Dundalk FC: The FAI Cup — In Numbers
281
Dundalk have played 281 FAI Cup matches, won 128, lost 83 and drawn 70.
6
The number of times that three or more FAI Cup goals have been scored by Dundalk players. Ger McCarthy, in the 7–1 away victory over Monaghan in 2005 was the last Dundalk FAI Cup hat-trick. The last time that Oriel Park patrons celebrated a Cup hat-trick was in 1997 when Joe Gallen did the trick against non-league Whitehall Rangers in a 5–1 win.
7
Dundalk’s biggest goal concession was a 7–0 loss in 1964 when Shamrock Rovers tore the Lilywhites apart in Milltown. The memory of it still hurts!
19
The club record for goals scored in a single campaign, set in 1951–52, took six games to achieve and included two replays, against Waterford in the semi-final and against Cork Athletic in the final. The current season’s 15 goals after four games threatens the 1952 19-goal high water mark.
5
The club record for most goals scored in a single campaign stands at five goals and this record is shared by five players: Jerry McCourt (1930–31), Johnny Fearon and Joe Martin (1951–52), Ronnie Henderson (1948–49) and Gary Haylock (2001–02).
14
Joey Donnelly’s 14 game FAI career goals leads the all-time goalscorer’s list and he is followed on nine goals by Paddy Barlow, Eddie Carroll and Jerry McCourt.
56
Martin Lawlor’s 56 appearances put him top of the FAI Cup games appearances chart and he is followed by Joey Donnelly (52), Tom McConville (49), Tom McNulty (35), and Richie Blackmore (34).
Get Gavin McLaughlin’s stories in your inbox
Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.
37
Since drawing Cork Bohemians in the Cup way back in 1930, Dundalk have been drawn with a succession of Cork based clubs in 37 encounters, the most recent being the 2006 meeting with Cobh Ramblers. Dundalk have won 16, lost 12 and drawn nine of these games.
11
This, we think, is the number of Cork teams Dundalk have played in the FAI Cup: Cork Bohemians, Cork, Cork United (1), Cork Athletic, AOH (Cork), Evergreen United, Cork Hibernian, Albert Rovers, Cork Celtic, Cork United (2) and Cobh Ramblers.
7
On the way to winning their nine FAI Cups, Dundalk have defeated Cork opposition in seven campaigns: 1941–42 Cork United; 1948–49 Cork Athletic; 1951–52 AOH and Cork Athletic; 1957–58 Cork Hibernians; 1976–77 Cork Celtic; 1978–79 Cork Alberts; 1987–88 Cork City.
5910
The largest official attendance for on Oriel Park FAI Cup game, recorded for a first round, first leg tie against Shamrock Rovers in March 1946 that ended 2–2 but Rovers won the Milltown second leg, 1–0, to progress to the second round.
9000+
According to the Irish Press match report, the attendance at the March 1959 second round tie at Oriel Park with Waterford was “slightly over 9,000”. An Alfie Hale injury time goal saw Waterford advance on a 2–1 scoreline but in the replayed final they lost to St Patrick’s Athletic on the same scoreline.
8
The 1987–88 campaign saw the club play the highest number of FAI Cup games in a single season. The eight games included a first round replay against Sligo Rovers, Bray Wanderers were the next round opponents, a third round replay against Cork City, a two-legged semi-final against St Patrick’s Athletic before finishing against Derry City in the final.
4
Four players have scored two FAI Cup final goals, all in winning finals: Artie Kelly in 1942; Johnny Walsh in 1949; Terry Flanagan in 1977 and Gary Haylock in 2002.
3
Three sets of brothers have lined out with Dundalk in FAI Cup finals. The Godwins, Tommy and Gerry, lost out in the high-scoring 4–3 1935 final against Bohemians while the McConville brothers, Tommy and Brian, got winner’s medals after the 2–0 victory over Limerick in 1977. The Lawlors, Mick and Martin, played in the 1979 win over Waterford.
