2023 FAI Cup

The 2023 FAI Cup, known as the Sports Direct FAI Cup for sponsorship reasons,^[1] was the 103rd edition of the Republic of Ireland's primary national cup competition. It featured teams from the League of Ireland Premier Division and the First Division, as well as non-league teams. The competition began with qualifying on 7 April 2023 and concluded with the final on 12 November 2023 in the Aviva Stadium.^[2][3][4][5] The winners qualified for the second qualifying round of the 2024–25 UEFA Conference League.

2023 FAI Cup

Tournament details
Country	Republic of Ireland
Venue(s)	Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Dates	7 April – 12 November
Teams	40 (all) 20 (qualifying round) 32 (main competition)
Final positions
Champions	St Patrick's Athletic
Runners-up	Bohemians
Tournament statistics
Top goal scorer	Jonathan Afolabi (4 goals)
← 2022 2024 → (Note: All statistics do not include qualifying round)

St Patrick's Athletic won the cup on 12 November after a 3–1 win over Bohemians in the final, it was their fifth FAI Cup win.^[6]

Teams

The 2023 FAI Cup is a knockout competition with 40 teams taking part. The competitors consist of the 20 teams from the League of Ireland and 20 teams from the regional leagues of the Republic of Ireland football league system.

League of Ireland Premier Division	League of Ireland First Division	Leinster Senior League	Munster Senior League	Ulster Senior League	Other leagues
Bohemians Cork City Derry City Drogheda United Dundalk St Patrick's Athletic Shamrock Rovers Shelbourne Sligo Rovers UCD	Athlone Town Bray Wanderers Cobh Ramblers Finn Harps Galway United Kerry Longford Town Treaty United Waterford Wexford	Bangor Celtic Drumcondra Gorey Rangers Home Farm Kilbarrack United Killester Donnycarney Lucan United Portlaoise Skerries Town St Mochta's St Patrick's CY Usher Celtic Willow Park	Avondale United Ringmahon Rangers Rockmount	Cockhill Celtic	Ballynanty Rovers (Limerick & District League) St Michael's (Tipperary South District League) Newmarket Celtic (Clare District League)

Preliminary round

The eight preliminary round ties began over the weekend of the 9th of April with the first round proper played in July. The four non-league teams receiving byes into the first round were; Lucan United, Gorey Rangers, Avondale United and Bangor Celtic.

St. Patrick's CY v Willow Park

7 April 2023	St. Patrick's CY	4–0	Willow Park	Irishtown
19:30	Gregg 4' Kinsella 18' Daly 68' 85'			Stadium: Irishtown Stadium Attendance: 50 Referee: Robert Redmond

Portlaoise v Usher Celtic

7 April 2023	Portlaoise	2–1	Usher Celtic	Portlaoise
19:45	Fitzpatrick 13' 29'		Buckley 9' Lynam  70'	Stadium: Rossleighan Park Attendance: 150 Referee: David Gallagher

Cockhill Celtic v St. Mochta's

8 April 2023	Cockhill Celtic	5–4 (a.e.t.)	St. Mochta's	Buncrana
13:00	McLaughlin 64' 75' 89' Friel 104' 120+1'		Brady 31' Donnelly 41' Scott 64' 117' McWilliams  61'	Stadium: Charlie O'Donnell Sports Grounds Attendance: 150 Referee: Barry Maxwell

Kilbarrack United v Drumcondra

8 April 2023	Kilbarrack United	5–0	Drumcondra	Raheny
14:00	Townley 5' McCourt 8' Fitzsimons 39' Cummins 54' Mulligan 82'			Stadium: Greendale Astro Attendance: 100 Referee: Liam McGuirk

Ringmahon Rangers v Killester Donnycarney

8 April 2023	Ringmahon Rangers	1–0	Killester Donnycarney	Mahon
14:00	Horgan 78'		Kavanagh  80'	Stadium: Ringmahon Park Attendance: 100 Referee: Edwin McNally

Skerries Town v Newmarket Celtic

9 April 2023	Skerries Town	4–0	Newmarket Celtic	Skerries
14:00	Leonard 10' Young 23' 68' McKenna 51' (pen.)			Stadium: Park Lane Attendance: 250 Referee: John McCarthy

Home Farm v Rockmount

9 April 2023	Home Farm	0–0 (a.e.t.) (1–4 p)	Rockmount	Whitehall
14:00				Stadium: Whitehall Stadium Attendance: 115 Referee: Declan Troy
	Penalties
	Mellah  56' McNevin Hoban Prizeman		Ahearne Casey Leonard Connolly

St. Michael's v Ballynanty Rovers

9 April 2023	St. Michael's	2–1	Ballynanty Rovers	Tipperary
15:00	McGrath 30' Byron 61'		Quinn 66'	Stadium: Cooke Park Attendance: 550 Referee: Alec McCormack

First round

The draw for the first round was made on June 6 and was made by FAI President Gerry McAnaney and former FAI Cup winner Derek Coughlan. All ties took place on the weekend of 23 July.^[7][8]

UCD v Cobh Ramblers

21 July 2023	UCD	3–2	Cobh Ramblers	Belfield
19:45	Keaney 23' Frahill 50' (o.g.) Norris 62'	Report	Holland 16' Larkin 70'	Stadium: UCD Bowl Attendance: 174 Referee: Declan Toland

Kerry v Ringmahon Rangers

21 July 2023	Kerry	2–0	Ringmahon Rangers	Tralee
19:45	Kelliher 75', 84'	Report		Stadium: Mounthawk Park Attendance: 665 Referee: Marc Lynch

Drogheda United v Sligo Rovers

21 July 2023	Drogheda United	2–1	Sligo Rovers	Drogheda
19:45	Foley 57' Brennan 80' (pen.)	Report	Mata 42' (pen.) Lafferty  78'	Stadium: Weaver's Park Attendance: 1334 Referee: David Dunne

Bohemians v Shelbourne

21 July 2023	Bohemians	1–0	Shelbourne	Phibsborough
19:45	Afolabi 32'	Report		Stadium: Dalymount Park Attendance: 4168 Referee: Paul McLaughlin

Kilbarrack United v Finn Harps

21 July 2023	Kilbarrack United	0–1	Finn Harps	Kilbarrack
19:45		Report	Hutchison 23'	Stadium: Greendale Road Attendance: 375 Referee: Kevin O’Sullivan

Wexford v Avondale United

21 July 2023	Wexford	3–0	Avondale United	Wexford
19:45	Boyle 45' (pen.) Doran 63' Kenny 90+5' (pen.)	Report		Stadium: Ferrycarrig Park Attendance: 268 Referee: Gavin Colfer

Treaty United v Cork City

22 July 2023	Treaty United	0–2	Cork City	Garyowen
14:00	Nwankwo  90'	Report	Honohan 54' Owalabi 77'	Stadium: Markets Field Attendance: 909 Referee: Damien MacGraith

Cockhill Celtic v Bray Wanderers

22 July 2023	Cockhill Celtic	1–3	Bray Wanderers	Buncrana
14:00	McClure 42'	Report	Feeney 25' Lyons 34' Thompson 36'	Stadium: Charlie O'Donnell Sports Grounds Attendance: 200 Referee: Paul Norton

Gorey Rangers v Rockmount

22 July 2023	Gorey Rangers	1–2	Rockmount	Gorey
15:00	Molloy 90+4'	Report	O'Sullivan 42' Courtney 76'	Stadium: Ramstown Attendance: 177 Referee: Daniel Murphy

St Michael's v Waterford

22 July 2023	St Michael's	0–5	Waterford	Tipperary
17:00		Report	Coughlan 1' Perry 26' Parsons 42' Cresswell 67' Akachukwu 72'	Stadium: Cooke Park Attendance: 800 Referee: Ray Matthews

Galway United v Bangor Celtic

22 July 2023	Galway United	4–1	Bangor Celtic	Galway
17:00	Aouachria 14' Walsh 39' 45+4' Brouder 52'	Report	Maher 1'	Stadium: Eamonn Deacy Park Attendance: 400 Referee: Alan Patchell

Lucan United v St Patrick's CY

23 July 2023	Lucan United	2–3	St Patrick's CY	Celbridge
11:00	Mooney 36' 89'	Report	Doyle 9' Hanrahan 39' Ivie 90'	Stadium: O'Hanlon Park Attendance: 200 Referee: David Gallagher

Portlaoise v Skerries Town

23 July 2023	Portlaoise	0–3	Skerries Town	Portlaoise
14:00		Report	McKenna 14', 55', 90'	Stadium: Rossleighan Park Attendance: 675 Referee: Sean Boyd

Derry City v Athlone Town

23 July 2023	Derry City	3–0	Athlone Town	Derry
17:00	Patching 23' (pen.) B.Kavanagh 90+3' Duffy 90+5'	Report		Stadium: Brandywell Stadium Attendance: 3100 Referee: Oliver Moran

Dundalk v Shamrock Rovers

23 July 2023	Dundalk	1–0	Shamrock Rovers	Dundalk
17:00	Hayden Muller 23' Doyle  31'	Report		Stadium: Oriel Park Attendance: 2686 Referee: Rob Harvey

Longford Town v St Patrick's Athletic

23 July 2023	Longford Town	1–2	St Patrick's Athletic	Longford
18:00	Boudiaf 78' Hand  81' Brady  91'	Report	Murphy 64' Forrester 80' (pen.)	Stadium: Bishopsgate Attendance: 1164 Referee: Rob Hennessy

Second round

The draw for the second round was made on 25 July and was broadcast live on RTE 2FM on the 'Game On' radio programme.^[9] All ties took place on the weekend of 20 August.

Bohemians v Rockmount

18 August 2023	Bohemians	6–0	Rockmount	Phibsborough
19:45	Clarke 18' 45+1' Afolabi 23' McDaid 55' Twardek 66' McDonnell 85'	Report		Stadium: Dalymount Park Attendance: 2,746 Referee: David Dunne

Bray Wanderers v Dundalk

18 August 2023	Bray Wanderers	0–1	Dundalk	Bray
19:45		Report	Horgan 86'	Stadium: Carlisle Grounds Attendance: 500 Referee: Rob Hennessy

Kerry v Drogheda United

18 August 2023	Kerry	0–1	Drogheda United	Tralee
19:45		Report	Robinson 7'	Stadium: Mounthawk Park Attendance: 960 Referee: Kevin O'Sullivan

Finn Harps v Skerries Town

18 August 2023	Finn Harps	5–0	Skerries Town	Ballybofey
20:00	Hutchison 4' Flood 16' 58' Ferry 47' O'Donnell 55'	Report		Stadium: Finn Park Attendance: 828 Referee: Damien MacGraith

St. Patrick's CY v Wexford

20 August 2023	St. Patrick's CY	0–1	Wexford	Ringsend
13:30		Report	D Levingston 42'	Stadium: Irishtown Stadium Attendance: 500 Referee: Adriano Reale

Derry City v St Patrick's Athletic

20 August 2023	Derry City	0–0 (a.e.t.) (3–4 p)	St Patrick's Athletic	Derry
17:00		Report		Stadium: Brandywell Stadium Attendance: 3,267 Referee: Neil Doyle
	Penalties
	P.McEleney B.Kavanagh Mullen Duffy Connolly		Forrester Nolan Mulraney Leavy Melia

Cork City v Waterford

21 August 2023	Cork City	3–0	Waterford	Cork
19:45	Keating 1' Honohan 17' Bargary 87'	Report	Idowu  90'	Stadium: Turners Cross Attendance: 2,407 Referee: Eoghan O'Shea

UCD v Galway United

21 August 2023	UCD	1–5	Galway United	Belfield
19:45	O'Reilly 86'	Report	Aouachria 5' Hurley 15' 38' Manning 45+1' Manley 69'	Stadium: UCD Bowl Attendance: 416 Referee: Rob Harvey
Note: Original fixture on 18 August abandoned at half time due to Storm Betty.

Quarter-finals

The draw for the quarter-finals of the FAI Cup was hosted by Shane Dawson and was made on 22 August 2023. FAI President Gerry McAnaney and former two time FAI Cup winner Barry Ferguson made the draw.^[10] Games were played on 15 September 2023.

Drogheda United v Bohemians

15 September 2023	Drogheda United	1–3	Bohemians	Drogheda
19:45	Brennan 50' (pen.)	Report	Nowak 44' Afolabi 56' 90' (pen.)	Stadium: Weavers Park Attendance: 2,344 Referee: Damien MacGraith

Finn Harps v St Patrick's Athletic

15 September 2023	Finn Harps	1–2	St Patrick's Athletic	Ballybofey
20:00	O'Donnell 24'	Report	Forrester 48' (pen.) Lonergan 85'	Stadium: Finn Park Attendance: 1,351 Referee: Rob Harvey

Galway United v Dundalk

15 September 2023	Galway United	4–0	Dundalk	Galway
19:45	Walsh 8' McCarthy 20' Nugent 30' Hurley 39' (pen.)	Report		Stadium: Eamonn Deacy Park Attendance: 4,300 Referee: David Dunne

Cork City v Wexford

15 September 2023	Cork City	2–1	Wexford	Cork
19:45	Dijksteel 78' Keating 90+2'	Report	Dobbs 45+2'	Stadium: Turners Cross Attendance: 2,141 Referee: Eoghan O'Shea

Semi-finals

The draw for the semi finals was made on 19 September and was hosted by Shane Dawson at FAI Headquarters in Abbotstown. The draw was made by FAI President Gerry McAnaney and for FAI Cup winner Shane Robinson.^[11]

Galway United v Bohemians

7 October 2023	Galway United	0–1	Bohemians	Galway
14:40		Report	Connolly 44' Radkowski  59'	Stadium: Eamonn Deacy Park Attendance: 4,300 Referee: Neil Doyle

Cork City v St Patrick's Athletic

8 October 2023	Cork City	0–2	St Patrick's Athletic	Cork
14:40		Report	Doyle 12' Carty 83'	Stadium: Turners Cross Attendance: 6,355 Referee: Rob Harvey

Final

The final was held on 12 November 2023 in the Aviva Stadium.

Main article: 2023 FAI Cup final

Bohemians v St Patrick's Athletic

12 November 2023	Bohemians	1–3	St Patrick's Athletic	Ballsbridge
15:00	Afolabi 9' (pen.)	Report	Doyle 23' Nowak 48' (o.g.) Lonergan 87'	Stadium: Aviva Stadium Attendance: 43,881 Referee: Paul McLaughlin