2018 FAI Cup
The 2018 FAI Cup (known as the Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup for sponsorship purposes) was the 98th edition of the Republic of Ireland's primary national cup competition. It began with the qualifying round on 21 April 2018, and concluded with the final on 4 November 2018. The winner qualified for the 2019–20 Europa League first qualifying round.
| Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup | |
| Country |  Republic of Ireland | 
|---|---|
| Defending champions | Cork City | 
| Champions | Dundalk (11th title) | 
| Runners-up | Cork City | 
| Matches played | 40 | 
| Goals scored | 152 (3.8 per match) | 
| Top goal scorer(s) | Kieran Sadlier (7 goals) | 
| ← 2017  2019 →  | |
Cork City were the defending champions but lost in the final 2–1 to Dundalk.[1][2]
Qualifying round
    
The draw for the qualifying round was made on 4 April 2018. FAI President Tony Fitzgerald was joined by Dundalk goalkeeper and three-time winner Gary Rogers and Irish Daily Mail Circulation Manager, David Vaz, to perform the draw.
A total of 20 teams entered the qualifying round, with four teams (Home Farm, Cockhill Celtic, Newmarket Celtic and Blarney United) receiving a bye to the first round proper. The remaining 16 teams played eight games, with the winners entering the first round proper.
The Irish Daily Mail offered a cash prize for the non-league team who advanced the furthest in the competition.[3]
| 21 April 2018 | Avondale United | 0–2 | Pike Rovers | Carrigaline | 
| 14:00 | Report | McGann  15' (pen.) Collins  70' | Stadium: Avondale Park | 
| 21 April 2018 | Leeds | 3–1 | St. Michael's | Ballyvolane | 
| 15:00 | Report | Stadium: Leeds Park | 
| 21 April 2018 | Maynooth University Town | 2–2 (a.e.t.) (4–3 p) | Everton | Maynooth | 
| 16:00 |  35'  36' | Report | Spitere  18' Murphy  55' | Stadium: Maynooth University | 
| 21 April 2018 | Inchicore Athletic | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (4–3 p) | Crumlin United | Inchicore | 
| 19:00 | Geraghty  | Report | Donnelly  (pen.) | Stadium: Pearse Park | 
| 22 April 2018 | Dublin Bus | 4–2 | Firhouse Clover | Clondalkin | 
| 11:00 | Sasaki  4', 34' Dunne  31' McMahon  69' | Report |  70'  90' | Stadium: Coldcut Road | 
| 22 April 2018 | Kilnamanagh | 1–2 | Skerries Town | Kilnamanagh | 
| 11:00 | Collins  | Report | Stadium: Ned Kelly Park | 
| 22 April 2018 | CIÉ Ranch | 1–0 | Letterkenny Rovers | Ballyfermot | 
| 14:00 | Sullivan  70' | Report | Stadium: CIÉ Works | 
| 22 April 2018 | North End United | 2–0 | Cherry Orchard | Curracloe | 
| 14:00 | Murphy  65' (pen.) Beary  86' | Report | Stadium: The River Field | 
First round
    
The draw for the first round proper was made on 4 July 2018 at the Aviva Stadium, with Damien Duff as special guest. 12 non-League teams entered the draw along with the 20 teams from the League of Ireland.[7]
Fixtures took place on the week ending 12 August 2018.
| 10 August 2018 | Drogheda United | 1–0 | Shamrock Rovers | Drogheda | 
| 19:45 | Lyons  23' | Report | Stadium: United Park Attendance: 1,000 (est.) Referee: Paul McLaughlin | 
| 10 August 2018 | UCD | 2–0 | Pike Rovers | Belfield | 
| 19:45 | Molloy  24' Davis  86' | Report | Stadium: UCD Bowl Attendance: 150 (est.) Referee: Alan Patchell | 
| 10 August 2018 | Shelbourne | 4–0 | Athlone Town | Drumcondra | 
| 19:45 | Kalandarishvili  40' (o.g.) Kavanagh  62' Moorhouse  84' Fitzgerald  90+1' | Report | Stadium: Tolka Park Attendance: 374 Referee: Adriano Reale | 
| 10 August 2018 | Inchicore Athletic | 0–5 | St Patrick's Athletic | Inchicore | 
| 19:45 | Report | Markey  55' Keegan  76', 85' Byrne  81' Madden  87' | Stadium: Richmond Park Attendance: 1,000 (est.) Referee: Ben Connolly | 
| 10 August 2018 | Dundalk | 3–0 | Cobh Ramblers | Dundalk | 
| 19:45 | Murray  32', 85' McGrath  52' | Report | Stadium: Oriel Park Referee: Robert Rogers | 
| 10 August 2018 | Bray Wanderers | 1–3 (a.e.t.) | Finn Harps | Bray | 
| 19:45 | Pender  15' | Report | Todd  64' Place  97' Borg  112' | Stadium: Carlisle Grounds Attendance: 410 Referee: Robert Harvey | 
| 10 August 2018 | Wexford | 0–7 | Bohemians | Crossabeg | 
| 20:00 | Report | Lunney  4' Corcoran  9', 58' Kelly  15' Ward  29' Stokes  70' Magerusan  79' | Stadium: Ferrycarrig Park Referee: Graham Kelly | 
| 11 August 2018 | Blarney United | 2–12 | Derry City | Blarney | 
| 17:00 | Welch  73' Carroll  74' | Report | Hale  4', 46' McEneff  7', 31' Roy  8', 20', 34', 58' McNamee  53', 83' Farren  70' McHattie  77' | Stadium: O'Shea Park Referee: Anthony Buttimer | 
| 11 August 2018 | Newmarket Celtic | 1–2 | Cabinteely | Ennis | 
| 18:00 | Hayes  82' | Report | Doyle  70' Clucas  74' | Stadium: Frank Healy Park Referee: Robert Hennessy | 
| 11 August 2018 | Skerries Town | 1–4 | Waterford | Skerries | 
| 17:00 | Snowe  53' | Report | Noel Hunt  23', 85', 89' Gavan Holohan  36' | Stadium: Skerries Rugby Club Referee: David Dunne | 
| 11 August 2018 | Sligo Rovers | 0–1 | Longford Town | Sligo | 
| 19:45 | Report | Hollywood  65' | Stadium: The Showgrounds Referee: Neil Doyle | 
| 11 August 2018 | Maynooth University Town | 2–0 | Leeds | Maynooth | 
| 17:00 | Daly  46' Duffy  90+3' | Report | Stadium: Maynooth University Astro Referee: Eddie Reilly | 
| 11 August 2018 | North End United | 0–4 | Galway United | Crossabeg | 
| 18:00 | Report | McCormack  9', 43', 44' Barry  14' | Stadium: Ferrycarrig Park Referee: Eoghan O'Shea | 
| 11 August 2018 | Dublin Bus | 0–1 | CIÉ Ranch | Clondalkin | 
| 15:00 | Report | O'Brien  90+3' | Stadium: Coldcut Road Referee: Johnny Glynn | 
| 12 August 2018 | Home Farm | 1–5 | Cork City | Whitehall | 
| 13:00 | Goulding  35' | Report | O'Hanlon  3' Coughlan  8', 12' McNamee  32' Sadlier  44' | Stadium: Whitehall Stadium Referee: Robert Rogers | 
| 12 August 2018 | Cockhill Celtic | 0–2 | Limerick | Buncrana | 
| 15:00 | Report | Brouder  48' Maguire  74' | Stadium: Charlie O'Donnell Sports Grounds Referee: Michael Connolly | 
Second round
    
The second round draw was held on 13 August 2018, producing just one all-Premier Division tie.
All fixtures were played on the weekend ending August 26[8]
| 24 August 2018 | CIÉ Ranch | 2–6 (a.e.t.) | UCD | Newcastle | 
| 19:45 | Tobin  9' (o.g.) Smith  16' | Report | Mahdy  32', 107' McClelland  89', 110' McDonald  99' O'Neill  117' | Stadium: Greenogue Attendance: 200 (est.) Referee: Robert Rogers | 
| 24 August 2018 | Galway United | 0–2 | Bohemians | Galway | 
| 19:45 | Report | Leahy  6' Stokes  79' | Stadium: Eamonn Deacy Park Attendance: 733 Referee: Robert Hennessy | 
| 24 August 2018 | Derry City | 1–0 | St Patrick's Athletic | Derry | 
| 19:45 | Delap  80' | Report | Stadium: Brandywell Stadium Attendance: 1,500 (est.) Referee: Neil Doyle | 
| 24 August 2018 | Dundalk | 2–0 | Finn Harps | Dundalk | 
| 19:45 | Murray  24' (pen.) Kelly  52' | Report | Stadium: Oriel Park Attendance: 1,823 Referee: Paul McLaughlin | 
| 24 August 2018 | Cork City | 4–0 | Maynooth University Town | Cork | 
| 19:45 | Barry  21' Sadlier  56' O’Hanlon  64' (pen.) Coughlan  71' | Report | Stadium: Turners Cross Attendance: 1,016 Referee: Sean Grant | 
| 24 August 2018 | Drogheda United | 0–1 | Waterford | Drogheda | 
| 19:45 | Report | Héry  4' | Stadium: United Park Attendance: 600 (est.) Referee: Robert Harvey | 
| 24 August 2018 | Limerick | 2–1 | Cabinteely | Limerick | 
| 19:45 | Ellis  29' Maguire  67' | Report | Knight  90' | Stadium: Markets Field Referee: Anthony Buttimer | 
| 25 August 2018 | Longford Town | 2–0 | Shelbourne | Longford | 
| 19:30 | McGlade  9' (pen.) O'Reilly  72' | Report | Stadium: City Calling Stadium Referee: John McLoughlin | 
Quarter-finals
    
The draw for the quarter-finals was broadcast live on RTÉ2's Soccer Republic on 27 August 2018.
All fixtures were set to be played on the week ending 9 September 2018. The game between Derry City and Bohemians was postponed until 19 September as Derry City had four players called up to under-21 squads.[9]
The game between Longford Town and Cork City was televised live on RTÉ2.[10]
| 7 September 2018 | UCD | 2–1 | Waterford | Belfield | 
| 19:45 | Davis  20' Molloy  27' Osam  67' | Report | Aborah  78' (pen.) Webster  90+2' | Stadium: UCD Bowl Attendance: 750 (estimate) Referee: John McLoughlin | 
| 7 September 2018 | Limerick | 0–4 | Dundalk | Limerick | 
| 19:45 | O'Sullivan  20' Maguire  59' Coleman  70' | Report | Hoban  5', 21' Mountney  36' Kelly  71' | Stadium: Markets Field Referee: Derek Tomney | 
| 7 September 2018 | Longford Town | 0–7 | Cork City | Longford | 
| 19:30 | Meenan  39' | Report | Morrissey  20' Sadlier  23', 64', 88' Coughlan  53' O'Hanlon  75' McNamee  89' | Stadium: City Calling Stadium Referee: Raymond Matthews | 
| 19 September 2018 | Derry City | 1–3 | Bohemians | Derry | 
| 19:45 | McHattie  36' Hale  42' Shiels  61' Shiels  61'Roy  62' Hale  79' Low  90' | Report | Casey  42' Corcoran  59', 90' Pender  66' Devaney  90' | Stadium: Brandywell Stadium Referee: Robert Harvey | 
Semi-finals
    
The draw for the semi-finals was broadcast live on RTÉ2's Soccer Republic on 10 September 2018.
Both games were played the weekend ending 30 September and televised live on RTÉ2.[11] The subsequent replay between Cork City and Bohemians was also broadcast live on RTÉ2.
| 28 September 2018 | Dundalk | 1–0 | UCD | Dundalk | 
| 19:45 | McEleney  41' | Report | Stadium: Oriel Park Attendance: 2,926 Referee: Robert Hennessy | 
| 30 September 2018 | Bohemians | 1–1 | Cork City | Phibsborough | 
| 17:45 | Corcoran  68' | Report | Sadlier  87' (pen.) | Stadium: Dalymount Park Attendance: 3,207 Referee: Rob Rogers | 
See also
    
    
References
    
- Stadium, Brendan Crossan at the Aviva. "Former Dundalk striker Sean Maguire fires Cork City to FAI Cup final win". The Irish News. Retrieved 2018-04-23.
- "McEleney the hero as Dundalk complete the double". RTÉ Sport. 4 November 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
- "SSE Airtricity League". www.sseairtricityleague.ie. Retrieved 2018-04-23.
- "Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup: Qualifying Draw made - Football Association of Ireland". www.fai.ie.
- "Match details confirmed for Qualifying Round - Football Association of Ireland". www.fai.ie.
- "Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup qualifying round results - Football Association of Ireland". www.fai.ie.
- Kent, David. "FAI Cup draw sees holders Cork City head to Home Farm". Buzz.ie. Archived from the original on 4 July 2018. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
- "IRISH DAILY MAIL FAI CUP SECOND ROUND FIXTURE SCHEDULE". SSE Airtricity League. 17 August 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
- MariborKev (6 September 2018). "Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup Fixture Confirmation". Derry City Football Club. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
- "Longford Town v Cork City set to be televised on RTÉ2". SSE Airtricity League. 30 August 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
- "RTE to broadcast FAI Cup semi-finals". RTÉ. 11 September 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2018.