The FAI Intermediate Cup (), also known as the FAI Umbro Intermediate Cup and the Pat O'Brien Intermediate Challenge Cup, is a cup competition organized by the Football Association of Ireland for intermediate association football clubs from the Republic of Ireland. These include clubs competing in the Leinster Senior League and the Munster Senior League. It was originally known as the FAI Qualifying Cup and from the beginning it has been used as a qualifying competition for the senior FAI Cup. It is currently sponsored by Umbro and has previously been sponsored by Carlsberg.

History

FAI Qualifying Cup The competition was originally known as the FAI Qualifying Cup before it was renamed the FAI Intermediate Cup at the start of the 1931–32 season. The cup's first winners were Drumcondra who beat Cobh Ramblers in the inaugural 1926–27 final. Drumcondra, who at the time were playing in the Leinster Senior League, subsequently went onto complete a cup double when they defeated Brideville 1–0 in the 1926–27 FAI Cup final. The competition continues to act a qualifying competition for the FAI Cup with clubs who reach the Round of Sixteen being invited to compete in the senior cup.

League of Ireland In addition to being the inaugural winners, Drumcondra were also the first of several future League of Ireland clubs to win the FAI Intermediate Cup. Cork Bohemians, Sligo Rovers, Longford Town, UCD, Cobh Ramblers, St Patricks Athletic, Albert Rovers, Bray Wanderers, Home Farm and Cork Hibernians, playing as AOH, all subsequently won the cup before joining the national league. Athlone Town were also finalists on one occasion. Jacobs, St. James's Gate and Transport all won the cup after leaving the League of Ireland. With five wins, Longford Town were the competitions most successful club until Bluebell United equalled their record in 1999–2000 and Avondale United surpassed it in 2013–14. The reserve teams of League of Ireland clubs have also won the cup on several occasions. These include Bohemians, Shelbourne, Drumcondra and St Patrick's Athletic. Limerick B and UCD Reserves were also runners up.

2000s and 2010s During the late 2000s and 2010s Avondale United and Crumlin United were the cup's most successful clubs. In 2013–14 Avondale United became only the second club after Distillery to win the cup four times in a row. In 2012 the FAI introduced a new cup, the Tom Hand Memorial Cup, which saw the winners of the FAI Intermediate Cup play off against the winners of the FAI Junior Cup. Avondale United won the inaugural match, defeating Sheriff Y.C. 2–1 at the AUL Complex. In 2014 it was announced that future finals would be hosted at the Aviva Stadium. The 2014–15 and 2015–16 finals were both played as double headers along with the FAI Junior Cup finals.

Finals Season Winner Score Runner-up Venue 2024–25 College Corinthians A.F.C. 2–1 (a.e.t.) Ringmahon Rangers Turners Cross, Cork 2023–24 Glebe North 3–2 (a.e.t.) Ringmahon Rangers Weavers Park, Drogheda 2022–23 Rockmount 1–1 (a.e.t.)4–3 (pen.)Cockhill Celtic The Showgrounds, Sligo 2021–22 Rockmount 2–0 Bluebell United Turners Cross, Cork 2020–21Unfinished due to Coronavirus pandemic 2019–20 St. Mochta's 2–1 Killester Donnycarney Tallaght Stadium, Dublin 2018–19 Avondale United 1–0 Crumlin United Aviva Stadium, Dublin 2017–18 Maynooth University Town 4–1 (a.e.t.) Firhouse Clover F.C. Aviva Stadium 2016–17 Liffey Wanderers 2–2 (a.e.t.) 5–4 (pen.) Cobh Wanderers Aviva Stadium 2015–16 Crumlin United 5–0 Letterkenny Rovers Aviva Stadium 2014–15 Crumlin United 4–0 Tolka Rovers Aviva Stadium 2013–14 Avondale United 3–0 UCD Reserves Turners Cross 2012–13 Avondale United 4–1 Bluebell United Richmond Park 2011–12 Avondale United 2–1 (a.e.t.) Cherry Orchard Tallaght Stadium 2010–11 Avondale United 1–0 (a.e.t.) Cherry Orchard Turners Cross 2009–10 Crumlin United 3–1 Avondale United Dalymount Park 2008–09 Crumlin United 3–2 Bluebell United Tallaght Stadium 2007–08 Rockmount 2–0 Douglas Hall Turners Cross 2006–07 Avondale United 1–0 Bangor Celtic Turners Cross 2005–06 Avondale United1–0 Blarney United 2004–05 Wayside Celtic1–0 Rockmount Carlisle Grounds 2003–04 Rockmount Bluebell United Richmond Park 2002–03 Belgrove (Dublin) Rockmount Turners Cross Replay Belgrove (Dublin) 2–1 Rockmount Whitehall Stadium 2001–02 Ashtown Villa 4–1 Cherry Orchard Dalymount Park 2000–01 Wayside Celtic 1–0 Ashtown Villa Dalymount Park 1999–2000 Bluebell United St. Marys 1998–99 Rockmount 2–0 Garda Turners Cross 1997–98 Cherry Orchard 2–1 College Corinthians 1996–97 Glenmore Celtic (Dublin) 1–0 Everton Turners Cross 1995–96 Wayside Celtic Fanad United 1994–95 Fanad United 1–0 College Corinthians Terryland Park 1993–94 Bluebell United Cherry OrchardTBC 1992–93 Bluebell United Wayside Celtic 1991–92 Pegasus (Dublin) Bluebell United 1990–91 Edenmore 2–0 St Joseph's Boys (Sallynoggin) Tolka Park 1989–90 Bluebell United Ballyfermot United (Ballyfermot) 1988–89 T.E.K. United 1–0 St. James's GateDalymount Park 1987–88 Fanad United 1–0 Tramore Athletic Dalymount Park 1986–87 Tramore Athletic Bank Rovers (Dublin) 1985–86 Crofton Celtic (Cork) Everton 1984–85 Bank Rovers (Dundalk) Hammond Lane (Dublin) 1983–84 Ballyfermot United (Ballyfermot) Bank Rovers (Dublin) 1982–83 Cobh Ramblers Bluebell United 1981–82 Bluebell United Tramore Athletic 1980–81 Tramore Athletic Ballyfermot United (Ballyfermot) 1979–80 Cobh Ramblers Tramore Athletic 1978–79 Tramore Athletic Swilly Rovers (Ramelton) 1977–78 Avondale United AIB 1976–77 Pegasus (Dublin) Bray Wanderers 1975–76 St. Brendans CIE Transport 1974–75 CYM Terenure (Terenure) Belgrove (Dublin) 1973–74 Transport T.E.K. United 1972–73 Dalkey United (Dalkey) Rialto (Dublin) 1971–72 CYM Terenure (Terenure) T.E.K. United 1970–71 Tullamore Town Bluebell United 1969–70 Rialto (Dublin) Home Farm 1968–69 Longford Town Transport 1967–68 Home Farm 0–0 Athlone Town St Mel's Park Replay Home Farm 1–0 Athlone Town Tolka Park 1966–67 Home Farm Tramore Athletic 1965–66 Transport Home Farm 1964–65 T.E.K. United Glasheen (Glasheen) 1963–64 Transport T.E.K. United 1962–63 Home Farm Limerick B 1961–62 Longford Town Home Farm 1960–61 Workmen's Club Jacobs 1959–60 Longford Town Bray Wanderers 1958–69 Albert Rovers 3–2 Bray Wanderers Rutland Avenue 1957–58 Bray Wanderers 3–2 Chapelizod (Chapelizod) 1956–57 Workmen's Club 2–1 AOH Turners Cross 1955–56 Bray Wanderers Workmen's Club 1954–55 Longford Town Workmen's Club 1953–54 Albert Rovers Jacobs 1952–53 St Patrick's Athletic Reserves Jacobs 1951–52 AOH Pike Rovers 1950–51 St. James's Gate Evergreen United 1949–50 Jacobs St Patricks Athletic 1948–49 St Patrick's Athletic Freebooters (Cork) 1947–48 St Patrick's Athletic Cobh Ramblers 1946–47 Drumcondra B Rockville (Cork) 1944–45 UCD 4–2 Cobh Ramblers Dalymount Park 1941–42 Distillery (Dublin) Cobh Ramblers 1940–41 Distillery (Dublin) Cork Bohemians 1939–40 Distillery (Dublin) Cobh Ramblers 1938–39 Distillery (Dublin) Cork Bohemians 1937–38 Terenure Athletic Cork Bohemians 1936–37 Longford Town Fearon's Athletic 1935–36 B and ISP G.S. Rlys (Cork) 1934–35 Tramore Rookies Bohemians Reserves 1933–34 Sligo Rovers Tramore Rookies 1932–33 Shelbourne B Cork Bohemians 1931–32 Bohemians Reserves Cork Bohemians 1930–31 Cork Bohemians Rossville 1929–30 Cahir Park (Cahir) 4–2 Glasnevin (Glasnevin) TBA 1928–29 Richmond United Fermoy (Fermoy) 1927–28 Cork Bohemians Strandville 1926–27 Drumcondra Cobh Ramblers

Sources:

List of winners by club Club Titles Seasons Avondale United 8 1977–78, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2018–19 Rockmount 5 1998–99, 2003–04, 2007–08, 2021-22, 2022-2023 Bluebell United 5 1981–82, 1989–90, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1999–2000 Longford Town 5 1936–37, 1954–55, 1959–60, 1961–62, 1968–69 Crumlin United 4 2008–09, 2009–10, 2014–15, 2015–16 Distillery (Dublin) 4 1938–39, 1939–40, 1940–41, 1941–42 Home Farm 3 1962–63, 1966–67, 1967–68 St Patrick's Athletic 3 1947–48, 1948–49, 1952–53 Tramore Athletic 3 1978–79, 1980–81, 1986–87 Transport 3 1963–64, 1965–66, 1973–74 Wayside Celtic 3 1995–96, 2000–01, 2004–05 Albert Rovers 2 1953–54, 1958–59 Bray Wanderers 2 1955–56, 1957–58 Cobh Ramblers 2 1979–80, 1982–83 Cork Bohemians 2 1927–28, 1930–31 CYM Terenure (Terenure) 2 1971–72, 1974–75 Drumcondra 2 1926–27, 1946–47 Fanad United 2 1987–88, 1994–95 Pegasus (Dublin) 2 1976–77, 1991–92 T.E.K. United 2 1964–65, 1988–89 Workmen's Club 2 1956–57, 1960–61 AOH 1 1951–52 Ashtown Villa 1 2001–02 Ballyfermot United (Ballyfermot) 1 1983–84 Bank Rovers (Dundalk) 1 1984–85 Belgrove (Dublin) 1 2002–03 Bohemians Reserves 1 1931–32 B and ISP 1 1935–36 Cahir Park (Cahir) 1 1929–30 Cherry Orchard 1 1997–98 College Corinthians 1 2024–25 Crofton Celtic (Cork) 1 1997–98 Dalkey United (Dalkey) 1 1972–73 Edenmore 1 1990–91 Glenmore Celtic (Dublin) 1 1996–97 Jacobs 1 1949–50Liffey Wanderers12016–2017 Maynooth University Town 1 2017–18 Rialto (Dublin) 1 1969–70 Richmond United 1 1928–29 St. Brendans CIE 1 1975–76 St James's Gate 1 1950–51 Shelbourne B 1 1932–33 Sligo Rovers 1 1933–34 Terenure Athletic 1 1937–38 Tramore Rookies 1 1934–35 Tullamore Town 1 1970–71 UCD 1 1945–46

References