1985 FAI Cup final
| Event | 1984–85 FAI Cup | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||
| Date | 28 April 1985 | ||||||
| Venue | Dalymount Park, Dublin | ||||||
| Attendance | 7,000 | ||||||
The 1985 FAI Cup final was the final match of the 1984–85 FAI Cup, a knockout association football competition contested annually by clubs affiliated with the Football Association of Ireland. It took place on Sunday 28 April 1985 at Dalymount Park in Dublin, and was contested by Shamrock Rovers and Galway United. Rovers won the match 1–0, winning the cup for the 22nd time and in the process winning the double.[1]
Background
Shamrock Rovers had lost the previous years' final 2–1 to UCD after a replay. For Galway United it was their first-ever time reaching the FAI Cup final[2] having only joined the League of Ireland 8 years earlier. That season, Rovers won both encounters between the sides 1–0 in the league in a season where they won the league, and Galway finished the season in 6th.
Route to the final
| Shamrock Rovers | Round | Galway United | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opponent | Score | Opponent | Score | |
| Bohemians | 0–0 (A) | First round | Avondale United | 4–0 (A) |
| 0–0 (H) | Replay | - | ||
| 1–0 (H) | 2nd Replay | - | ||
| Drogheda United | 3–2 (A) | Quarter-finals | Shelbourne | 0–0 (A) |
| - | Replay | 4–1 (H) | ||
| Athlone Town | 2–1 (H) | Semi-finals | Limerick City | 2–2 (A) |
| - | Replay | 1–0 (H) | ||
| Note: In all results above, the score of the finalist is given first (H: home; A: away). | ||||
Match
Details
| Shamrock Rovers | 1–0[3] | Galway United |
|---|---|---|
Noel Larkin  57' |
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- ↑ Lally was a player-manager
Aftermath
The winner of this match would receive a spot in the European Cup Winners' Cup, however Rovers qualified for the European Cup as a result of winning the league. As a result of this, the Cup Winners' Cup spot was given to the losing finalists, Galway United.
Shamrock Rovers would go on to win the cup again in 1986[4] and 1987.[5] The same final would take place between Galway United and Shamrock Rovers in 1991 at Lansdowne Road, on that occasion Galway came out as 1–0 winners.[6]
See also
- 1991 FAI Cup final – contested by same teams
References
- ↑ "Shamrock Rovers secure league and cup double - a look back 35 years to the 1985 FAI Cup final". extratime.ie. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
- ↑ "HISTORY OF GALWAY UNITED - Founding to Start of League Success". galwayunitedfc.ie. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
- ↑ "Ireland FAI Cup (1921-1994)". RSSSF. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
- ↑ "Shamrock Rovers 2 - 0 Waterford - Report". extratime.ie. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
- ↑ "Shamrock Rovers 3 - 0 Dundalk - Report". extratime.ie. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
- ↑ "On This Day in the LOI May 12". Retrieved 23 March 2026.