The 1981 FAI Cup Final was the final match of the 1980–81

FAI Cup The Football Association of Ireland Senior Challenge Cup (FAI Cup), known as the Extra.ie FAI Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland (as well as Derry ...

, a knock-out association football competition contested annually by clubs affiliated with the Football Association of Ireland. It took place on Sunday 26 April 1981 at Dalymount Park in Dublin, and was contested by Dundalk and

Sligo Rovers Sligo Rovers Football Club ( ga, Cumann Peile Ruagairí Shligigh) is an Irish professional football club playing in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. The club is based in Sligo in the west of Ireland. The club was founded in 1928 ...

. The competition was sponsored by Mitre. Dundalk won the match 2–0 to win the cup for the seventh time.

Background

The two sides' two previous meetings that season had been in the

League League or The League may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Leagues'' (band), an American rock band * ''The League'', an American sitcom broadcast on FX and FXX about fantasy football Sports * Sports league * Rugby league, full contact footba ...

, with Dundalk winning both matches – including a 3–0 victory in The Showgrounds in

Sligo Sligo ( ; ga, Sligeach , meaning 'abounding in shells') is a coastal seaport and the county town of County Sligo, Ireland, within the western province of Connacht. With a population of approximately 20,000 in 2016, it is the List of urban areas ...

two weeks earlier. Dundalk had finished as runners-up in the

1980–81 League of Ireland Statistics of League of Ireland in the 1980–81 season. Overview It was contested by 16 teams, and Athlone Town Athlone Town Association Football Club () is an Irish football club from Athlone who are playing in the League of Ireland. ...

, and had already won that season's League Cup. To reach the final they had defeated non-League Hammond Lane (1–0),

St Patrick's Athletic St Patrick's Athletic Football Club ( ga, Cumann Peile Lúthchleas Phádraig Naofa) is a professional Irish association football club based in Inchicore, Dublin, that plays in the Irish Premier Division. Founded in May 1929, they played origin ...

(2–0 in a replay following a 1–1 draw),

Drogheda United Drogheda United Football Club ( ga, Cumann Peile Dhroichead Átha Aontaithe) is a semi-professional Irish association football club based in Drogheda, County Louth playing in the League of Ireland Premier Division. They play their home matches ...

(1–0 in a replay following a 0–0 draw), and Finn Harps (1–0). Sligo Rovers were the underdogs, having finished 11th in the League, and were playing in their fifth

final, having lost in all four of their previous appearances - most recently in 1978. They had overcome UCD (2–1 in a replay following a 1–1 draw), Home Farm (3–0), and Waterford (1–0 in a replay following a 2–2 draw) to reach the final. The match was not broadcast live. Highlights were shown that evening on the

RTÉ (RTÉ) (; Irish language, Irish for "Radio & Television of Ireland") is the Public broadcaster, national broadcaster of Republic of Ireland, Ireland headquartered in Dublin. It both produces and broadcasts programmes on RTÉ Television, telev ...

show ''Sports Scene'', with commentary from

Jimmy Magee Jimmy Magee (31 January 1935 – 20 September 2017) was an Irish sports broadcaster, known as The Memory Man, he spent over half a century in sports broadcasting, and presented radio and television coverage of the Olympic Games since 1968 and the ...

Match

Summary

Dundalk were made heavy favourites going into the match, which both managers sought to use as motivation for their players. The match, described in press reports as "wind-spoiled", had a nondescript first half, but seven minutes into the second half a corner taken by John Archbold sailed straight into the net without being touched by anyone. Sligo subsequently pressed hard for an equaliser, but were well-marshalled by the experienced Dundalk defence. In the 78th minute one such Sligo attack broke down, and Mick Fairclough latched onto a long clearance by Sean Byrne to race through and score Dundalk's second to seal the win. The victory gave Dundalk their only FAI Cup and League Cup Double.

Details

References

;Bibliography * * * ;Citations

External links

RTE's match highlights on YouTube
{{Dundalk F.C. FAI Cup finals Fai Cup Final 1981 Fai Cup Final 1981 FAI Cup Final, 1981 FAI Cup Final