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1981 FAI Cup Final
Event	1980–81 FAI Cup
Date	26 April 1981
Venue	Dalymount Park, Dublin
Referee	Paddy Mulhall
Attendance	12,000
	← 1980 1982 →

The 1981 FAI Cup Final was the final match of the 1980–81 FAI Cup, a knock-out association football competition contested annually by clubs affiliated with the Football Association of Ireland. It took place on Sunday 26 April 1981 at Dalymount Park in Dublin, and was contested by Dundalk and Sligo Rovers. The competition was sponsored by Mitre. Dundalk won the match 2–0 to win the cup for the seventh time.

Background

The two sides' two previous meetings that season had been in the League, with Dundalk winning both matches – including a 3–0 victory in The Showgrounds in Sligo two weeks earlier. Dundalk had finished as runners-up in the 1980–81 League of Ireland, and had already won that season's League Cup.^[1] To reach the final they had defeated non-League Hammond Lane (1–0), St Patrick's Athletic (2–0 in a replay following a 1–1 draw), Drogheda United (1–0 in a replay following a 0–0 draw), and Finn Harps (1–0).^[2]

Sligo Rovers were the underdogs, having finished 11th in the League, and were playing in their fifth FAI Cup final, having lost in all four of their previous appearances - most recently in 1978. They had overcome UCD (2–1 in a replay following a 1–1 draw), Home Farm (3–0), and Waterford (1–0 in a replay following a 2–2 draw) to reach the final.^[3]

The match was not broadcast live. Highlights were shown that evening on the RTÉ show Sports Scene, with commentary from Jimmy Magee.^{[citation needed]}

Match

Summary

Dundalk were made heavy favourites going into the match, which both managers sought to use as motivation for their players.^[4] The match, described in press reports as "wind-spoiled",^[5] had a nondescript first half, but seven minutes into the second half a corner taken by John Archbold sailed straight into the net without being touched by anyone. Sligo subsequently pressed hard for an equaliser, but were well-marshalled by the experienced Dundalk defence. In the 78th minute one such Sligo attack broke down, and Mick Fairclough latched onto a long clearance by Sean Byrne to race through and score Dundalk's second to seal the win. The victory gave Dundalk their only FAI Cup and League Cup Double.^[6]

Details

26 April 1981

15:30

Dundalk	2–0^[7]	Sligo Rovers
John Archbold 52' Mick Fairclough 78'	Report

Dalymount Park, Dublin

Attendance: 12,000^[5]

Referee: Paddy Mulhall

Dundalk

Sligo Rovers



GK	Richie Blackmore
RB	Tommy McConville
CB	Dermot Keely
CB	Paddy Dunning
LB	Martin Lawlor	66'
RM	Sean Byrne
CM	Leo Flanagan
CM	Vincent McKenna
LM	John Archbold
CF	Mick Fairclough
CF	Willie Crawley	79'
Substitutes:
MF	Tony O'Doherty	66'
MF	Brian Duff	79'
Manager:
Jim McLaughlin



GK	Declan McIntyre
RB	Michael Ferry
CB	Paddy Sheridan
CB	Donal O'Doherty	83'
LB	Charlie McGeever
RM	Liam Patton	80'
CM	Tony Fagan
CM	Gerry Doherty
LM	Harry McLaughlin
CF	Brendan Bradley
CF	Jim McGroarty
Substitutes:
MF	Pat Coyle	80'
MF	Martin McDonnell	83'
Manager:
Patsy McGowan

References

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.
Graham, Alex. Football in the Republic of Ireland a Statistical Record 1921–2005. Soccer Books Limited. ISBN 1-86223-135-4.

Citations

^ Carroll, Brendan (9 January 1981). "Heartbreak for Rovers in Dundalk". Connacht Tribune. Retrieved 30 April 2019 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
^ Murphy, Jim (2003). The History of Dundalk F.C.: The First 100 Years. Dundalgan Press. p. 315. ASIN B0042SO3R2.
^ MacSweeney, Niall (1985). A Record of League of Ireland Football 1921/2 - 1984/5. Association of Football Statisticians. ASIN B008H2CBJQ.
^ Faiers, David (24 April 1981). "Experience is Dundalk's trump card". Evening Herald. p. 13.
^ ^a ^b Dunne, Noel (27 April 1981). "Dundalk 2; Sligo Rovers 0". Irish Independent. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
^ Moffatt, Mel (27 April 1981). "Dundalk Cash In On Freak Score". Irish Press. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
^ "Ireland FAI Cup (1921-1994)". RSSSF. Retrieved 21 October 2019.