1981 FAI Cup final

October 2020 October 2020 1981 FAI Cup final 1980–81 FAI Cup 1981 FAI Cup Final Official Programme Cover.png Dundalk 2 Sligo Rovers 0 26 April 1981 Dalymount Park Dublin Paddy Mulhall 12,000 1980 1982 The 1981 FAI Cup final was the final match of the 1980–81 FAI Cup, 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. 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, with Dundalk winning both matches – including a 3–0 victory in The Showgrounds in Sligo two weeks earlier. Dundalk had finished as runners-up in the 1980–81 League of Ireland, and had already won that season's League Cup.https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=CTT%2F1981%2F01%2F09&id=Ar00110&sk=E8EDE750 Heartbreak for Rovers in Dundalk Brendan Carroll Connacht Tribune 9 January 1981 30 April 2019 Irish Newspaper Archives To reach the final they had defeated non-League Hammond Lane (1–0), St Patrick's Athletic (2–0 in a replay following a 1–1 draw), Drogheda United (1–0 in a replay following a 0–0 draw), and Finn Harps (1–0).Jim Murphy The History of Dundalk F.C.: The First 100 Years Dundalgan Press 2003 315 B0042SO3R2 Sligo Rovers were the underdogs, having finished 11th in the League, and were playing in their fifth FAI Cup final. They had 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.MacSweeney Niall A Record of League of Ireland Football 1921/2 - 1984/5 Association of Football Statisticians 1985 B008H2CBJQ The match was not broadcast live. Highlights were shown that evening on the RTÉ show Sports Scene, with commentary from Jimmy Magee.October 2020 Match Summary Dundalk were made heavy favourites going into the match, which both managers sought to use as motivation for their players.Faiers David Experience is Dundalk's trump card Evening Herald 24 April 1981 13 The match, described in press reports as "wind-spoiled",Dunne Noel Dundalk 2; Sligo Rovers 0 https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=IND%2F1981%2F04%2F27&id=Ar01305&sk=603CF7A4 28 October 2019 Irish Independent 27 April 1981 had an undistinguished 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.Moffatt Mel Dundalk Cash In On Freak Score https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=IPR%2F1981%2F04%2F27&id=Ar01802&sk=77AA7514 28 October 2019 Irish Press 27 April 1981 Details 26 April 1981 15:30 Dundalk 2–0Ireland FAI Cup (1921-1994) https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iercuphistfull.html RSSSF 21 October 2019 Report Sligo Rovers John Archbold 52Mick Fairclough 78 Dalymount Park, Dublin 12,000 Paddy Mulhall _blackborder _collarwhite _blackborder _3_stripes_black FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF 000000 FFFFFF Dundalk _red_stripes _white_stripes _white_stripes DD0000 FFFFFF DD0000 DD0000 DD0000 _3_stripes_white Sligo Rovers GK ENG Richie BlackmoreRB IRL Tommy McConvilleCB IRL Dermot KeelyCB IRL Paddy DunningLB IRL Martin Lawlor 66RM NZL Sean ByrneCM IRL Leo FlanaganCM IRL Vincent McKennaLM IRL John ArchboldCF IRL Mick FaircloughCF IRL Willie Crawley 79Substitutes:MF NIR Tony O'Doherty 66MF IRL Brian Duff 79Manager:NIR Jim McLaughlin GK IRL Declan McIntyreRB IRL Michael FerryCB IRL Paddy SheridanCB NIR Donal O'Doherty 83LB IRL Charlie McGeeverRM IRL Liam Patton 80CM IRL Tony FaganCM IRL Gerry DohertyLM IRL Harry McLaughlin CF IRL Brendan BradleyCF IRL Jimmy McGroartySubstitutes:MF IRL Pat Coyle 80MF IRL Martin McDonnell 83Manager:IRL Patsy McGowan References Bibliography Jim Murphy The History of Dundalk F.C.: The First 100 Years Dundalgan Press 2003 B0042SO3R2 MacSweeney Niall A Record of League of Ireland Football 1921/2 - 1984/5 Association of Football Statisticians 1985 B008H2CBJQ Graham Alex Football in the Republic of Ireland a Statistical Record 1921–2005 Soccer Books Limited 1-86223-135-4 Citations External links RTE's match highlights on YouTube Category:FAI Cup finals Fai Cup Final 1981 Fai Cup Final 1981 FAI Cup Final, 1981 FAI Cup Final Category:1980–81 in Republic of Ireland association football