| Extra.ie FAI Cup | |
|---|---|
| Tournament details | |
| Country | Republic of Ireland Northern Ireland | 
| Venue(s) | Aviva Stadium, Dublin | 
| Dates | 10 August 2020 – 6 December 2020 | 
| Teams | 19 | 
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Dundalk (12th title) | 
| Runners-up | Shamrock Rovers | 
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 18 | 
| Goals scored | 67 (3.72 per match) | 
| Top goal scorer | David McMillan (8 goals) | 
The 2020 FAI Cup was the 100th edition of the Republic of Ireland's primary national cup competition. This edition featured clubs exclusively from the League of Ireland Premier Division and the First Division, whereas usually non-league teams are involved. The number of teams was reduced due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. The restrictions also meant that crowds were restricted or prohibited from attending.[1] The competition began on 10 August 2020 with the first of four rounds and concluded on 6 December 2020 with the final at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, a neutral venue, which has hosted the final since 2010.
The Cup holders were Premier Division side Shamrock Rovers and they again reached the final where they were defeated 4-2 by Dundalk after extra-time.[2]
The winners of the FAI Cup earns automatic qualification for the 2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League and would begin play in the first qualifying round. If they have already qualified for European competition through position in the 2020 Premier Division, the spot will go to league's fourth place finisher Sligo Rovers.
First round
[edit]The draw for the first round took place on 13 July 2020. Thirteen teams were drawn out to receive a bye into the second round and will join the winners of the first round matches. [3]
Teams in bold advanced to the Second Round.
| Premier Division | First Division | 
|---|---|
| 10 August 2020 | Finn Harps | 1–0 | St Patrick's Athletic | Ballybofey | 
| 19:45 GMT | Ryan Connolly  5' David Webster  19' Adrian Delap  74' Mark Coyle  82' | Report | Darragh Markey  34' David Titov  77' | Stadium: Finn Park Attendance: N/A Referee: Neil Doyle | 
| Note: Live coverage on www.watchloi.ie | ||||
| 11 August 2020 | Dundalk | 1–0 | Waterford | Dundalk | 
| 19:45 GMT | Seán Hoare  17' | Report | Kurtis Byrne  80' | Stadium: Oriel Park Attendance: N/A Referee: Paul McLoughlin | 
| Note: Live coverage on www.watchloi.ie | ||||
| 11 August 2020 | Cork City | 1–0 (a.e.t.) | Longford Town | Cork | 
| 19:45 GMT | Graham Cummins  67' Ricardo Dinanga  94' Ricardo Dinanga  120+1' | Report | Stadium: Turners Cross Attendance: N/A Referee: Ray Matthews | |
| Note: Live coverage on www.watchloi.ie | ||||
Second round
[edit]The draw for the second round took place on 12 August 2020 and was broadcast live on the Football Association Ireland Facebook page with Republic of Ireland senior manager Stephen Kenny conducting proceedings.[4] 6 of the 8 games from the second round will be shown live on the new streaming service WATCHLOI.[5]
Teams in bold advanced to the quarter-finals.
| Premier Division | First Division | 
|---|---|
| 28 August 2020 | Athlone Town | 5–3 (a.e.t.) | Wexford | Athlone | 
| 19:45 GMT | Lee Duffy  37' Ronan Manning  52' Taner Dogan  54' Scott Delaney  66' Scott Delaney  80' Lee Duffy    94' Jack Reynolds  102' Adam Lennon  103' Bradley Okaidja  118' | Report | Jack Doherty  18' (pen.) Conor English  20' Tom Murphy  52' James Carroll  67' James Carroll  83' Karl Manahan  90+1' (o.g.) | Stadium: Athlone Town Stadium Attendance: N/A Referee: Michael Connolly | 
| 28 August 2020 | Galway United | 2–5 | Shelbourne | Galway | 
| 19:45 GMT | Enda Curran  14' Maurice Nugent  35' Enda Curran  53' Michael Place  73' | Report | Colin McCabe  18' Dayle Rooney  33' Ciarán Kilduff  71' Daniel Byrne  76' Ryan Brennan  79' Georgie Poynton  80' Dayle Rooney  84' Aaron Dobbs  90' | Stadium: Eamonn Deacy Park Attendance: N/A Referee: Damien MacGraith | 
| Note: Live coverage on www.watchloi.ie | ||||
| 29 August 2020 | Drogheda United | 0–2 | Derry City | Drogheda | 
| 17:00 GMT | Jake Hyland  13' Mark Hughes  25' Chris Lyons  69' | Report | Conor McCormack  13' Ibrahim Meite  65' Joe Thomson  70' Ciaron Harkin  89' Stephen Mallon  90' | Stadium: United Park Attendance: N/A Referee: Derek Tomney | 
| Note: Live coverage on www.watchloi.ie | ||||
| 29 August 2020 | Bray Wanderers | 0–2 | Finn Harps | Bray | 
| 19:45 GMT | Killian Cantwell  50' Paul Keegan  50' Ryan Graydon  61' | Report | Alexander Kogler  12' Alexander Kogler  30' Mark Russell  38' Ryan Connolly  62' | Stadium: Carlisle Grounds Attendance: N/A Referee: Rob Hennessy | 
| 30 August 2020 | Cobh Ramblers | 0–2 | Dundalk | Cobh | 
| 17:00 GMT | Lee Devitt  70' Greg Henry  71' | Report | Dane Massey  29' David McMillan  75' (pen.) | Stadium: St Colman's Park Attendance: N/A Referee: Alan Patchell | 
| Note: Live coverage on www.watchloi.ie | ||||
| 30 August 2020 | UCD | 1–3 | Sligo Rovers | Belfield, Dublin | 
| 19:45 GMT | Paul Doyle  8' Michael Gallagher  58' | Report | Kyle Callan-McFadden  16' Ryan De Vries  23' Ronan Coughlan  67' Jesse Devers  80' Niall Morahan  84' Teemu Penninkangas  90' | Stadium: UCD Bowl Attendance: N/A Referee: Adriano Reale | 
| Note: Live coverage on www.watchloi.ie | ||||
| 31 August 2020 | Shamrock Rovers | 2–1 | Cork City | Tallaght, Dublin | 
| 17:45 GMT | Daniel Lafferty  38' Graham Burke  42' Gary O'Neill  48' Daniel Lafferty  68' Dylan Watts  78' | Report | Charlie Fleming  20' Gearóid Morrissey  48' Connor Simpson  62' Henry Ochieng  83' | Stadium: Tallaght Stadium Attendance: N/A Referee: Neil Doyle | 
| Note: Live coverage on www.watchloi.ie | ||||
| 31 August 2020 | Bohemians | 2–0 | Cabinteely | Phibsborough, Dublin | 
| 19:45 GMT | Promise Omochere  32' Dinny Corcoran  41' | Report | Paul Fox  21' Alex Aspil  50' | Stadium: Dalymount Park Attendance: N/A Referee: Robert Harvey | 
| Note: Live coverage on www.watchloi.ie | ||||
Quarter-finals
[edit]The draw for the quarter-finals took place on 18 September 2020 after the league game of Sligo Rovers vs. Bohemians live on RTÉ2. Former Sligo Rovers FAI Cup winning captain Conor O'Grady drew the games.
| Premier Division | First Division | 
|---|---|
| 31 October 2020 | Athlone Town | 4–1 | Shelbourne | Athlone | 
| 15:00 | Dean George  4' Scott Delaney  20' Ciaran Grogan  49' Dean George  66' Dean George  78' Dean George  78' | Report | Ciaran Kilduff  8' Alex O'Hanlon  45+1' Dan Byrne  59' Oscar Brennan  83' | Stadium: Athlone Town Stadium Attendance: N/A Referee: Damien McGrath | 
| Note: Live coverage on www.watchloi.ie | ||||
| 20 November 2020 | Finn Harps | 2–3 | Shamrock Rovers | Ballybofey | 
| 17:30 | Barry McNamee  15' Stephen Folan  21' Mark McGinley  54' | Report | Joey O'Brien  41' Aaron McEneff  51' (pen.) Aaron McEneff  52' (pen.) Aaron McEneff  55' (pen.) Graham Burke  71' Thomas Oluwa  89' | Stadium: Finn Park Attendance: N/A Referee: Rob Hennessey | 
| Note: Live coverage on www.watchloi.ie | ||||
| 20 November 2020 | Bohemians | 1–4 | Dundalk | Phibsborough, Dublin | 
| 19:45 | Andre Wright  15' (pen.) Rob Cornwall  27' Conor Levingston  41' Michael Barker  57' Michael Barker  72'  | Report | Michael Duffy  2' Cameron Dummigan  10' Chris Shields  26' David McMillan  35' (pen.) David McMillan  38' Nathan Oduwa  87' | Stadium: Dalymount Park Attendance: N/A Referee: Robert Harvey | 
| Note: Live coverage on RTÉ2 | ||||
| 25 November 2020 | Sligo Rovers | 0–0 (a.e.t.) (3–1 p) | Derry City | Sligo | 
| 19:30 | David Cawley  31' Garry Buckley  55' Regan Donelon  77' | Report | Ciaran Coll  50' Conor McCormack  120' | Stadium: The Showgrounds Attendance: N/A Referee: Neil Doyle | 
| Penalties | ||||
| Ronan Coughlan  Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe  Alex Cooper  Garry Buckley  |  Conor Clifford  Conor McCormack  Walter Figueira  Ibrahim Meite | |||
| Note: Live coverage on www.watchloi.ie | ||||
Semi-finals
[edit]The draw for the semi-finals took place at 6pm on 30 October 2020 live on RTE 2FM.[6]
| Premier Division | First Division | 
|---|---|
|  | 
| 29 November 2020 | Shamrock Rovers | 2–0 | Sligo Rovers | Tallaght, Dublin | 
| 14:00 | Aaron McEneff  4' Ronan Finn  40' Aaron McEneff  45+1' | Report | David Cawley  26' Ronan Coughlan  82' | Stadium: Tallaght Stadium Attendance: N/A Referee: Paul McLaughlin | 
| Note: Live coverage on www.watchloi.ie | ||||
| 29 November 2020 | Athlone Town | 0–11 | Dundalk | Athlone | 
| 19:05 | David Brookes  34' Scott Delaney  47' Ciaran Grogan  63' Dean George  88' | Report | Michael Duffy  4'  9' Andy Boyle  13' John Mountney  29' Patrick McEleney  36' David McMillan  39'  64' Chris Shields  55' Nathan Oduwa  60' Jordan Flores  74' Sean Murray  83'  70' | Stadium: Athlone Town Stadium Attendance: N/A Referee: Rob Hennessey | 
| Note: Live coverage on RTÉ2 | ||||
Final
[edit]| 6 December 2020 | Shamrock Rovers | 2–4 (a.e.t.) | Dundalk | Ballsbridge, Dublin | 
| 18:40 | Dylan Watts  16' Joey O'Brien  45+3' Aaron Greene  49' Liam Scales  71' Roberto Lopes  74' Graham Burke  98' | Report | 
 | Stadium: Aviva Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Rob Harvey | 
| Note: Live coverage on RTÉ2 | ||||
References
[edit]- ^ "FAI announces first round fixtures and byes for second round". RTÉ.ie. 13 July 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
- ^ "McMillan hits hat-trick as Dundalk win classic Cup final after extra time". The 42. 6 December 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
- ^ "Dundalk to host Waterford in FAI Cup first round". RTÉ.ie. 13 July 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
- ^ "FAI Cup second round draw to take place on Wednesday". RTÉ.ie. 10 August 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
- ^ "Rovers Cup clash with Cork to be shown live on WatchLOI". RTÉ.ie. 14 August 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
- ^ "The Full Draw for the Extra.ie FAI Cup Semi-Finals Has Been Made". 30 October 2020.