2019 League of Ireland Cup
The 2019 League of Ireland Cup, also known for sponsorship reasons as the 2019 EA Sports Cup, was the 46th season of the League of Ireland's secondary knockout competition. The EA Sports Cup featured teams from the SSE Airtricity League Premier and First Divisions, as well as some intermediate level teams. Dundalk defeated Derry City in the final in a penalty shoot-out, following a 2-2 draw.[1]
| EA Sports Cup | |
| Country |  |
|---|---|
| Dates | 4 March – 14 September, 2019 |
| Teams | 23 |
| Champions | Dundalk |
| Runners-up | Derry City |
| Matches played | 20 |
| Top goal scorer(s) | David Parkhouse (7 goals) |
← 2018 2020 → | |
The competition structure was altered for 2019 with all Premier Division entering at the second round stage.[2]
Preliminary Round
| 16 February 2019 | Midleton | 0–1 | Bluebell United | Midleton |
| 15:00 GMT | Gary Seery  |
Stadium: Knockgriffin Park |
First Round
All ten teams from the League of Ireland First Division as well as one representative from the Leinster Senior League and one representative from the Ulster Senior League entered the competition at this stage. The draw for the first round was made on 20 February 2019 with fixtures set for 4 and 5 March 2019. The game between Cobh Ramblers and Limerick was postponed until 18 March 2019 due to inclement weather on the original date [3]
| 4 March 2019 | Athlone | 1–2 (a.e.t.) | Galway United | Athlone |
| 19:45 GMT | George Mukete |
Conor Barry Vinny Faherty |
Stadium: Athlone Town Stadium Referee: Anthony Buttimer |
| 4 March 2019 | Bray Wanderers | 3–2 | Wexford | Bray |
| 19:45 GMT | Derek Daly Dylan Barnett Dylan McGlade |
Report | Ryan Nolan Sean Roche |
Stadium: Carlisle Grounds Attendance: 427 Referee: Alan Carey |
| 4 March 2019 | Drogheda United | 0–1 | Cabinteely | Drogheda |
| 19:45 GMT | Report | Luke Clucas |
Stadium: United Park Attendance: 150 (estimate) Referee: Alan Patchell |
| 4 March 2019 | Shelbourne | 1–0 | Bluebell United | Drumcondra, Dublin |
| 19:45 GMT | Daniel McKenna |
Report | Stadium: Tolka Park Referee: Paul Tuite |
| 5 March 2019 | Longford Town | 1–0 | Cockhill Celtic | Longford |
| 19:45 GMT | Adam Evans |
Stadium: City Calling Stadium Referee: Marc Lynch |
| 18 March 2019 | Cobh Ramblers | 3–1 | Limerick | Cobh |
| 15:00 GMT | Denzil Fernandes Bryan Murphy Jaze Kabia |
Report | Sean McSweeney |
Stadium: St Colman's Park Referee: Anthony Buttimer |
Second Round
All ten League of Ireland Premier Division clubs entered at this stage of the competition. The draw for the second round was made on 12 March 2019 with fixtures taking place on 1/2 April 2019.[4]
| 1 April 2019 | Bohemians | 2–1 | Cabinteely | Phibsborough, Dublin |
| 19:45 GMT | Ryan Graydon Sam Byrne |
Report | Luke Clucas |
Stadium: Dalymount Park Attendance: 500 (Estimate) Referee: Stephen Parnell |
| 1 April 2019 | Bray Wanderers | 0–0 (a.e.t.) (4–2 p) | Shamrock Rovers | Bray |
| 19:45 GMT | Report | Stadium: Carlisle Grounds Attendance: 635 Referee: Derek Tomney | ||
| Penalties | ||||
Luka Lovic  Richie Purdy Dylan McGlade Dylan Barnett |
Greg Bolger Brandon Kavanagh  Aaron Greene Dylan Watts |
|||
| 1 April 2019 | Cork City | 4–1 | Cobh Ramblers | Cork |
| 19:45 GMT | James Tilley Liam Nash Gary Comerford Darragh Crowley |
Report | Denzil Fernandez |
Stadium: Turners Cross Attendance: 991 Referee: Anthony Buttimer |
| 1 April 2019 | Finn Harps | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | Sligo Rovers | Ballybofey |
| 20:00 GMT | Mark Coyle Stephen Doherty |
Report | Dante Leverock |
Stadium: Finn Park Referee: Michael Connolly |
| 1 April 2019 | St Patrick's Athletic | 1–2 | Dundalk | Inchicore, Dublin |
| 19:45 GMT | James Doona |
Report | Georgie Kelly Dean Jarvis |
Stadium: Richmond Park Referee: Robert Harvey |
| 1 April 2019 | Waterford | 2–1 | Galway United | Waterford |
| 19:00 GMT | Dean Walsh Cory Galvin |
Report | Jeff McGowan |
Stadium: Waterford Regional Sports Centre Referee: Sean Grant |
| 2 April 2019 | Derry City | 3–0 | Longford Town | Derry |
| 19:45 GMT | Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe Eoghan Stokes Gerardo Bruna |
Report | Stadium: Brandywell Stadium Attendance: 2,400 (est) Referee: Damien MacGraith |
| 2 April 2019 | Shelbourne | 1–2 | UCD | Drumcondra, Dublin |
| 19:45 GMT | Derek Prendergast |
Report | Neil Farrugia Timmy Molloy |
Stadium: Tolka Park Attendance: 250 (Estimate) Referee: Alan Patchell |
Quarter Final
The draw for the Quarter Final was made on 8 April 2019 with fixtures taking place on Monday, 27 May 2019.[5]
| 27 May 2019 | Bohemians | 2–0 | Cork City | Phibsborough, Dublin |
| 19:45 GMT | Ross Tierney Daniel Mandroiu |
Report | Stadium: Dalymount Park Attendance: 665 Referee: Robert Hennessy |
| 27 May 2019 | Bray Wanderers | 0–1 | Waterford | Bray |
| 19:45 GMT | Report | Scott Twine |
Stadium: Carlisle Grounds Attendance: 400 (Estimate) Referee: Robert Harvey |
| 27 May 2019 | Derry City | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | Finn Harps | Derry |
| 19:45 GMT | David Parkhouse |
Report | Nathan Boyle |
Stadium: Brandywell Stadium |
| 27 May 2019 | Dundalk | 3–1 | UCD | Dundalk |
| 19:45 GMT | Brian Gartland John Mountney Georgie Kelly |
Report | Yousef Mahdy |
Stadium: Oriel Park Attendance: 500 (estimate) Referee: David Dunne |
Semi Final
The draw for the semi final was made on 28 May 2019. Both matches were scheduled to be played on 5 August 2019. The fixture between Dundalk and Bohemians was postponed until 19 August due to Dundalk's involvement in the UEFA Champions League.
| 5 August 2019 | Derry City | 4–2 (a.e.t.) | Waterford | Derry |
| 19:00 | David Parkhouse |
Report | Walter Figueira |
Stadium: Brandywell Stadium Attendance: 1,100 (estimate) Referee: Robert Rogers |
| 19 August 2019 | Dundalk | 6–1 | Bohemians | Dundalk |
| 19:45 | Patrick Hoban Patrick McEleney Daniel Kelly |
Report | Ross Tierney |
Stadium: Oriel Park Attendance: 1,500 (estimate) Referee: Paul McLaughlin |
Final
| 14 September 2019 | Derry City | 2–2 (a.e.t.) (5–6 p) | Dundalk | Derry |
| 20:00 | David Parkhouse Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe |
Report | Michael Duffy Sean Gannon |
Stadium: Brandywell Stadium |
References
- "Fixtures & Results - Senior Team". Braywanderers.ie. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
- "SSE AIRTRICITY LEAGUE - 2019 SEASON FIXTURES RELEASED". Sseairtricityleague.ie. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
- "Cockhill drawn away to Longford in EA Sports Cup". Retrieved 29 September 2019.
- https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2019/0312/1035981-ea-sports-cup-draw-throws-up-several-derby-games/
- https://www.sseairtricityleague.ie/news/derry-city-set-to-host-finn-harps-in-ea-sports-cup-quarterfinals/id-2474