1925–26 FAI Cup

Republic of Ireland FAI Cup FAI Cup 1925–26 Fordsons 1 62 16 1924-25 1926-27 The FAI Cup 1925-26Free State Cup 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 attendanceOfficial Attendance B of 25,000Record Attendance 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. First round Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate1Athlone Town4-0Brideville9 January 19262Bohemians0-0Shamrock Rovers9 January 1926replayShamrock Rovers2-2Bohemians16 January 1926replay(2)Shamrock Rovers2-0Bohemians20 January 19263Bray Unknowns5-2St James's Gate9 January 19264Fordsons2-2Shelbourne9 January 1926replayShelbourne1-2Fordsons16 January 19265Lindon4-2Pioneers9 January 19266Jacobs5-1Barrackton United10 January 1926 Second round Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate1Lindon1-1Jacobs23 January 1926replayJacobs4-2Lindon31 January 19262Athlone Town2-3Fordsons24 January 1926 ByeBray UnknownsByeShamrock Rovers Semi-finals 6 February, 1926 Shamrock Rovers 0–0 Jacobs Shelbourne Park, Dublin 21 February, 1926 Fordsons 4–1 Bray Unknowns Buckle Kelly Sullivan(2) Victoria Cross, Cork Replay 20 February, 1926 Shamrock Rovers 3–0 Jacobs Jordan Fullam Flood Dalymount Park, Dublin Final 17 March, 1926 Fordsons 3–2 Shamrock Rovers Barry(2) Roberts Farrell Fagan Dalymount Park, Dublin 25,000 Winner of FAI Cup 1925–26Fordsons1st Title Notes A. Free State Cup From 1923 to 1936, the FAI Cup was known as the Free State Cup. B. Official Attendance 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. Record Attendance 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 General Terry O'Rourke Sean Ryan Gillette book of the FAI CUP Irish Soccer Co-op 1985 External links FAI Website 1925-26 Category:1925–26 in Irish association football FAI Cup