| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Country |  Republic of Ireland | 
| Venue(s) | Aviva Stadium, Dublin | 
| Dates | 7 April-12 November | 
| Teams | 40 | 
| Final positions | |
| Champions | St Patrick's Athletic | 
| Runner-up | Bohemians | 
| Tournament statistics | |
| Top goal scorer(s) | Jonathan Afolabi (4 goals) | 
| (Note: All statistics do not include qualifying round) | |
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.
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 | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 
 | 
 | 
 (Tipperary South District League) 
 (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.
| 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 | 
| 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 | 
| 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 | 
| 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 | 
| 8 April 2023 | Ringmahon Rangers | 1–0 | Killester Donnycarney | Mahon | 
| 14:00 | Horgan  78' | Kavanagh  80' | Stadium: Ringmahon Park Attendance: 100 Referee: Edwin McNally | 
| 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 | 
| 9 April 2023 | Home Farm | 0–0 (a.e.t.) (1–4 p) | Rockmount | Whitehall | 
| 14:00 | Mellah  56' McNevin   Hoban   Prizeman  | Ahearne   Casey   Leonard   Connolly  | Stadium: Whitehall Stadium Attendance: 115 Referee: Declan Troy | 
| 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]
| 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 | 
| 21 July 2023 | Kerry | 2–0 | Ringmahon Rangers | Tralee | 
| 19:45 | Kelliher  75', 84' | Report | Stadium: Mounthawk Park Attendance: 665 Referee: Marc Lynch | 
| 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 | 
| 21 July 2023 | Bohemians | 1–0 | Shelbourne | Phibsborough | 
| 19:45 | Afolabi  32' | Report | Stadium: Dalymount Park Attendance: 4168 Referee: Paul McLaughlin | 
| 21 July 2023 | Kilbarrack United | 0–1 | Finn Harps | Kilbarrack | 
| 19:45 | Report | Hutchison  23' | Stadium: Greendale Road Attendance: 375 Referee: Kevin O’Sullivan | 
| 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 | 
| 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 | 
| 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 | 
| 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 | 
| 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 | 
| 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 | 
| 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 | 
| 23 July 2023 | Portlaoise | 0–3 | Skerries Town | Portlaoise | 
| 14:00 | Report | McKenna  14', 55', 90' | Stadium: Rossleighan Park Attendance: 675 Referee: Sean Boyd | 
| 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 | 
| 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 | 
| 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.
| 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 | 
| 18 August 2023 | Bray Wanderers | 0–1 | Dundalk | Bray | 
| 19:45 | Report | Horgan  86' | Stadium: Carlisle Grounds Attendance: 500 Referee: Rob Hennessy | 
| 18 August 2023 | Kerry | 0–1 | Drogheda United | Tralee | 
| 19:45 | Report | Robinson  7' | Stadium: Mounthawk Park Attendance: 960 Referee: Kevin O'Sullivan | 
| 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 | 
| 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 | 
| 20 August 2023 | Derry City | 0–0 (a.e.t.) (3–4 p) | St Patrick's Athletic | Derry | 
| 17:00 | P.McEleney   B.Kavanagh   Mullen   Duffy   Connolly  | Report | Forrester   Nolan   Mulraney   Leavy   Melia  | Stadium: Brandywell Stadium Attendance: 3,267 Referee: Neil Doyle | 
| 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 | 
| 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.
| 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 | 
| 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 | 
| 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 | 
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]
| 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 | 
| 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.
| 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 | 
References
- ↑ "Mike Ashley's Sports Direct to become new FAI Cup sponsors". FAI.ie. 27 April 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
- ↑ "Preliminary draw made FAI Official". FAI.ie. 15 March 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
- ↑ "Preliminary draw made on extratime.ie". extratime.ie. 16 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ↑ "Willow Park to learn FAI Senior Cup draw today". westmeathindepent.ie. 15 March 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
- ↑ "Draw for FAI Men's Senior Cup". strikeronline.ie. 15 March 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
- ↑ "St Pat's secure FAI Cup with comeback win to beat Bohs at the Aviva". Irish Independent. 12 November 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
- ↑ "Dundalk to meet Shamrock Rovers in FAI Cup first round". RTE Sport. 6 June 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ↑ "Preview: Dublin derby kicks off FAI Cup first round". RTE Sport. 21 July 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ↑ "FAI Cup second round draw recap as Derry take on St Pat's". Irish Mirror. 25 July 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
- ↑ "FAI Cup Quarter-Final draw completed". Extratime.com. 22 August 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
- ↑ "FAI Cup semi-final draw: Cork City to host St Pats, Galway to welcome Bohemians". Irish Examiner. 19 September 2023. Retrieved 4 October 2023.