The 1985 FAI Cup final was the final match of the 1984–85 FAI Cup, a knockout association football competition contested annually by clubs affiliated with the Football Association of Ireland. It took place on Sunday 28 April 1985 at Dalymount Park in Dublin, and was contested by Shamrock Rovers and Galway United. Rovers won the match 1–0, winning the cup for the 22nd time and in the process winning the double.
Background Shamrock Rovers had lost the previous years' final 2–1 to UCD after a replay. For Galway United it was their first-ever time reaching the FAI Cup final having only joined the League of Ireland 8 years earlier. That season, Rovers won both encounters between the sides 1–0 in the league in a season where they won the league, and Galway finished the season in 6th.
Route to the final
Shamrock RoversRound Galway UnitedOpponentScoreOpponentScoreBohemians0–0 (A)First roundAvondale United4–0 (A)0–0 (H)Replay-1–0 (H)2nd Replay-Drogheda United3–2 (A)Quarter-finalsShelbourne0–0 (A)-Replay4–1 (H)Athlone Town2–1 (H)Semi-finalsLimerick City2–2 (A)-Replay1–0 (H)Note: In all results above, the score of the finalist is given first (H: home; A: away).
Match Details
GK Jody ByrneDF Jacko McDonaghDF Kevin BradyDF Dermot KeelyDF Mick NevilleDF John CoadyMF Noel KingMF Liam O'BrienMF Pat ByrneFW Mick ByrneFW Noel LarkinManager: Jim McLaughlin GK Tom LallyDF Brian GardinerDF Denis BonnerDF Jimmy NolanDF Kevin CassidyDF Eamonn DeacyMF Gerry DalyMF John MannionMF Martin McDonnellFW Paul MurphyFW Johnny Glynn Substitutes:MF Noel Mernagh Managers: Tony Mannion & Tom Lally
Aftermath The winner of this match would receive a spot in the European Cup Winners' Cup, however Rovers qualified for the European Cup as a result of winning the league. As a result of this, the Cup Winners' Cup spot was given to the losing finalists, Galway United.
Shamrock Rovers would go on to win the cup again in 1986 and 1987. The same final would take place between Galway United and Shamrock Rovers in 1991 at Lansdowne Road, on that occasion Galway came out as 1–0 winners.
See also 1991 FAI Cup final – contested by same teams
References
External links