The FAI Cup 1925-26[A] was the fifth edition of Ireland's premier cup competition, The Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup or FAI Cup. The tournament began on 9 January 1926 and concluded on 17 March with the final held at Dalymount Park, Dublin. An official attendance[B] of 25,000[C] people watched inspirational goalkeeper Bill O'Hagan guide Fordsons to their first and only FAI Cup title by defeating the defending champions Shamrock Rovers.

1925–26 FAI Cup
FAI Cup
Tournament details
CountryRepublic of Ireland
Final positions
ChampionsFordsons (1st title)
Tournament statistics
Matches played16
Goals scored62 (3.88 per match)
← 1924-25
1926-27 →

First round

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Tie no Home team Score Away team Date
1 Athlone Town 4-0 Brideville 9 January 1926
2 Bohemians 0-0 Shamrock Rovers 9 January 1926
replay Shamrock Rovers 2-2 Bohemians 16 January 1926
replay(2) Shamrock Rovers 2-0 Bohemians 20 January 1926
3 Bray Unknowns 5-2 St James's Gate 9 January 1926
4 Fordsons 2-2 Shelbourne 9 January 1926
replay Shelbourne 1-2 Fordsons 16 January 1926
5 Lindon 4-2 Pioneers 9 January 1926
6 Jacobs 5-1 Barrackton United 10 January 1926

Second round

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Tie no Home team Score Away team Date
1 Lindon 1-1 Jacobs 23 January 1926
replay Jacobs 4-2 Lindon 31 January 1926
2 Athlone Town 2-3 Fordsons 24 January 1926
Bye Bray Unknowns
Bye Shamrock Rovers

Semi-finals

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Fordsons4–1Bray Unknowns
Buckle
Kelly
Sullivan(2)
Victoria Cross, Cork

Replay

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Final

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Fordsons3–2Shamrock Rovers
Barry(2)
Roberts
Farrell
Fagan
Attendance: 25,000
Winner of FAI Cup 1925–26
Fordsons
1st Title

Notes

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A. ^ From 1923 to 1936, the FAI Cup was known as the Free State Cup.

B. ^ Attendances were calculated using gate receipts which limited their accuracy as a large proportion of people, particularly children, attended football matches in Ireland throughout the 20th century for free by a number of means. However, in the instances of capacity crowds attending, this practice might not have been as common as usual or have had as large an effect on actual attendances.

C. ^ The official attendance of 25,000 was a record for the first five FAI Cup finals and the joint highest official attendance for the first ten.

References

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General
  • Terry O'Rourke, Sean Ryan (1985). Gillette book of the FAI CUP. Irish Soccer Co-op.
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