1949 FAI Cup Final

Event	1948–49 FAI Cup
Dundalk Shelbourne 3 0
Date	10 April 1949
Venue	Dalymount Park, Dublin
Referee	E. Roland
Attendance	28,539
← 1948 1950 →

The 1949 FAI Cup Final was the final match of the 1948–49 FAI Cup, a knock-out association football competition contested annually by clubs affiliated with the Football Association of Ireland. It took place on Sunday 10 April 1949 at Dalymount Park in Dublin, and was contested by Dundalk and Shelbourne. Dundalk won 3–0 to win their second FAI Cup.

Both sides had finished level on 23 points in the League – six points behind champions Drumcondra. Shelbourne had defeated Dundalk to win the League of Ireland Shield earlier in the season,^[1] and defeated non-League Freebooters, St Patrick's Athletic and Waterford to make the final.

Dundalk had won the season opening Dublin City Cup the previous September, topping its league format unbeaten, which was their first trophy since 1942–43.^[2] To reach the final they had defeated Cork Athletic (4–1), had a bye in the next round, then defeated Drumcondra in the semi-final (2–1 in a replay following a 2–2 draw).^[3] The two sides went into the match with identical records in previous FAI Cup finals - one win and three defeats apiece.^[4]

A close match between "two of the most consistent sides of the season", was expected to "rise above the average" in previews.^[5] It lived up to the billing, being described afterwards as "the best final at Dalymount Park for many years". The match was evenly contested throughout, with both sides creating chances. But Dundalk were defensively sound, and took their chances against a more nervous Shelbourne defence. They took the lead through Jackie Walsh in the 20th minute, after Shelbourne had made most of the early play. Shelbourne then had a shot deflected onto the post by Mike Skivington, before Dundalk scored a second through Ronnie Henderson in the 41st minute. In the second half Arthur Fitzsimmons hit the crossbar, before Jackie Walsh headed home his second, and Dundalk's third, to seal their second FAI Cup win.^[6][7]

10 April 1949

15:30

Dundalk	3–0[8]	Shelbourne
Jackie Walsh 20' Ronnie Henderson 41' Jackie Walsh 68'	Report

Dalymount Park, Dublin

Attendance: 28,539^[6]

Referee: E. Roland

Dundalk

Shelbourne

GK Alex Anderson RFB Johnny Fearon LFB John Maguire RHB Philip Murphy CHB Mike Skivington LHB Johnny Matthews (c) OR Peadar Walsh IR Danny McElhinney CF Ronnie Henderson IL Edward Hamilton OL Jackie Walsh

GK Norman Tapken RFB John Murphy LFB Sean Haughey RHB Richard Rooney CHB Shay Nolan LHB Peter Keely OR Martin Colfer IR Arthur Fitzsimons CF Brendan Carroll IL Peter Desmond OL Gerry Malone

Bibliography

• Murphy, Jim (2003). The History of Dundalk F.C.: The First 100 Years. Dundalgan Press. ASIN B0042SO3R2.
• MacSweeney, Niall (1985). A Record of League of Ireland Football 1921/2 - 1984/5. Association of Football Statisticians. ASIN B008H2CBJQ.
• Ryan, Sean; Dunne, Noel (24 October 1975). The Bass Book of Irish Soccer. Mercier Press. ISBN 9780853424505.
• Graham, Alex. Football in the Republic of Ireland a Statistical Record 1921–2005. Soccer Books Limited. ISBN 1-86223-135-4.

Citations