublin)
1965–66East Wall UnitedEverton (Cork)
1964–65Fairview Rangers (Limerick)1 – 1 / 3 – 0 (R)Douglas (Cork) Turners Cross / Markets Field (R) [43]
1963–64East Wall UnitedSwilly Rovers (Donegal)
1962–63 T.E.K. United 3–1Blackrock (Cork Dalymount Park
1961–62Swilly Rovers (Donegal)3–1Castleview (Cork) Dalymount Park [44]
1960–61Valley UnitedHibernians (Waterford)
1959–60Pearse Rangers [45] Hibernians (Waterford)
1958–59 St Saviours Glenmore Celtic
1957–58VirginiansSwilly Rovers (Donegal)
1956–57BelgroveVirginians
1955–56Grange UnitedBohemians (Waterford)
1954–55 Home Farm Belgrove
1953–54 Bray Wanderers [46] 1–0Ierne Dalymount Park
1952–53Evergreen (Waterford)3-2Swilly Rovers (Donegal) Dalymount Park
1951–52RathfarnhamBohemians (Waterford)
1950–51 Bray Wanderers [46] 2–1 Drogheda United Dalymount Park
1949–50Griffith RangersIrish Raleigh
1948–49RathfarnhamCaledonians (Limerick)
1947–48St Paul's (Cork) Pike Rovers
1946–47Hibernians (Waterford)Iona C.Y.M.S. (Dublin)
1945–46 St. Patrick's C.Y.M.S. Rathfarnham
1944–45Rockville (Cork)Wembley Rovers (Limerick)
1943–44Coastal Defence (Cork) Drogheda United
1942–43No competition
1941–42 Distillery B (Dublin) Drogheda United
1940–41 St Patrick's Athletic Galway Bohemians
1939–40 Drumcondra Juniors Drogheda United
1938–39 Drumcondra Juniors 4-0Killybegs (Donegal)Dalymount Park
1937–38 Athlone Town [7] 2–0Bendigo United (Dublin) Tolka Park
1936–37Amiens CelticSt. Patrick's (Dundalk)
1935–36 Evergreen United 2-1 [47] Shelbourne Dalymount Park
1934–35 Athlone Town [7] [48] 3–0 Evergreen United Dalymount Park
1933–34 B&I [49] 2–1 Cobh Wanderers Dalymount Park
1932–33Queen's Park [50] 1–0Amiens CelticRutland Avenue
1931–32Clontarf Corinthians [51] 2–1Southern Rovers Dalymount Park
1930–31 Distillery (Dublin) [52] 1–0Southern Rovers Harold's Cross
1929–30Rossville [53] 2–0 Bohemians "C" Dalymount Park
1928–29 Sligo Rovers 3–0 Grangegorman The Showgrounds (Sligo)
1927–28Richmond United [54] 3–0Cahir Unknowns Tolka Park
1926–27Richmond United [55] 4–1 Bohemians "C" Dalymount Park
1925–26Brunswick [56] 1–0St. Vincents (Cork)Victoria Cross, Cork
1924–25St. Mary's United [57] 3–2Sligo CelticSt James' Park
1923–24 Brideville [58] 1–0 Cobh Ramblers Victoria Cross, Cork

Sources: [4] [5] [59]

Notes
  1. ↑ Cockhill Celtic won the 2023–24 final 3–1 on penalties.
  2. ↑ Newmarket Celtic won the 2022–23 final 5–4 on penalties.
  3. ↑ North End United won the 2017–18 final 5–4 on penalties.
  4. ↑ Sheriff Y.C. won the 2012–13 final 5–4 on penalties
  5. ↑ Fairview Rangers won the 2009–10 final 5–3 on penalties
  6. ↑ Although listed on the FAI Roll of Honour as hailing from Waterford, the official Carrick United A.F.C. website states the club is located in Tipperary but plays in the Waterford Junior League.
  7. ↑ 1982–83 final replayed after first game in Dublin ended 1–1
  8. ↑ FAI Yearbook & Diary 1995 lists the team as Inchicore Athletic. Other sources, including the Aviva Stadium website, list the team as Inchicore United

Notes

  1. ↑ Although listed on the FAI Roll of Honour as hailing from Waterford, the official Carrick United A.F.C. website states the club is located in County Tipperary but plays in the Waterford Junior League. [30]

References

  1. 1 2 "Fairview Rangers A.F.C. – About Us". fairviewrangers.ie. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  2. 1 2 "FAI Junior Cup 2011/12". www.braywanderers.com. Retrieved 11 December 2025.
  3. 1 2 "Ireland to play Georgia on June 2". fai.ie. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "FAI Junior Cup Winners". stadium.aviva.ie. Aviva Stadium. Archived from the original on 16 June 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Mark Herbert, Donie Butler (1994–95). FAI Yearbook & Diary 1995. Dublin: Sportsworld Ltd.
  6. ↑ "Match Report | Fairview Rangers 4-1 North End United - Title No.10 for Rangers". www.fai.ie. 24 May 2025. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  7. 1 2 3 Lynch, Frank (1991). A History of Athlone Town F.C: The First 101 Years. Athlone: Arcadia.
  8. ↑ "Aviva Stadium to host FAI Junior Cup Final next May". The Kerryman . 25 August 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  9. 1 2 "Liffey Wanderers overcome Sheriff YC to claim first FAI Junior Cup". The Irish Times. 17 May 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  10. ↑ "Information: FAI Junior and Intermediate Cup Finals". fai.ie. 13 May 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  11. ↑ "FAI Cup sees format change with updated first round". extratime.com. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  12. ↑ "Preliminary Round of Sports Direct Men's FAI Cup now to be held as competition's First Round". www.fai.ie. 11 April 2024. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  13. ↑ "2025 FAI Cup | #6". foot.ie. 8 April 2025. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  14. ↑ "FAI announces calendar season alignment for major Amateur Cup competitions". www.fai.ie. 15 August 2025. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  15. ↑ "Match Report | Fairview Rangers 4-1 North End United - Title No.10 for Rangers". 24 May 2025. Archived from the original on 17 September 2025. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  16. ↑ "Penalty heartache for Gorey Rangers as Cockhill Celtic claim FAI Junior Cup". Irish Independent. 6 May 2024. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  17. ↑ "Newmarket Celtic win the FAI Junior Cup on penalties". www.fai.ie. 29 April 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  18. ↑ "Pike Rovers Suffer Heartbreak as Villa win FAI Junior Cup – Sporting Limerick" . Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  19. ↑ Finnin, Adrian (14 September 2020). "Fairview Rangers Claim Ninth FAI Junior Cup Title". Limerick Post Newspaper. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
  20. ↑ "Tipperary side St Michael's shoot down Sherriff to capture their third FAI Junior Cup". www.tipperarylive.ie. 2 September 2019. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  21. ↑ "2017-2018 FAI Junior Cup Tables & Results & Stats | extratime.com - The Home of Irish Football - Extratime.com". www.extratime.com. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  22. ↑ Fallon, John (13 May 2017). "Murphys' law holds sway as Sheriff YC retain Junior Cup". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  23. ↑ "Dublin club Sheriff YC claim FAI Junior Cup glory at the Aviva Stadium". the42. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  24. ↑ Blake, Ben (25 May 2014). "Four-midable St Michael's clinch the FAI Junior Cup final". the42.ie. TheJournal.ie . Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  25. ↑ "Dunne and dusted: Sheriff claim second FAI Junior Cup". thejuniorsoccerportal.info. The Junior Soccer Portal. 3 June 2013. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  26. ↑ "Sheriff 3–1 Kilbarrack". extratime.ie. 3 June 2013. Archived from the original on 23 April 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  27. ↑ "Pike Rovers claim dramatic Junior Cup victory". fai.ie. Football Association of Ireland. 22 May 2011. Archived from the original on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  28. ↑ "Hickey the hero as Fairview celebrate". Irish Examiner . 7 June 2010. Archived from the original on 22 April 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  29. ↑ "Results 2008/2009". fai.ie. Football Association of Ireland. 22 May 2011. Archived from the original on 2 July 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  30. ↑ "Carrick United - Honours". carrickutdfc.clubforce.com. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  31. ↑ "Results 2007/2008 | Football Association of Ireland". www.fai.ie. Archived from the original on 18 July 2020. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  32. ↑ "Carrick dreams come true". munster-express.ie. Munster Express. 8 May 2008. Archived from the original on 4 September 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  33. ↑ "Lacy spearheads Killester rout". Irish Independent. 6 May 2007. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  34. ↑ "Junior Cup goes to Waterford". RTÉ Sport. 20 May 2006. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  35. ↑ "Westport clinch Junior Cup glory". The Irish Independent. 20 June 2005. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  36. ↑ "Results 2004/2005". fai.ie. Football Association of Ireland. Archived from the original on 6 October 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  37. ↑ "FAI Junior Cup 2004/05 Final [Archive] - Foot.ie". foot.ie. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  38. ↑ "FAI Junior Cup past 13 seasons". www.facebook.com. Carrick United A.F.C. 15 February 2015.
  39. ↑ "Cruel defeat for Ports in FAI Junior Cup decider". Irish Independent. 15 May 2003. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  40. ↑ "Clonmel Town – Club History". clonmeltownfc.com. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  41. 1 2 "Limerick Junior Soccer Hall of Fame Inductees – Limerick Junior Soccer" . Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  42. 1 2 "Ballynanty Rovers AFC". Limerick.ie. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  43. ↑ Keaveney, Mal (24 May 2025). "Remembering Fairview's 1965 breakthrough Junior Cup win". Limerick Post Newspaper. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
  44. ↑ "Ian McGarvey to be inducted into Donegal Sports Star Awards Hall of Fame". www.donegallive.ie. 17 January 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  45. ↑ soccer-ireland.com (7 January 2023). "Liffeys Pearse Football Club, Ringsend, Dublin - Soccer Pitch Directions : Fixtures Secretary, Contact Details". Irish Football. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
  46. 1 2 "Club History 1920s to 1985". braywanderers.com. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  47. ↑ Irish Press 1931-1995, Monday, 11 May 1936; Page: 11
  48. ↑ Irish Independent 1905-current, Monday, May 20, 1935; Page: 13
  49. ↑ Irish Press 1931-1995, Monday, 7 May 1934; Page: 11
  50. ↑ Irish Independent 1905–current, Monday, 22 May 1933; Page: 13
  51. ↑ Irish Independent 1905–current, Monday, 2 May 1932; Page: 13
  52. ↑ Irish Independent 1905–current, Monday, 11 May 1931; Page: 13
  53. ↑ Irish Independent 1905–current, Monday, 19 May 1930; Page: 12
  54. ↑ Irish Independent 1905–current, Monday, 30 April 1928; Page: 11
  55. ↑ Irish Independent 1905–current, Monday, 16 May 1927; Page: 10
  56. ↑ Irish Independent 1905–current, Monday, 10 May 1926; Page: 10
  57. ↑ Irish Independent 1905–current, Monday, 11 May 1925; Page: 10
  58. ↑ Irish Independent 1905–current, Monday, 19 May 1924; Page: 7
  59. ↑ "Cork AUL Records – FAI Junior Cup" (PDF). corkaul.files.wordpress.com. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
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