The FAI Youth Cup, also known as the FAI Umbro Youth Challenge Cup, is a cup competition organised by the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) for under-18 association football teams in the Republic of Ireland.
Originally known as the Free State Minor Cup, and later the FAI Minor Cup, the first competition was held in 1934–35 and the inaugural winners were Greenmount Rangers. The competition's most successful club has been Home Farm who have won the cup eleven times. They have also been finalists on a further seven occasions. In 1964–65 Home Farm provided both finalists; an A team, featuring Terry Conroy and Billy Newman, played a Home Farm B team in the final at Tolka Park. The cup is currently sponsored by Umbro. In August 2025, the FAI announced the competition would move to a calendar season format.
List of finals Date Winner Score Runners-up Venue2024–25College Corinthians2–1Mervue UnitedEamonn Deacy Park2023–24St. Kevin's3–0Pike RoversWhitehall Stadium 2022–23 St. Joseph’s A.F.C (Dublin) 1–0 College Corinthians Carlisle Grounds2021–22Douglas Hall (Cork)3–2Ringmahon Rangers (Cork)Turners Cross 2019–20 Killarney Celtic3–3 (3–2P) Douglas Hall (Cork) Mounthawk Park2018–19Mervue United4–0Stella MarisEamonn Deacy Park 2017–18 Tramore AFC 1–0 Carrigaline United AFCTurners Cross Information appears to be taken from the U17 FAI Cup final. 2016–17 Leeside AFC 6–0 Aisling AnnacrottyJackman Park2015–16 Ballincollig (Cork)3–1Ringmahon Rangers (Cork)Turners Cross2014–15 Bohemians U184–0Kilreen Celtic (Cork)Pearse Park2013–14 Nenagh A.F.C. (Tipperary)1–1 Nenagh A.F.C. won 4–2 on penalties Evergreen (Kilkenny)The Prince Grounds, Castlecomer 2012–13 Castleview (Cork)4–0Castlebar CelticTurners Cross 2011–12 Wexford Youths2–1 (a.e.t.)Mount Merrion (Dublin)2010–11 Cork City4–1Killarney CelticTurners Cross 2009–10 Fairview Rangers1–0Mervue UnitedJackman Park2008–09 Cork City 2–1Salthill DevonTurners Cross2007–08 Wexford Youths4–0DundalkFerrycarrig Park 2006–07 Castlebar Celtic2–1Everton A.F.C.Milebush Park, Castlebar 2005–06 Cork City Rangers CYM 2004–05 Belvedere4–1 Sligo Rovers U19Richmond Park2003–04 Erris United (Mayo)3–0 Letterkenny RoversMilebush Park, Castlebar2002–03 Tolka Rovers1–1 Fenit Samphires (Kerry)ReplayTolka Rovers2–1 (a.e.t.) Fenit Samphires (Kerry) 2001–02 Bohemians U19 Peake Villa (Thurles)2000–01 St Joseph's Boys St. Kevin's Boys TBC1999–2000Cork City 3–1 Peake Villa (Thurles)Cooke Park1998–99 Belvedere Bohemians U19 1997–98 Tralee Dynamos2–1Stella MarisMounthawk Park 1996–97 Drogheda United U19 St. Joseph's Boys 1995–96 Home Farm Cloughleigh Celtic (Clare) 1994–95 St. Michael's Salthill Devon U19 1993–94 Stella Marishttp://www.fai.ie lists Stella Maris as 1993–94 winners. The FAI Yearbook & Diary 1995 omits the 1993–94 final. Other sources, including the Tipperary Southern & District Football League website, claim St. Michael's won the cup in both 1993–94 and 1994–95 St. Michael's 1992–93 Cherry Orchard Rangers 1991–92 Rangers St. Michael's 1990–91 Belvedere 3-0 East End United (Kilkenny) 1989–90 Cherry Orchard Milford United FAI Yearbook & Diary 1995 lists runners-up as Wilton United while www.fai.ie lists runners-up as Milford United 1988–89 Dungarvan United Milford United 1987–88 Rivermount Boys Wembley Rovers 1986–87 Tolka Rovers Rivermount Boys 1985–86 St Malachy's Dundalk U19 1984–85 Home Farm Ballynanty Rovers (Limerick) 1983–84 Athlone Town3–2Home Farm 1982–83 Home Farm 2-1,Athlone Town1981–82 Tramore Athletic3–0Athlone Town St Mel's Park1980–81 St. John Bosco Buncrana Hearts 1979–80 Tramore Athletic Home Farm A 1978–79 Fanad United3–1ShelbourneSwilly Park1977–78 St Joseph's Boys Bohemians (Waterford) 1976–77 Cambridge Boys Tramore Athletic 1975–76 Cambridge Boys Home Farm 1974–75 Ballynanty Rovers (Limerick) 2–0Wembley (Cork) 1973–74 Stella Maris Shelbourne 1972–73 Santos Drogheda United U19 1971–72 Drogheda United U19 St. John Bosco 1970–71 Drogheda United U19 Shelbourne U19 1969–70 Bolton Athletic 1 - 0 Bohemians U191968–69 Shelbourne U19 Johnville F.C. (Dublin) 1967–68 Home Farm St Francis Boys Club1966–67 Wembley (Cork) Home Farm 1965–66 Glasheen (Cork) Shelbourne U19 1964–65 Home Farm A Home Farm B Tolka Park1963–64 Southend United (Dublin) Glasheen (Cork) 1962–63 Southend United (Dublin) Tower Rovers (Cork) 1961–62 Home Farm Tramore Athletic 1960–61 Shelbourne U19 Shamrock Rovers U19 1959–60 Drumcondra Minors Sligo FAI Yearbook & Diary 1995 lists runners-up as Sligo United while www.fai.ie lists runners-up as Sligo Rovers U19 1958–59 Shelbourne U19 Glasheen (Cork) 1957–58 Tramore Athletic2–0Johnville F.C. (Dublin)Turners Cross1956–57 Glasheen (Cork) Athlone Town 1955–56 Drumcondra Minors Pike Rovers 1954–55 Tower Rovers (Cork) Drumcondra Minors 1953–54 Glasheen (Cork) Home Farm 1952–53 Johnville F.C. (Dublin) Glasheen (Cork) 1951–52 Home Farm Tower Rovers (Cork) 1950–51 Home Farm Tower Rovers (Cork) 1949–50 Pike Rovers Johnville F.C. (Dublin) 1948–49 Evergreen United Donore 1947–48 Home Farm Stella Maris 1946–47 Bohemians (Waterford) Haverty Rangers 1945–46 Johnville F.C. (Dublin) Bohemians U19 1944–45 St Patrick's Athletic U19 Bohemians U191943–44 Home Farm 1942–43 No competition 1941–42 Rossville Minors (Cork) Western Rovers 1940–41 Rossville Minors (Cork) Munster Victoria1939–40 Rossville Minors A.F.C. (Dublin) Munster Victoria 1938–39 Evergreen United Sligo United 1937–38 Glencourt Home Home Farm 1936–37 Home Farm Rockville Minors (Cork)1935–36 Home Farm Drogheda United U191934–35 Greenmount Rangers (Cork) (Replay) Drogheda United U19Dalymount ParkTBC :
Notes
See also FAI Junior Cup
References