The FAI Junior Cup is a cup competition organised by the Football Association of Ireland for amateur junior association football clubs from the Republic of Ireland. The competition also serves as a qualifier for the senior FAI Cup with the eight quarter-finalists all invited to take part in the FAI Cup.

According to the FAI, the Junior Cup is one of the largest national amateur cup competitions in Europe. The 2011–12 competition had 597 clubs participate and the 2012–13 competition saw an estimated 600 clubs enter the cup. The inaugural winners were Brideville. The competition's most successful club is Fairview Rangers of the Limerick & District League who have been winners ten times.

History Early years Originally known as the Free State Junior Cup, the competition's first winners were Brideville who beat Cobh Ramblers in the inaugural 1923–24 final. Brideville and Cobh Ramblers also became the first of several future League of Ireland members to feature in an FAI Junior Cup final. Sligo Rovers, Evergreen United, St Patrick's Athletic, Bray Wanderers, Home Farm, Finn Harps and St Francis all won the cup before joining the national league. Drogheda United were finalists on four occasions but never winners while Athlone Town won the cup twice during the 1930s after dropping out of the League of Ireland. The competition continued to be known as the Free State Junior Cup until at least 1941.

In 2000, the competition had 700 teams enter.

Recent finals On 2 June 2013 the FAI Junior Cup final was played at the Aviva Stadium for the first time. It was played before a friendly international between the Republic of Ireland and Georgia. In 2013 Aviva joined Umbro as sponsors of the FAI Junior Cup and as part of the arrangement all the finals since then have been played at the Aviva Stadium. Sheriff Y.C. became the first club to win the cup following a final at the Aviva. The 2014–15 and 2015–16 finals were both played as double headers along with the FAI Intermediate Cup finals.

Television coverage TV coverage debuted on TG4 and Setanta Sports in 2014 from the quarter-finals stage. Irish TV replaced TG4 as free-to-air broadcaster in 2015, and all three channels showed coverage in 2016, again from the quarter-finals stage.

In a major change, the 2016–17 season saw coverage begin with the third round in October, running on the newly renamed eir Sport, IrishTV until its closure in March 2017, and TG4 from the quarter-finals stage.

FAI Senior Cup The semi-finalists of the Junior Cup have traditionally been invited to play in the preliminary rounds of the FAI Senior Cup. In April 2024, this was officially changed to grant the four semi-finalists automatic qualification into the FAI Cup. The number of clubs increased ahead of the 2025 season, with all 8 quarter-finalists from the FAI Junior Cup now eligible.

In August 2025, the FAI announced that the Junior Cup would move to a calendar season, in line with the League of Ireland and the FAI Senior Cup.

List of finals

SeasonWinnersResultRunner-UpVenue2026 Competition played in calendar season https://www.fai.ie/latest/fai-announces-calendar-season-alignment-major-amateur-cup-competitions/Coachford A.F.C. (Cork)2–1Evergreen (Kilkenny)Turners Cross2024–25Fairview Rangers4–1North End United (Wexford)Turners Cross2023–24Cockhill Celtic1–1 Cockhill Celtic won the 2023–24 final 3–1 on penalties.Gorey RangersEamonn Deacy Park2022–23Newmarket Celtic (Clare)1–1 Newmarket Celtic won the 2022–23 final 5–4 on penalties.St. Michael's Jackman Park2021–22Villa F.C.1–0 Pike RoversTurners Cross2020–21Competition not held due to Coronavirus pandemic2019–20Fairview Rangers1–0Usher Celtic (Dublin)Eamonn Deacy Park2018–19 St. Michael's1–0 Sheriff Y.C.Eamonn Deacy Park2017–18 North End United (Wexford)1–1 North End United won the 2017–18 final 5–4 on penalties.Pike RoversAviva Stadium2016–17 Sheriff Y.C.2–0 Evergreen (Kilkenny) Aviva Stadium2015–16 Sheriff Y.C. 1–0 Pike RoversAviva Stadium 2014–15 Liffey Wanderers2–1 Sheriff Y.C. Aviva Stadium2013–14 St. Michael's4–0Ballynanty Rovers (Limerick)Aviva Stadium2012–13 Sheriff Y.C.0–0 Sheriff Y.C. won the 2012–13 final 5–4 on penaltiesKilbarrack UnitedAviva Stadium 2011–12 Sheriff Y.C.3–1Kilbarrack UnitedTolka Park 2010–11 Pike Rovers2–1St. Michael'sTurners Cross 2009–10 Fairview Rangers0–0 Fairview Rangers won the 2009–10 final 5–3 on penaltiesSt. Michael'sTurners Cross2008–09 Ballymun United2–0St. Peter's (Athlone)Tolka Park2007–08 Carrick United (Tipperary)2–1Killester UnitedWaterford RSC2006–07 Killester United3–0St. John Bosco (Dublin) Dalymount Park2005–06 Waterford Crystal 1–0AthenryTerryland Park2004–05 Westport United2–0Waterford CrystalBuckley Park2003–04 Fairview Rangers3–0Carrick United (Tipperary) Waterford RSC2002–03 Fairview Rangers 2–0Portmarnock A.F.C. Tolka Park2001–02 Fairview Rangers 4–2 (Replay) St. Michael's The Fairgreen, Limerick2–2Turners Cross2000–01 Ballymun United 3–0St. Kevin's Boys Tolka Park1999–2000 Portmarnock A.F.C. 2–0 St Michael's Tolka Park1998–99 Fairview Rangers1–0 (Replay) Ballymun United Woodfield Park, Birr1–11997–98 Fairview Rangers 2–0Waterford Crystal TBD1996–97 Fairview Rangers Portmarnock FC TBD1995–96 Bohemians (Waterford) Mungret Regional TBD1994–95 Cherry Orchard 0–0 (Replay) Kilmore United Tolka Park1.1Tolka Park1993–94 Clonmel Town5–1New Ross Celtic (Wexford)1992–93 Kinvara Boys St. Kevin's Boys F.C. Tolka Park1991–92 Neilstown Rangers Rosemount 1990–91 Cherry Orchard 1.0 Donaghmede Celtic 1989–90 Cherry Orchard 2–0 Avenue United (Clare) Dalymount Park1988–89 Tolka Rovers Waterford Bohemians 1987–88 Usher Celtic Beggsboro 1986–87 Cherry Orchard 1–0 Temple United (Cork) Dublin1985–86 Cherry Orchard 2.0 Usher Celtic 1984–85 Cherry Orchard2.1 St. Kevin's Boys F.C. Tolka Park1983–84 Beggsboro Evergreen (Kilkenny) 1982–83 St Francis 3–1 (R)Ballynanty Rovers (Limerick) Jackman Park (R)1–1Tolka Park1981–82 Cherry Orchard 2–0Diamond Celtic (Dublin) Tolka Park1980–81 St Teresa's Belgrave 1979–80 East Wall United Arbour United 1978–79 St. Patrick's C.Y.M.S. East Wall United 1977–78 Inchicore FAI Yearbook & Diary 1995 lists the team as Inchicore Athletic. Other sources, including the Aviva Stadium website, list the team as Inchicore United 3.0 Cherry Orchard 1976–77 Dunleary Celtic Dingle United 1975–76 Whitehall Rangers 2–0Ballynanty Rovers (Limerick) 1974–75 Dunleary Celtic Arbour United 1973–74 St. Michael's 3–1 (a.e.t.)Tolka Rovers Tolka Park1972–73 Tolka Rovers St. Patrick's C.Y.M.S. 1971–72 Talbot United (Dublin) 3–1 St. Mary's (Cork) Tolka Park1970–71 Hoganville (Dublin) 2–1 Caledonians (Limerick) 1969–70 Caledonians (Limerick) Tolka Rovers 1968–69 St Francis Talbot United 1967–68 Finn Harps Telephones United (Dublin) 1966–67 Swilly Rovers (Donegal) Orchard United (Dublin) 1965–66 East Wall United (Dublin) 3–2 Everton (Cork) Dalymount Park1964–65 Fairview Rangers 3–0 (R) Douglas (Cork) Markets Field (R)1–1Turners Cross1963–64 East Wall United (Dublin) Swilly Rovers (Donegal) TBC1962–63 T.E.K. United3–1 Blackrock (Cork)Dalymount Park1961–62 Swilly Rovers (Donegal) 3–1 Castleview (Cork) Dalymount Park1960–61 Valley United Hibernians (Waterford) 1959–60 Pearse Rangers (Dublin) Hibernians (Waterford) 1958–59 St Saviours Glenmore Celtic 1957–58 Virginians Swilly Rovers (Donegal)1956–57 Belgrove Virginians 1955–56 Grange United Bohemians (Waterford) 1954–55 Home Farm Belgrove 1953–54 Bray Wanderers1–0IerneDalymount Park 1952–53 Evergreen (Waterford) 3–1 Swilly Rovers (Donegal)Dalymount Park 1951–52 Rathfarnham Bohemians (Waterford) 1950–51 Bray Wanderers2–1Drogheda UnitedDalymount Park 1949–50 Griffith Rangers Irish Raleigh 1948–49 Rathfarnham Caledonians (Limerick) 1947–48 St Paul's (Cork) Pike Rovers 1946–47 Hibernians (Waterford) Iona C.Y.M.S. (Dublin) 1945–46 St. Patrick's C.Y.M.S. Rathfarnham 1944–45 Rockville (Cork) Wembley Rovers (Limerick)1943–44 Coastal Defence (Cork) Drogheda United 1942–43 No competition 1941–42 Distillery B (Dublin) Drogheda United 1940–41 St Patrick's Athletic Galway Bohemians1939–40 Drumcondra Juniors Drogheda United 1938–39 Drumcondra Juniors 4-0Killybegs (Donegal) Dalymount Park1937–38 Athlone Town2–0Bendigo United (Dublin)Tolka Park 1936–37 Amiens Celtic St. Patrick's (Dundalk) 1935–36 Evergreen United 2-1 Irish Press 1931-1995, Monday, 11 May 1936; Page: 11 Shelbourne Dalymount Park 1934–35 Athlone TownIrish Independent 1905-current, Monday, May 20, 1935; Page: 13 3–0 Evergreen UnitedDalymount Park 1933–34 B&IIrish Press 1931-1995, Monday, 7 May 1934; Page: 11 2–1 Cobh Wanderers Dalymount Park 1932–33 Queen's ParkIrish Independent 1905–current, Monday, 22 May 1933; Page: 13 1–0 Amiens Celtic Rutland Avenue1931–32 Clontarf CorinthiansIrish Independent 1905–current, Monday, 2 May 1932; Page: 13 2–1 Southern Rovers Dalymount Park1930–31 Distillery (Dublin)Irish Independent 1905–current, Monday, 11 May 1931; Page: 13 1–0 Southern Rovers Harold's Cross 1929–30 RossvilleIrish Independent 1905–current, Monday, 19 May 1930; Page: 12 2–0 Bohemians "C" Dalymount Park1928–29 Sligo Rovers3–0GrangegormanThe Showgrounds (Sligo) 1927–28 Richmond UnitedIrish Independent 1905–current, Monday, 30 April 1928; Page: 11 3–0 Cahir Unknowns Tolka Park1926–27 Richmond UnitedIrish Independent 1905–current, Monday, 16 May 1927; Page: 10 4–1 Bohemians "C" Dalymount Park1925–26 BrunswickIrish Independent 1905–current, Monday, 10 May 1926; Page: 10 1–0 St. Vincents (Cork) Victoria Cross, Cork1924–25 St. Mary's UnitedIrish Independent 1905–current, Monday, 11 May 1925; Page: 10 3–2 Sligo Celtic St James' Park1923–24 BridevilleIrish Independent 1905–current, Monday, 19 May 1924; Page: 7 1–0 Cobh Ramblers Victoria Cross, Cork

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