2020 FAI Cup#Semi-finals

{{Infobox football tournament season

| title = FAI Cup

| other_titles = Extra.ie FAI Cup

| year = 2020

| country = Republic of Ireland
Northern Ireland

| venue = {{nowrap|Aviva Stadium, Dublin}}

| dates = 10 August 2020 – 6 December 2020

| num_teams = 19

| champions = Dundalk

| count = 12

| runner-up = Shamrock Rovers

| continentalcup1 =

| continentalcup1 qualifiers =

| matches = 18

| goals = 67

| top goal scorer = David McMillan {{nowrap|(8 goals)}}

| extra information =

| prevseason = 2019

| nextseason = 2021

}}

The 2020 FAI Cup was the 100th edition of the Republic of Ireland's primary national cup competition. This edition featured clubs exclusively from the League of Ireland Premier Division and the First Division, whereas usually non-league teams are involved. The number of teams was reduced due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. The restrictions also meant that crowds were restricted or prohibited from attending.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2020/0713/1152990-dundalk-to-host-waterford-in-fai-cup/|title=FAI announces first round fixtures and byes for second round|website=RTÉ.ie|date=13 July 2020|language=en|access-date=13 July 2020}} The competition began on 10 August 2020 with the first of four rounds and concluded on 6 December 2020 with the final at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, a neutral venue, which has hosted the final since 2010.

The Cup holders were Premier Division side Shamrock Rovers and they again reached the final where they were defeated 4-2 by Dundalk after extra-time.{{cite web|url= https://www.the42.ie/dundalk-shamrock-rovers-3-5290693-Dec2020/|title=McMillan hits hat-trick as Dundalk win classic Cup final after extra time|date=6 December 2020|work=The 42|access-date= 11 December 2020}}

The winners of the FAI Cup earns automatic qualification for the 2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League and would begin play in the first qualifying round. If they have already qualified for European competition through position in the 2020 Premier Division, the spot will go to league's fourth place finisher Sligo Rovers.

First round

The draw for the first round took place on 13 July 2020. Thirteen teams were drawn out to receive a bye into the second round and will join the winners of the first round matches. {{Cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2020/0713/1152990-dundalk-to-host-waterford-in-fai-cup/|title=Dundalk to host Waterford in FAI Cup first round|website=RTÉ.ie|date=13 July 2020|language=en|access-date=13 July 2020}}

Teams in bold advanced to the Second Round.

class="wikitable"
Premier Division !First Division
valign="top" \| Bohemians{{ref label\|Bye\|Bye}} Cork City Derry City{{ref label\|Bye\|Bye}} Dundalk Finn Harps Shamrock Rovers{{ref label\|Bye\|Bye}} Shelbourne{{ref label\|Bye\|Bye}} Sligo Rovers{{ref label\|Bye\|Bye}} St Patrick's Athletic Waterford \| valign="top" \| Athlone Town{{ref label\|Bye\|Bye}} Bray Wanderers{{ref label\|Bye\|Bye}} Cabinteely{{ref label\|Bye\|Bye}} Cobh Ramblers{{ref label\|Bye\|Bye}} Drogheda United{{ref label\|Bye\|Bye}} Galway United{{ref label\|Bye\|Bye}} Longford Town UCD{{ref label\|Bye\|Bye}} Wexford{{ref label\|Bye\|Bye}}

class="wikitable"

Premier Division

!First Division

valign="top" |

Bohemians{{ref label|Bye|Bye}}
Cork City
Derry City{{ref label|Bye|Bye}}
Dundalk
Finn Harps
Shamrock Rovers{{ref label|Bye|Bye}}
Shelbourne{{ref label|Bye|Bye}}
Sligo Rovers{{ref label|Bye|Bye}}
St Patrick's Athletic
Waterford

| valign="top" |

Athlone Town{{ref label|Bye|Bye}}
Bray Wanderers{{ref label|Bye|Bye}}
Cabinteely{{ref label|Bye|Bye}}
Cobh Ramblers{{ref label|Bye|Bye}}
Drogheda United{{ref label|Bye|Bye}}
Galway United{{ref label|Bye|Bye}}
Longford Town
UCD{{ref label|Bye|Bye}}
Wexford{{ref label|Bye|Bye}}

{{football box collapsible

|date = 10 August 2020

|time = 19:45 GMT

|score = 1–0

|report = https://www.extratime.com/matches/detail/41943/2/

|team1 = Finn Harps

|goals1 = Ryan Connolly {{goal|5}}
David Webster {{yel|19}}
Adrian Delap {{yel|74}}
Mark Coyle {{yel|82}}

|team2 = St Patrick's Athletic

|goals2 = Darragh Markey {{yel|34}}
David Titov {{yel|77}}

|stadium = Finn Park

|location = Ballybofey

|attendance = N/A

|referee = Neil Doyle

|note = Live coverage on www.watchloi.ie

}}

{{football box collapsible

|date = 11 August 2020

|time = 19:45 GMT

|score = 1–0

|report = https://www.extratime.com/matches/detail/41945/2/

|team1 = Dundalk

|goals1 = Seán Hoare {{goal|17}}

|team2 = Waterford

|goals2 = Kurtis Byrne {{yel|80}}

|stadium = Oriel Park

|location = Dundalk

|attendance = N/A

|referee = Paul McLoughlin

|note = Live coverage on www.watchloi.ie

}}

{{football box collapsible

|date = 11 August 2020

|time = 19:45 GMT

|report = https://www.extratime.com/matches/detail/41944/2/

|score = 1–0

|aet = yes

|team1 = Cork City

|goals1 = Graham Cummins {{sent off|0|67}}
Ricardo Dinanga {{yel|94}}
Ricardo Dinanga {{goal|120+1}}

|team2 = Longford Town

|goals2 =

|stadium = Turners Cross

|location = Cork

|attendance = N/A

|referee = Ray Matthews

|note = Live coverage on www.watchloi.ie

}}

Second round

The draw for the second round took place on 12 August 2020 and was broadcast live on the [https://www.facebook.com/FAIreland/ Football Association Ireland Facebook page] with Republic of Ireland senior manager Stephen Kenny conducting proceedings.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2020/0810/1158397-fai-cup-second-round-draw-on-wednesday/|title=FAI Cup second round draw to take place on Wednesday|website=RTÉ.ie|date=10 August 2020|language=en|access-date=10 August 2020}} 6 of the 8 games from the second round will be shown live on the new streaming service WATCHLOI.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2020/0814/1159182-rovers-cup-clash-with-cork-to-be-shown-live-on-watchloi/|title=Rovers Cup clash with Cork to be shown live on WatchLOI|website=RTÉ.ie|date=14 August 2020|language=en|access-date=14 August 2020}}

Teams in bold advanced to the quarter-finals.

class="wikitable"
Premier Division !First Division
valign="top" \| Bohemians Cork City Derry City Dundalk Finn Harps Shamrock Rovers Shelbourne Sligo Rovers \| valign="top" \| Athlone Town Bray Wanderers Cabinteely Cobh Ramblers Drogheda United Galway United UCD Wexford

class="wikitable"

Premier Division

!First Division

valign="top" |

| valign="top" |

{{football box collapsible

|date = 28 August 2020

|time = 19:45 GMT

|score = 5–3

|aet = yes

|report = https://www.sseairtricityleague.ie/match/athlone-town-vs-wexford-fc/id-02BO2TI01C000000VUM100GLVS6RAS9R

|team1 = Athlone Town

|goals1 = Lee Duffy {{yel|37}}
Ronan Manning {{goal|52}}
Taner Dogan {{goal|54}}
Scott Delaney {{yel|66}}
Scott Delaney {{goal|80}}
Lee Duffy {{sent off|1||94}}
Jack Reynolds {{yel|102}}
Adam Lennon {{goal|103}}
Bradley Okaidja {{yel|118}}

|team2 = Wexford

|goals2 = Jack Doherty {{goal|18|pen.}}
Conor English {{goal|20}}
Tom Murphy {{yel|52}}
James Carroll {{goal|67}}
James Carroll {{yel|83}}
Karl Manahan {{goal|90+1|o.g.}}

|stadium = Athlone Town Stadium

|location = Athlone

|attendance = N/A

|referee = Michael Connolly

}}

{{football box collapsible

|date = 28 August 2020

|time = 19:45 GMT

|score = 2–5

|report = https://www.extratime.com/articles/25505/fai-cup-report-galway-united-2---5-shelbourne/

|team1 = Galway United

|goals1 = Enda Curran {{yel|14}}
Maurice Nugent {{yel|35}}
Enda Curran {{goal|53}}
Michael Place {{goal|73}}

|team2 = Shelbourne

|goals2 = Colin McCabe {{yel|18}}
Dayle Rooney {{goal|33}}
Ciarán Kilduff {{goal|71}}
Daniel Byrne {{yel|76}}
Ryan Brennan {{goal|79}}
Georgie Poynton {{yel|80}}
Dayle Rooney {{goal|84}}
Aaron Dobbs {{goal|90}}

|stadium = Eamonn Deacy Park

|location = Galway

|attendance = N/A

|referee = Damien MacGraith

|note = Live coverage on www.watchloi.ie

}}

{{football box collapsible

|date = 29 August 2020

|time = 17:00 GMT

|score = 0–2

|report = https://www.extratime.com/articles/25517/fai-cup-report-drogheda-united-0---2-derry-city/

|team1 = Drogheda United

|goals1 = Jake Hyland {{yel|13}}
Mark Hughes {{yel|25}}
Chris Lyons {{yel|69}}

|team2 = Derry City

|goals2 = Conor McCormack {{yel|13}}
Ibrahim Meite {{yel|65}}
Joe Thomson {{yel|70}}
Ciaron Harkin {{goal|89}}
Stephen Mallon{{goal|90}}

|stadium = United Park

|location = Drogheda

|attendance = N/A

|referee = Derek Tomney

|note = Live coverage on www.watchloi.ie

}}

{{football box collapsible

|date = 29 August 2020

|time = 19:45 GMT

|score = 0–2

|report = https://www.extratime.com/articles/25515/fai-cup-report-bray-wanderers-0---2-finn-harps/

|team1 = Bray Wanderers

|goals1 = Killian Cantwell {{yel|50}}
Paul Keegan{{sent off|0|50}}
Ryan Graydon {{yel|61}}

|team2 = Finn Harps

|goals2 = Alexander Kogler {{goal|12}}
Alexander Kogler {{goal|30}}
Mark Russell {{yel|38}}
Ryan Connolly {{yel|62}}

|stadium = Carlisle Grounds

|location = Bray

|attendance = N/A

|referee = Rob Hennessy

}}

{{football box collapsible

|date = 30 August 2020

|time = 17:00 GMT

|score = 0–2

|report = https://www.extratime.com/articles/25521/fai-cup-report-cobh-ramblers-0---2-dundalk/

|team1 = Cobh Ramblers

|goals1 = Lee Devitt {{yel|70}}
Greg Henry {{yel|71}}

|team2 = Dundalk

|goals2 = Dane Massey {{goal|29}}
David McMillan {{goal|75|pen.}}

|stadium = St Colman's Park

|location = Cobh

|attendance = N/A

|referee = Alan Patchell

|note = Live coverage on www.watchloi.ie

}}

{{football box collapsible

|date = 30 August 2020

|time = 19:45 GMT

|score = 1–3

|report = https://www.extratime.com/articles/25524/fai-cup-report-ucd-1---3-sligo-rovers/

|team1 = UCD

|goals1 = Paul Doyle {{goal|8}}
Michael Gallagher {{yel|58}}

|team2 = Sligo Rovers

|goals2 = Kyle Callan-McFadden {{goal|16}}
Ryan De Vries {{yel|23}}
Ronan Coughlan {{goal|67}}
Jesse Devers {{goal|80}}
Niall Morahan {{yel|84}}
Teemu Penninkangas {{yel|90}}

|stadium = UCD Bowl

|location = Belfield, Dublin

|attendance = N/A

|referee = Adriano Reale

|note = Live coverage on www.watchloi.ie

}}

{{football box collapsible

|date = 31 August 2020

|time = 17:45 GMT

|score = 2–1

|report = https://www.extratime.com/articles/25535/fai-cup-report-shamrock-rovers-2---1-cork-city/

|team1 = Shamrock Rovers

|goals1 = Daniel Lafferty {{goal|38}}
Graham Burke {{yel|42}}
Gary O'Neill {{yel|48}}
Daniel Lafferty {{goal|68}}
Dylan Watts {{yel|78}}

|team2 = Cork City

|goals2 = Charlie Fleming {{yel|20}}
Gearóid Morrissey {{goal|48}}
Connor Simpson {{yel|62}}
Henry Ochieng {{yel|83}}

|stadium = Tallaght Stadium

|location = Tallaght, Dublin

|attendance = N/A

|referee = Neil Doyle

|note = Live coverage on www.watchloi.ie

}}

{{football box collapsible

|date = 31 August 2020

|time = 19:45 GMT

|score = 2–0

|report = https://www.extratime.com/articles/25536/fai-cup-report-bohemians-2---0-cabinteely/

|team1 = Bohemians

|goals1 = Promise Omochere {{goal|32}}
Dinny Corcoran {{goal|41}}

|team2 = Cabinteely

|goals2 = Paul Fox {{yel|21}}
Alex Aspil {{yel|50}}

|stadium = Dalymount Park

|location = Phibsborough, Dublin

|attendance = N/A

|referee = Robert Harvey

|note = Live coverage on www.watchloi.ie

}}

Quarter-finals

The draw for the quarter-finals took place on 18 September 2020 after the league game of Sligo Rovers vs. Bohemians live on RTÉ2. Former Sligo Rovers FAI Cup winning captain Conor O'Grady drew the games.

class="wikitable"
Premier Division !First Division
valign="top" \| Bohemians Derry City Dundalk Finn Harps Shamrock Rovers Shelbourne Sligo Rovers \| valign="top" \| Athlone Town

class="wikitable"

Premier Division

!First Division

valign="top" |

| valign="top" |

Athlone Town

{{football box collapsible

|date = 31 October 2020

|time = 15:00

|score = 4–1

|report = https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/dean-george-bags-a-hat-trick-as-athlone-stun-shels-1.4396732

|team1 = Athlone Town

|goals1 = Dean George {{goal|4}}
Scott Delaney {{goal|20}}
Ciaran Grogan {{yel|49}}
Dean George {{goal|66}}
Dean George {{goal|78}}
Dean George {{yel|78}}

|team2 = Shelbourne

|goals2 = Ciaran Kilduff {{goal|8}}
Alex O'Hanlon {{yel|45+1}}
Dan Byrne {{yel|59}}
Oscar Brennan {{yel|83}}

|stadium = Athlone Town Stadium

|location = Athlone

|attendance = N/A

|referee = Damien McGrath

|note = Live coverage on www.watchloi.ie

}}

{{football box collapsible

|date = 20 November 2020

|time = 17:30

|score = 2–3

|report = https://www.extratime.com/matches/detail/42607/2/

|team1 = Finn Harps

|goals1 = Barry McNamee {{goal|15}}
Stephen Folan {{goal|21}}
Mark McGinley {{yel|54}}

|team2 = Shamrock Rovers

|goals2 = Joey O'Brien {{yel|41}}
Aaron McEneff {{penmiss}} {{small|51' (pen.)}}
Aaron McEneff {{goal|52|pen.}}
Aaron McEneff {{goal|55|pen.}}
Graham Burke {{goal|71}}
Thomas Oluwa {{yel|89}}

|stadium = Finn Park

|location = Ballybofey

|attendance = N/A

|referee = Rob Hennessey

|note = Live coverage on www.watchloi.ie

}}

{{football box collapsible

|date = 20 November 2020

|time = 19:45

|score = 1–4

|report = https://www.extratime.com/matches/detail/42608/2/

|team1 = Bohemians

|goals1 = Andre Wright {{goal|15|pen.}}
Rob Cornwall {{yel|27}}
Conor Levingston {{yel|41}}
Michael Barker {{yel|57}}
Michael Barker {{sent off|1|72}}

|team2 = Dundalk

|goals2 = Michael Duffy {{goal|2}}
Cameron Dummigan {{yel|10}}
Chris Shields {{yel|26}}
David McMillan {{goal|35|pen.}}
David McMillan {{goal|38}}
Nathan Oduwa {{goal|87}}

|stadium = Dalymount Park

|location = Phibsborough, Dublin

|attendance = N/A

|referee = Robert Harvey

|note = Live coverage on RTÉ2

}}

{{football box collapsible

|date = 25 November 2020

|time = 19:30

|score = 0–0

|aet = yes

|penaltyscore = 3–1

|report = https://www.extratime.com/matches/detail/42606/2/

|team1 = Sligo Rovers

|goals1 = David Cawley {{yel|31}}
Garry Buckley {{yel|55}}
Regan Donelon {{yel|77}}

|penalties1 = Ronan Coughlan {{pengoal}}
Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe {{penmiss}}
Alex Cooper {{pengoal}}
Garry Buckley {{pengoal}}

|team2 = Derry City

|goals2 = Ciaran Coll {{yel|50}}
Conor McCormack {{yel|120}}

|penalties2 = {{pengoal}} Conor Clifford
{{penmiss}} Conor McCormack
{{penmiss}} Walter Figueira
{{penmiss}} Ibrahim Meite

|stadium = The Showgrounds

|location = Sligo

|attendance = N/A

|referee = Neil Doyle

|note = Live coverage on www.watchloi.ie

}}

Semi-finals

The draw for the semi-finals took place at 6pm on 30 October 2020 live on RTE 2FM.{{Cite web|url=https://extra.ie/2020/10/30/sport/soccernews/fai-cup-semi-finals-draw|title=The Full Draw for the Extra.ie FAI Cup Semi-Finals Has Been Made|date=30 October 2020}}