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1981 League of Ireland Cup final

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1981 League of Ireland Cup Final
Event1980–81 League of Ireland Cup
First Leg
Date1 January 1981
VenueTerryland Park, Galway
RefereeKevin O'Sullivan
Attendance£4,000 gate
Second Leg
After extra time
Dundalk won 3–2 on penalties
Date8 January 1981
VenueOriel Park, Dundalk
RefereePaddy Mulhall
Attendanceunreported
← 1980
1982 →

The 1981 League of Ireland Cup Final was the final match of the 1980–81 League of Ireland Cup, a knock-out association football competition played annually by clubs affiliated with the League of Ireland. It was contested by Dundalk and Galway Rovers, and took place across two legs – with the first leg being played on 1 January 1981 at Terryland Park in Galway, and the second leg being played on 8 January 1981 at Oriel Park in Dundalk. Both legs finished scoreless and Dundalk subsequently won a penalty shoot-out to win the trophy for a second time.

Background

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The League Cup was the first trophy of the 1980–81 League of Ireland season. The two sides had met once previously that season in the League in a 1–1 draw.[1] Dundalk had last won the competition in 1978 – their first win in the competition. They reached the final by defeating Home Farm (2–0), St Patrick's Athletic (2–0) and Drogheda United (5–0).[2]

Galway Rovers were appearing in their first domestic final,[3] having entered the League of Ireland in 1977–78.[4]

Match

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Summary

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The first leg in Galway was marked by an injury to Galway goalkeeper, Tom Lally, in the 52nd minute. Galway elected to continue with the injured player in goals, and Dundalk subsequently failed to seriously challenge him, particularly as they then lost forward Mick Fairclough to injury a minute later.[5] Prior to that, Dundalk had dominated the first half and hit the post through Jerome Clarke just before half-time. But, despite the injury to Lally, they appeared happy to settle for the draw, which made them favourites going into the second leg.

The second leg in Oriel Park saw Dundalk dominate again as expected, with the Galway goalmouth being described as "resembling a very crowded Eyre Square".[6] Goalkeeper Lally, recovered from his injury the week before, had to make a number of saves to keep Dundalk out. His opposite number, Richie Blackmore, meanwhile, had little to do – as Galway's players were forced into defending on the edge of their own penalty area. In extra-time Dundalk continued to dominate possession, but could only fashion one chance, which again was saved by Lally. In the subsequent penalty shoot-out Dundalk missed two of their five penalties, while Galway missed two of their first four, leaving Lally to take their final kick to send the shoot-out to sudden-death. His penalty was saved by Blackmore, and Dundalk had won the League of Ireland Cup for the second time.[7] They would go on to win the FAI Cup as well, later that season.[8]

First leg details

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Galway Rovers0–0[9]Dundalk
Report
Attendance: £4,000 gate
Referee: Kevin O'Sullivan
Galway Rovers
Dundalk
GK Republic of Ireland Tom Lally
DF Republic of Ireland Gerry Daly
DF Republic of Ireland Martin Sheehan
DF Republic of Ireland John Herrick
DF Republic of Ireland James Collins
MF Republic of Ireland Michael Nolan
MF Republic of Ireland Fergus McDonnell
MF Republic of Ireland Kevin Cassidy downward-facing red arrow 90'
MF Republic of Ireland George Quinlivan
FW Republic of Ireland Carl Humphries
FW Republic of Ireland Michael McLoughlin
Substitutes:
MF Republic of Ireland Philip Fay upward-facing green arrow 90'
Manager:
Republic of Ireland John Herrick
GK England Richie Blackmore
RB Republic of Ireland Vincent McKenna
CB Republic of Ireland Tommy McConville
CB Republic of Ireland Paddy Dunning
LB Republic of Ireland Martin Lawlor
RM Republic of Ireland Jerome Clarke
CM Republic of Ireland Leo Flanagan
CM New Zealand Sean Byrne
LM Republic of Ireland Synan Braddish
FW Republic of Ireland Mick Fairclough downward-facing red arrow 53'
FW Republic of Ireland Willie Crawley downward-facing red arrow 83'
Substitutes:
FW Republic of Ireland John Archbold upward-facing green arrow 83'
MF Republic of Ireland Brian Duff upward-facing green arrow 53'
Manager:
Northern Ireland Jim McLaughlin

Second leg details

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Dundalk0–0[9] (a.e.t.)Galway Rovers
Report
Penalties
Jerome Clarke soccer ball with red X
Leo Flanagan soccer ball with check mark
Vincent McKenna soccer ball with check mark
Synan Braddish soccer ball with red X
Paddy Dunning soccer ball with check mark
3–2 Carl Humphries soccer ball with red X
John Herrick soccer ball with check mark
George Quinlivan soccer ball with red X
Fergus McDonnell soccer ball with check mark
Tom Lallysoccer ball with red X
Attendance: unreported
Referee: Paddy Mulhall
Dundalk
Galway Rovers
GK England Richie Blackmore
RB Republic of Ireland Tommy McConville
CB Republic of Ireland Dermot Keely
CB Republic of Ireland Paddy Dunning
LB Republic of Ireland Martin Lawlor
RM Republic of Ireland Jerome Clarke
CM Republic of Ireland Leo Flanagan
CM Republic of Ireland Vincent McKenna
LM Republic of Ireland John Archbold downward-facing red arrow 83'
FW Republic of Ireland Mick Fairclough
FW New Zealand Sean Byrne downward-facing red arrow 59'
Substitutes:
FW Republic of Ireland Willie Crawley upward-facing green arrow 59'
MF Republic of Ireland Synan Braddish upward-facing green arrow 83'
Manager:
Northern Ireland Jim McLaughlin
GK Republic of Ireland Tom Lally
DF Republic of Ireland Gerry Daly
DF Republic of Ireland Martin Sheehan
DF Republic of Ireland John Herrick
DF Republic of Ireland James Collins
MF Republic of Ireland Michael Nolan
MF Republic of Ireland Fergus McDonnell
MF Republic of Ireland Kevin Cassidy downward-facing red arrow 101'
MF Republic of Ireland Philip Fay downward-facing red arrow 86'
FW Republic of Ireland Carl Humphries
FW Republic of Ireland Michael McLoughlin
Substitutes:
MF Republic of Ireland Tony Mannion upward-facing green arrow 86'
MF Republic of Ireland George Quinlivan upward-facing green arrow 101'
Manager:
Republic of Ireland John Herrick

References

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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
  1. ^ "FIXTURES FOR 1980-1981 LEAGUE OF IRELAND PREMIER DIVISION". www.extratime.ie. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  2. ^ Murphy, Jim (2003). The History of Dundalk F.C.: The First 100 Years. Dundalgan Press. p. 311. ASIN B0042SO3R2.
  3. ^ "League Cup Final Special". Connacht Tribune. 2 January 1981. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  4. ^ "Galway United FC – Club History". www.galwayunitedfc.ie. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  5. ^ Faiers, David (2 January 1981). "Lally Galway Hero". Irish Independent. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  6. ^ Dunne, Noel (9 January 1981). "League Cup". Irish Independent. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  7. ^ Carroll, Brendan (9 January 1981). "Heartbreak for Rovers in Dundalk". Connacht Tribune. Retrieved 30 April 2019 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
  8. ^ Dunne, Noel (27 April 1981). "Decisive dundalk". Irish Independent. Retrieved 23 April 2019 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
  9. ^ a b "Ireland League Cup (1973-2006)". RSSSF. Retrieved 21 October 2019.