The 1949 FAI Cup Final was the final match of the 1948–49

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 Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 players who primarily use their feet to propel the ball around a rectangular field called a pitch. The objective of the game is ...

competition contested annually by clubs affiliated with the Football Association of Ireland. It took place on Sunday 10 April 1949 at

Dalymount Park Dalymount Park (Irish: ''Páirc Cnocán Uí Dhálaigh'') is a football stadium in Phibsborough on the Northside of Dublin, Ireland. It is the home of Bohemian F.C., who have played there since the early 20th century. Affectionately known as D ...

Dublin Dublin (; , or ) is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. On a bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, a part of th ...

, and was contested by

Dundalk Dundalk ( ; ga, Dún Dealgan ), meaning "the fort of Dealgan", is the county town (the administrative centre) of County Louth, Ireland. The town is on the Castletown River, which flows into Dundalk Bay on the east coast of Ireland. It is h ...

and Shelbourne. Dundalk won 3–0 to win their second FAI Cup.

Background

Both sides had finished level on 23 points in the

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– six points behind champions Drumcondra. Shelbourne had defeated Dundalk to win the

League of Ireland Shield The League of Ireland Shield ( ga, Sciath Sraithe na hÉireann) is a defunct Irish football tournament which was introduced when the League of Ireland started in 1921 and ran uninterrupted until 1972. It was played before the league season began ...

earlier in the season, and defeated non-League Freebooters,

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 ...

and

Waterford "Waterford remains the untaken city" , mapsize = 220px , pushpin_map = Ireland#Europe , pushpin_map_caption = Location within Ireland##Location within Europe , pushpin_relief = 1 , coordinates ...

to make the final. Dundalk had won the season opening

Dublin City Cup The Dublin City Cup is a defunct Irish football tournament which was played for by all League of Ireland sides (and not just those from Dublin city as the name suggests). It ran from 1933 and ran uninterrupted until 1973. In the 1975–76 se ...

the previous September, topping its league format unbeaten, which was their first trophy since 1942–43. To reach the final they had defeated

Cork Athletic Cork Athletic Football Club was a former Irish football club based in Cork. They played in the League of Ireland between 1948 and 1957. They were the successor club of Cork United. When United quit the league in October 1948, Cork Athletic was ...

(4–1), had a bye in the next round, then defeated Drumcondra in the semi-final (2–1 in a replay following a 2–2 draw). The two sides went into the match with identical records in previous

finals - one win and three defeats apiece.

Match

Summary

A close match between "two of the most consistent sides of the season", was expected to "rise above the average" in previews. It lived up to the billing, being described afterwards as "the best final at Dalymount Park for many years". The match was evenly contested throughout, with both sides creating chances. But Dundalk were defensively sound, and took their chances against a more nervous Shelbourne defence. They took the lead through Jackie Walsh in the 20th minute, after Shelbourne had made most of the early play. Shelbourne then had a shot deflected onto the post by Mike Skivington, before Dundalk scored a second through Ronnie Henderson in the 41st minute. In the second half Arthur Fitzsimmons hit the crossbar, before Jackie Walsh headed home his second, and Dundalk's third, to seal their second FAI Cup win.

Details

References

;Bibliography * * * * ;Citations {{Dundalk F.C. FAI Cup finals Fai Cup Final 1949 Fai Cup Final 1949 FAI Cup Final, 1949

FAI Cup Final The FAI Cup Final, known recently as the FAI Ford Cup Final for sponsorship reasons, is an annual soccer match which is the last game in the Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup. It is the culmination of a knock-out competition among clubs ...