2013 League of Ireland Cup
{{EngvarB|date=April 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2014}}
{{infobox football tournament season
| title = League of Ireland Cup
| year = 2013
| other_titles = EA Sports Cup
| image =
| imagesize =
| caption =
| country = Republic of Ireland
Northern Ireland
| dates =
| num_teams = 22
| champions = Shamrock Rovers
| runner-up = Drogheda United
| matches = 21
| goals = 72
| top goal scorer =
| player =
| prevseason = 2012
| nextseason = 2014
}}
The 2013 League of Ireland Cup, also known as the 2013 EA Sports Cup, is the 40th season of the Irish football knockout competition.
A total of 22 teams have entered the 2013 competition. The 12 League of Ireland Premier Division and 8 League of Ireland First Division clubs were joined by Ulster Senior League runners up Cockhill Celtic and the Mayo League representative side. For the First and Second rounds of the competition, all participating clubs will be split into 4 regional pools while the further rounds of the competitions will have an open draw. The 2013 competition will commence with the first round on 2 March 2013.
Teams
| class="wikitable" width=100% |
| width=16%|Pool 1
!width=16%|Pool 2 !width=16%|Pool 3 !width=16%|Pool 4 |
|---|
| valign=top
| | | | |
First round
The draw for the first round took place on 30 January 2013.{{cite news |title=EA Sports Cup First Round Draw Made |url=http://www.airtricityleague.ie/matchzone/ea-sports-cup/4513-ea-sports-first-round-draw-made |work=airtricityleague.ie |publisher=Airtricity League |date=30 January 2013 |access-date=30 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413145652/http://www.airtricityleague.ie/matchzone/ea-sports-cup/4513-ea-sports-first-round-draw-made |archive-date=13 April 2014 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }} The first-round games were played on the 2, 3, 11 and 19 March 2013.{{cite news |title=EA Sports Cup Kicks Off This Weekend |url=http://www.airtricityleague.ie/matchzone/ea-sports-cup/4549-ea-sports-cup-kicks-off-this-weekend |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130412232757/http://www.airtricityleague.ie/matchzone/ea-sports-cup/4549-ea-sports-cup-kicks-off-this-weekend |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 April 2013 |work=airtricityleague.ie |publisher=Airtricity League |date=1 March 2013 |access-date=1 March 2013 }}{{cite news |title=Waterford v Cobh Refixed |url=http://www.airtricityleague.ie/matchzone/ea-sports-cup/4586-waterford-v-cobh-refixed |work=airtricityleague.ie |publisher=Airtricity League |date=12 March 2013 |access-date=12 March 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130412232441/http://www.airtricityleague.ie/matchzone/ea-sports-cup/4586-waterford-v-cobh-refixed |archive-date=12 April 2013 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}
{{OneLegStart}}
|colspan="4" style="background-color:#99CCCC" align="center"|Pool 1
{{OneLegResult|Waterford United||2–1|Cobh Ramblers}}||
[https://archive.today/20130412221854/http://www.airtricityleague.ie/matchzone/ea-sports-cup/4611-blues-knock-out-cobh Report]
|-
|colspan="4" style="background-color:#99CCCC" align="center"|Pool 2
{{OneLegResult|Mayo League||1–4|Finn Harps}}||
[https://archive.today/20130412234403/http://www.airtricityleague.ie/clubs/first-division/finn-harps/latest-news/4555-harps-blitz-mayo-league Report]
{{OneLegResult|Mervue United||2–1|Cockhill Celtic}}||
[https://archive.today/20130412235320/http://www.airtricityleague.ie/clubs/first-division/mervue-united/latest-news/4552-dream-debut-for-lavelle Report]
|-
|colspan="4" style="background-color:#99CCCC" align="center"|Pool 3
{{OneLegResult|Bohemians||3 – 2 {{aet}}|UCD}}||
[https://archive.today/20130412223237/http://www.airtricityleague.ie/matchzone/ea-sports-cup/4581-bohs-stage-dramatic-comeback Report]
|-
|colspan="4" style="background-color:#99CCCC" align="center"|Pool 4
{{OneLegResult|Athlone Town||0–2|Longford Town}}||
[https://archive.today/20130412221734/http://www.airtricityleague.ie/matchzone/ea-sports-cup/4583-longford-win-derby Report]
{{OneLegResult|Dundalk||1–0|Shelbourne}}||
[https://archive.today/20130412222238/http://www.airtricityleague.ie/matchzone/ea-sports-cup/4582-sub-byrne-sinks-shels Report]
|}
Second round
The draw for the second round took place on 3 April 2013.{{cite news |title=EA Sports Cup Second Round Draw Made |url=http://www.airtricityleague.ie/matchzone/ea-sports-cup/4658-ea-sports-cup-second-round-draw-is-made |work=airtricityleague.ie |publisher=Airtricity League |date=3 April 2013 |access-date=3 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130419153854/http://www.airtricityleague.ie/matchzone/ea-sports-cup/4658-ea-sports-cup-second-round-draw-is-made |archive-date=19 April 2013 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }} The second-round games were played on the 20 and 21 May 2013.
{{OneLegStart}}
|colspan="3" style="background-color:#99CCCC" align="center"|Pool 1
{{OneLegResult| Limerick || 1 – 1 {{aet}}
(4–2p) | Waterford United }}
{{OneLegResult| Wexford Youths || 0–4 | Cork City }}
|-
|colspan="3" style="background-color:#99CCCC" align="center"|Pool 2
{{OneLegResult| Finn Harps || 1 – 1 {{aet}}
(5–6p) | Derry City }}
{{OneLegResult| Sligo Rovers || 4–0 | Mervue United }}
|-
|colspan="3" style="background-color:#99CCCC" align="center"|Pool 3
{{OneLegResult| Bohemians || 4 – 2 {{aet}} | Bray Wanderers }}
{{OneLegResult| Salthill Devon || 2 – 3 {{aet}} | St. Patrick's Athletic }}
|-
|colspan="3" style="background-color:#99CCCC" align="center"|Pool 4
{{OneLegResult| Drogheda United || 6–0 | Longford Town }}
{{OneLegResult| Shamrock Rovers || 1–0 | Dundalk }}
|}
Quarter-finals
The draw for the quarter-finals was made on 10 June 2013.{{cite web|title=EA SPORTS Cup draw on Monday, June 10|url=http://www.airtricityleague.ie/matchzone/ea-sports-cup/4816-ea-sports-cup-draw-on-monday-june-10|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130703185844/http://www.airtricityleague.ie/matchzone/ea-sports-cup/4816-ea-sports-cup-draw-on-monday-june-10|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 July 2013|access-date=3 July 2013}} All of the remaining teams play in the League of Ireland Premier Division; this had not happened since 2005. The tie between Shamrock Rovers and St. Patrick's Athletic was postponed from 1 July due to the latter club travelling to Lithuania for a Europa League fixture.{{cite web|title=EA SPORTS Cup reaches quarter-final stage |url=http://www.airtricityleague.ie/matchzone/ea-sports-cup |access-date=3 July 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130720152648/http://www.airtricityleague.ie/matchzone/ea-sports-cup |archive-date=20 July 2013 }}
{{footballbox collapsible
|date = 1 July 2013
|time = 19:45
|team1 = Drogheda United
|score = 3–0
|team2 = Cork City
|goals1 = Marks {{goal|24}}
McNally {{goal|43}}
R. Brennan {{goal|45|pen.}}
|goals2 =
|stadium = Hunky Dorys Park
|attendance = 320
|referee = Paul Tuite
|report= [http://www.extratime.ie/fixtures/detail/19677/2/ Report]
}}
{{footballbox collapsible
|date = 1 July 2013
|time = 19:45
|team1 = Limerick
|score = 0–4
|team2 = Sligo Rovers
|goals1 =
|goals2 = {{goal|26}} Henderson
{{goal|38}} Peers
{{goal|50}} North
{{goal|77}} McMillan
|stadium = Thomond Park
|attendance = 913
|referee = Anthony Buttimer
|report= [http://www.extratime.ie/fixtures/detail/19678/2/ Report]
}}
{{footballbox collapsible
|date = 1 July 2013
|time = 19:45
|team1 = Bohemians
|score = 0–2
|team2 = Derry City
|goals1 =
|goals2 = {{goal|82||90+1}} Duffy
|stadium = Dalymount Park
|attendance = 543
|referee = Paul McLaughlin
|report= [http://www.extratime.ie/fixtures/detail/19679/2/ Report]
}}
{{footballbox collapsible
|date = 23 July 2013
|time =
|team1 = Shamrock Rovers
|score = 2–1
|aet = yes
|team2 = St. Patrick's Athletic
|goals1 = Quigley {{goal|52}}
Dennehy {{goal|108}}
|goals2 = {{goal|79}} C. Byrne
|stadium = Tallaght Stadium
|attendance = 1,200
|referee = Tom Connolly
|report= [http://extratime.ie/fixtures/detail/19696/2/ Report]
}}
Semi-finals
The draw for the quarter-finals was made on 8 July 2013.{{cite web|title=2013 EA SPORTS Cup semi-final draw|url=http://www.airtricityleague.ie/matchzone/ea-sports-cup/4908-2013-ea-sports-cup-semi-final-draw|access-date=3 July 2013}}{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
{{footballbox collapsible
|date = 5 August 2013
|time = 19:45
|team1 = Derry City
|score = 1–3
|aet=
|team2 = Drogheda United
|goals1 = McLaid {{goal|38}}
|goals2 = D. O'Brien {{goal|12||77}}
D. Cassidy {{goal|66}}
|stadium = Brandywell Stadium
|attendance = 990
|referee = Paul Tuite
|report= [http://extratime.ie/newsdesk/articles/10795/derry-city-1---3-drogheda-united/ Report]
|penaltyscore=
|penalties1=
|penalties2=
}}
{{footballbox collapsible
|date = 13 August 2013
|time = 20:00
|team1 = Shamrock Rovers
|score = 3–2
|aet =
|team2 = Sligo Rovers
|goals1 = Sheppard {{goal|17}}
McCabe {{goal|27||71}}
|goals2 = {{goal|1}} Djilali
{{goal|82}} Elding
|stadium = Tallaght Stadium
|attendance = 1,500
|referee = Paul McLaughlin
|report= [http://extratime.ie/newsdesk/articles/10858/shamrock-rovers-3---2-sligo-rovers/ Report]
}}
Final
{{main|2013 League of Ireland Cup final}}
The final, which was broadcast live on Setanta Sports,{{cite news|title=EA SPORTS Cup final between Drogheda United and Shamrock Rovers confirmed for Tallaght Stadium|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/irish/2013/0814/468186-ea-cup/#idc-container|access-date=16 August 2013 | work=RTÉ News|date=14 August 2013}} took place at Tallaght Stadium, the home ground of finalists Shamrock Rovers, on 21 September 2013. The 2012 League of Ireland Cup Final was also contested by Drogheda United and Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium.
Shamrock Rovers won the game 2–0 with a penalty from Gary McCabe in the 11th minute and Thomas Stewart scoring the second in the 58th minute when he slotted the ball past the goalkeeper after a pass by Paul O'Connor.{{cite web|url=http://www.thescore.ie/shamrock-rovers-win-ea-sports-cup-1094469-Sep2013/|title=Shamrock Rovers defeat Drogheda to seal EA Sports Cup victory|date=21 September 2013|work=The Score|access-date=29 October 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20131030094414/http://www.thescore.ie/shamrock-rovers-win-ea-sports-cup-1094469-Sep2013/|archive-date=30 October 2013|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}{{cite web|url = http://www.goal.com/en-ie/match/124392/shamrock-rovers-vs-drogheda-united/report?|title=Shamrock Rovers 2–0 Drogheda United |date=21 September 2013|work=Goal.com|access-date=29 October 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.shamrockrovers.ie/news/75/3389-rovers-v-drogheda-utd|title=Shamrock Rovers 2–0 Drogheda United|date=21 September 2013|work=Shamrockrovers.com|access-date=29 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924101548/http://www.shamrockrovers.ie/news/75/3389-rovers-v-drogheda-utd|archive-date=24 September 2015|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}
{{football box
|date = 21 September 2013
|time = 18:00
|team1 = Drogheda United
|score = 0–2
|team2 = Shamrock Rovers
|goals1 = Prendergast {{sent off|0|86}}
|goals2 = McCabe {{goal|11|pen.}}
Stewart {{goal|58}}
Oman {{sent off|2|51|69}}
|stadium = Tallaght Stadium, Dublin
|attendance = 3,820
|referee = Padraigh Sutton
|report= [http://extratime.ie/newsdesk/articles/11090/ Report]
}}
References
{{reflist|3}}
{{League of Ireland Cup Seasons}}
{{2013 in Republic of Ireland association football}}