FAI Intermediate Cup
OrganiserFootball Association of Ireland
Founded1926
RegionIreland
Domestic cupTom Hand Memorial Cup
Current championsCollege Corinthians (1st Title)
(2024–25)
Most successful clubAvondale United (8 titles)
WebsiteFAI Intermediate Cup @ www.fai.ie

The FAI Intermediate Cup (Irish: Corn Comortais Peile na hÉireann),[1] also known as the FAI Umbro Intermediate Cup and the Pat O'Brien Intermediate Challenge Cup, is a cup competition organized by the Football Association of Ireland for intermediate association football clubs from the Republic of Ireland. These include clubs competing in the Leinster Senior League and the Munster Senior League. It was originally known as the FAI Qualifying Cup and from the beginning it has been used as a qualifying competition for the senior FAI Cup. It is currently sponsored by Umbro and has previously been sponsored by Carlsberg.

History

FAI Qualifying Cup

The competition was originally known as the FAI Qualifying Cup before it was renamed the FAI Intermediate Cup at the start of the 1931–32 season. The cup's first winners were Drumcondra who beat Cobh Ramblers in the inaugural 1926–27 final. Drumcondra, who at the time were playing in the Leinster Senior League, subsequently went onto complete a cup double when they defeated Brideville 1–0 in the 1926–27 FAI Cup final.[2][3][4] The competition continues to act a qualifying competition for the FAI Cup with clubs who reach the Round of Sixteen being invited to compete in the senior cup.[1][5][6]

League of Ireland

In addition to being the inaugural winners, Drumcondra were also the first of several future League of Ireland clubs to win the FAI Intermediate Cup. Cork Bohemians, Sligo Rovers, Longford Town, UCD, Cobh Ramblers, St Patricks Athletic, Albert Rovers, Bray Wanderers, Home Farm and Cork Hibernians, playing as AOH, all subsequently won the cup before joining the national league. Athlone Town were also finalists on one occasion. Jacobs, St. James's Gate and Transport all won the cup after leaving the League of Ireland. With five wins, Longford Town were the competitions most successful club until Bluebell United equalled their record in 1999–2000 and Avondale United surpassed it in 2013–14. The reserve teams of League of Ireland clubs have also won the cup on several occasions. These include Bohemians, Shelbourne, Drumcondra and St Patrick's Athletic. Limerick B and UCD Reserves were also runners up.[3][4]

2000s and 2010s

During the 2000s and 2010s Avondale United and Crumlin United have been the cup's most successful clubs. In 2013–14 Avondale United became only the second club after Distillery to win the cup four times in a row.[7][8] In 2012 the FAI introduced a new cup, the Tom Hand Memorial Cup, which saw the winners of the FAI Intermediate Cup play off against the winners of the FAI Junior Cup. Avondale United won the inaugural match, defeating Sheriff Y.C. 2–1 at the AUL Complex.[9][10] In 2014 it was announced that future finals would be hosted at the Aviva Stadium.[11] The 2014–15 and 2015–16 finals were both played as double headers along with the FAI Junior Cup finals.[12][13]

Finals

SeasonWinnerScoreRunner-upVenue
2024–25College Corinthians A.F.C.2–1 (a.e.t.)Ringmahon RangersTurners Cross, Cork[14][15]
2023–24Glebe North3–2 (a.e.t.)Ringmahon RangersWeavers Park, Drogheda [16]
2022–23Rockmount1–1 (a.e.t.)
4–3 (pen.)		Cockhill CelticThe Showgrounds, Sligo[17]
2021–22Rockmount2–0Bluebell UnitedTurners Cross, Cork[18]
2020–21Unfinished[19]
2019-20St. Mochta's2–1[20]Killester DonnycarneyAviva Stadium
2018-19Avondale United1–0[21]Crumlin UnitedAviva Stadium
2017–18Maynooth University Town4–1 (a.e.t.)[22][23]Firhouse Clover F.C.Aviva Stadium
2016–17Liffey Wanderers2–2 (a.e.t.)
5–4 (pen.)		Cobh WanderersAviva Stadium[24]
2015–16Crumlin United5–0[8][25]Letterkenny RoversAviva Stadium
2014–15Crumlin United4–0[26][27]Tolka RoversAviva Stadium
2013–14Avondale United3–0[7][28]UCD ReservesTurners Cross
2012–13Avondale United4–1[29]Bluebell UnitedRichmond Park
2011–12Avondale United2–1 (a.e.t.)[30]Cherry OrchardTallaght Stadium
2010–11Avondale United1–0 (a.e.t.)[31]Cherry OrchardTurners Cross
2009–10Crumlin United3–1[32][33]Avondale UnitedDalymount Park
2008–09Crumlin United3–2[34][35]Bluebell UnitedTallaght Stadium
2007–08Rockmount2–0[36]Douglas HallTurners Cross
2006–07Avondale United1–0[37][38]Bangor CelticTurners Cross
2005–06Avondale United[39]1–0Blarney United
2004–05Wayside Celtic1–0[40]RockmountCarlisle Grounds
2003–04RockmountBluebell UnitedRichmond Park[41]
2002–03Belgrove (Dublin)RockmountTurners Cross[42]
ReplayBelgrove (Dublin)2–1[43]RockmountWhitehall Stadium
2001–02Ashtown Villa4–1[44]Cherry OrchardDalymount Park
2000–01Wayside Celtic1–0Ashtown VillaDalymount Park[45]
1999–2000Bluebell UnitedSt. Marys
1998–99Rockmount2–0[41]GardaTurners Cross
1997–98Cherry Orchard2–1[46]College Corinthians
1996–97Glenmore Celtic (Dublin)1–0[47]EvertonTurners Cross
1995–96Wayside CelticFanad United
1994–95Fanad United1–0[46]College CorinthiansTerryland Park[48]
1993–94Bluebell UnitedCherry OrchardTBC[49]
1992–93Bluebell UnitedWayside Celtic
1991–92Pegasus (Dublin)Bluebell United
1990–91Edenmore2–0St Joseph's Boys (Sallynoggin)Tolka Park
1989–90Bluebell UnitedBallyfermot United (Ballyfermot)
1988–89T.E.K. United1–0St. James's GateDalymount Park
1987–88Fanad United1–0Tramore AthleticDalymount Park[50][48]
1986–87Tramore AthleticBank Rovers (Dublin)
1985–86Crofton Celtic (Cork)Everton
1984–85Bank Rovers (Dundalk)Hammond Lane (Dublin)
1983–84Ballyfermot United (Ballyfermot)Bank Rovers (Dublin)
1982–83Cobh RamblersBluebell United
1981–82Bluebell UnitedTramore Athletic
1980–81Tramore AthleticBallyfermot United (Ballyfermot)
1979–80Cobh RamblersTramore Athletic
1978–79Tramore AthleticSwilly Rovers (Ramelton)
1977–78Avondale UnitedAIB
1976–77Pegasus (Dublin)Bray Wanderers
1975–76St. Brendans CIETransport
1974–75CYM Terenure (Terenure)Belgrove (Dublin)
1973–74TransportT.E.K. United
1972–73Dalkey United (Dalkey)Rialto (Dublin)
1971–72CYM Terenure (Terenure)T.E.K. United
1970–71Tullamore TownBluebell United
1969–70Rialto (Dublin)Home Farm
1968–69Longford TownTransport
1967–68Home Farm0–0Athlone TownSt Mel's Park[51]
ReplayHome Farm1–0Athlone TownTolka Park[51][52]
1966–67Home FarmTramore Athletic
1965–66TransportHome Farm
1964–65T.E.K. UnitedGlasheen (Glasheen)
1963–64TransportT.E.K. United
1962–63Home FarmLimerick B
1961–62Longford TownHome Farm
1960–61Workmen's ClubJacobs
1959–60Longford TownBray Wanderers
1958–69Albert Rovers[53]3–2Bray WanderersRutland Avenue
1957–58Bray Wanderers3–2Chapelizod (Chapelizod)
1956–57Workmen's Club2–1AOHTurners Cross
1955–56Bray WanderersWorkmen's Club[54]
1954–55Longford TownWorkmen's Club
1953–54Albert RoversJacobs
1952–53St Patrick's Athletic ReservesJacobs
1951–52AOHPike Rovers
1950–51St. James's GateEvergreen United
1949–50JacobsSt Patricks Athletic
1948–49St Patricks AthleticFreebooters (Cork)
1947–48St Patricks AthleticCobh Ramblers
1946–47Drumcondra BRockville (Cork)
1944–45UCD4–2Cobh RamblersDalymount Park
1941–42Distillery (Dublin)Cobh Ramblers
1940–41Distillery (Dublin)Cork Bohemians
1939–40Distillery (Dublin)Cobh Ramblers
1938–39Distillery (Dublin)Cork Bohemians
1937–38Terenure AthleticCork Bohemians
1936–37Longford TownFearon's Athletic
1935–36B and ISPG.S. Rlys (Cork)
1934–35Tramore RookiesBohemians Reserves
1933–34Sligo RoversTramore Rookies
1932–33Shelbourne BCork Bohemians
1931–32Bohemians ReservesCork Bohemians
1930–31Cork BohemiansRossville
1929–30Cahir Park (Cahir)4–2Glasnevin (Glasnevin)TBA[55]
1928–29Richmond UnitedFermoy (Fermoy)
1927–28Cork BohemiansStrandville
1926–27DrumcondraCobh Ramblers

Sources:[3][4]

List of winners by club

ClubTitlesSeasons
Avondale United81977–78, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2018–19
Rockmount51998–99, 2003–04, 2007–08, 2021-22, 2022-2023
Bluebell United51981–82, 1989–90, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1999–2000
Longford Town51936–37, 1954–55, 1959–60, 1961–62, 1968–69
Crumlin United42008–09, 2009–10, 2014–15, 2015–16
Distillery (Dublin)41938–39, 1939–40, 1940–41, 1941–42
Home Farm31962–63, 1966–67, 1967–68
St Patrick's Athletic31947–48, 1948–49, 1952–53
Tramore Athletic31978–79, 1980–81, 1986–87
Transport31963–64, 1965–66, 1973–74
Wayside Celtic31995–96, 2000–01, 2004–05
Albert Rovers21953–54, 1958–59
Bray Wanderers21955–56, 1957–58
Cobh Ramblers21979–80, 1982–83
Cork Bohemians21927–28, 1930–31
CYM Terenure (Terenure)21971–72, 1974–75
Drumcondra21926–27, 1946–47
Fanad United21987–88, 1994–95
Pegasus (Dublin)21976–77, 1991–92
T.E.K. United21964–65, 1988–89
Workmen's Club21956–57, 1960–61
AOH11951–52
Ashtown Villa12001–02
Ballyfermot United (Ballyfermot)11983–84
Bank Rovers (Dundalk)11984–85
Belgrove (Dublin)12002–03
Bohemians Reserves11931–32
B and ISP11935–36
Cahir Park (Cahir)11929–30
Cherry Orchard11997–98
College Corinthians1[14]2024–25
Crofton Celtic (Cork)11997–98
Dalkey United (Dalkey)11972–73
Edenmore11990–91
Glenmore Celtic (Dublin)11996–97
Jacobs11949–50
Liffey Wanderers12016–2017
Maynooth University Town12017–18
Rialto (Dublin)11969–70
Richmond United11928–29
St. Brendans CIE11975–76
St James's Gate11950–51
Shelbourne B11932–33
Sligo Rovers11933–34
Terenure Athletic11937–38
Tramore Rookies11934–35
Tullamore Town11970–71
UCD11945–46

Source:[3][4]

References

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