2007 FAI Cup final
Event | 2007 FAI Cup | ||||||
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Date | 2 December 2007 | ||||||
Venue | 2008 → |
The 2007 FAI Cup Final was the final match of the 2007 FAI Cup, the national association football cup of the Republic of Ireland. Cork City and Longford Town contested the final, which was played at the RDS Arena in Dublin as Lansdowne Road, the usual venue for the final, was under re-development. Much of the build-up to the game was dominated by the events at Cork City, where many of the squad were out of contract and were seemingly not going to be offered new deals. Cork won the game 1–0 by virtue of a goal from Denis Behan. Despite his side's victory, Cork manager Damien Richardson left the club a few weeks later and was replaced by Longford manager Alan Mathews.
Route to the final
Both clubs entered the competition at the second round, alongside all of the other League of Ireland clubs, and completed four ties before reaching the final. Cork City played solely League of Ireland opposition, whereas Longford Town were drawn against two non-league sides.
Cork City
Round | Opposition | Score |
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2nd | Shelbourne (a) | 0-1 |
3rd | Kilkenny City (h) | 5-1 |
Quarter-finals | Waterford United (a)
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1-1 |
Waterford United (h)
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4-0 | |
Semi-finals | Bohemians (a) | 0-2 |
Cork City began the competition against First Division side
Longford Town
Round | Opposition | Score |
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2nd | Celbridge Town (h) | 1-0 |
3rd | Fanad United (h) | 2-0 |
Quarter-finals | Limerick 37 (h)
|
3-1 |
Semi-finals | UCD (a) | 0-1 |
Longford Town faced Celbridge Town of the Leinster Senior League in their first tie. Longford won the game 1–0.[citation needed] Longford again faced non-League of Ireland opposition in the third round as they played Fanad United at home. Fanad United were in close-season and this handicap proved too much for them as they lost 1–0 to Longford.[6] Limerick 37 were the opposition in the quarter-finals. The match finished 3–1 in Longford's favour, although much of the action happened late in the game as Longford opened the scoring in the 72nd minute. Dave Mooney doubled Longford's advantage in the 81st minute before Limerick converted a penalty, although Jamie Duffy scored in the final minute of the match to ensure Longford's progression.[7] Longford then reached the final after a 1–0 win over UCD. Robbie Martin, a former UCD player, scored the winning goal.[8]
Pre-match
Longford Town were appearing the final for the fourth time in seven years
Colm James and Ian Ryan were
Longford went into the match having already been relegated from the
A minute's silence was held before the game in memory of Longford Town club president Peter Keenan who had died that week.[10]
Cork City contract situation
Many Cork City players were out of contract going into the match, a situation that had "unsettled" the players according to manager Damien Richardson.[12] Richardson's own future at the club was also unresolved.[12]
Distribution of revenue
In a statement released before the club's final league match of the season, Cork City threatened to pull out of the final over a disagreement about the distribution of the revenue generated by the final between the participating teams.[13] Traditionally, the FAI would take 40% of the revenue[13] and the participating clubs would split the remaining money after running costs had been deducted.[13] This year, the FAI had proposed that the winners would receive a minimum of €100,000 in prize money and the runners-up would receive a minimum payment of €75,000,[13] which the organisation claimed was a substantial increase on the previous year's figures.[13] The FAI also claimed that representatives of Cork City and Longford Town, along with representatives of the other semi-finalists UCD and Bohemians, had been informed of, and agreed to, this financial package.[14]
Match
Lansdowne Road, the usual venue for the cup final, was under re-development so the match was held at the RDS Arena in Dublin.[15] The weather was very poor, with Cork City beginning the match playing against the wind.[16] Longford, despite widely being considered underdogs, were the better side in the first thirty minutes[17] and had several opportunities of note, in particular Jamie Duffy's effort on 15 minutes which Michael Devine did well to save.[16][17] Cork's first clear-cut chance came after 30 minutes following a mistake in the Longford defence.[17]
Longford had to play against the wind in the second half and this coincided with Cork becoming more dominant in the game.[17] Billy Woods' free kick early in the half eluded everyone and the ball went just wide.[17] The only goal of the game came in the 60th minute - John O'Flynn received the ball on the left wing from Dan Murray and delivered a cross into the penalty area which Denis Behan met with a diving header.[17] Behan had the opportunity to double his side's advantage in the 80th minute but could only hit the crossbar,[17] as did O'Flynn three minutes later.[17] Longford's defeat was effectively sealed in the final few minutes of the match when Patrick Sullivan was sent off following a poor tackle.[17]
Match details
Cork City | 1 – 0 | Longford Town |
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D. Behan 60' | Match report |
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MATCH OFFICIALS
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MATCH RULES
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Post-match
In an interview with RTÉ on the pitch following the game, Cork captain Dan Murray controversially claimed his side's victory was "two fingers to the board".[18]
Cork City manager Damien Richardson left the club a couple of weeks after the final[19] and was replaced by Alan Mathews, who had managed Longford Town in this final.[18]
Cork City qualified for the UEFA Cup and Setanta Cup by winning the match.[17]
References
- ^ "Shelbourne 0-1 Cork City". rte.ie/sport. 16 June 2007. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
- ^ "Cork City 5-1 Kilkenny City". RTÉ News. 17 August 2007. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
- ^ "Waterford Utd 1-1 Cork City". rte.ie/sport. 22 September 2007. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
- ^ "Cork City 4-0 Waterford United". rte.ie/sport. 25 September 2007. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
- ^ "Bohemians 0-2 Cork City". rte.ie/sport. 26 October 2007. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
- ^ "Longford Town 2-0 Fanad United". RTÉ News. 18 August 2007. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
- ^ "Longford Town 3-1 Limerick 37". RTÉ News. 22 September 2007. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
- ^ a b "UCD 0-1 Longford Town". RTÉ News. 28 October 2007. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
- ^ a b c List of cup finals
- ^ a b c d e "FAI Ford Cup final preview". RTÉ Sport. 30 November 2007. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
- ^ a b c "City in touching distance of Cup crown". Irish Examiner. 1 December 2007. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
- ^ a b Mackey, Liam (24 November 2007). "Cork players 'unsettled' by contract issue". www.irishexaminer.com. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
- ^ a b c d e Riordan, John (10 November 2007). "Cork make Cup final pull-out threat as FAI target all of gate and TV cash". www.irishexaminer.com. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
- ^ Mackey, Liam; Riordan, John (15 November 2007). "FAI stand firm in final money row". www.irishexaminer.com. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
- ^ "RDS to host FAI Cup final". 28 September 2007. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
- ^ a b "Cork City 1-0 Longford Town". RTÉ News. 2 December 2007. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Mackey, Liam (3 December 2007). "Behan grabs cup for City slickers". www.irishexaminer.com. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
- ^ a b Kelly, Turlough (21 February 2008). "Season Preview 2008: Cork City". extratime.ie. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
- ^ "Richardson and Cork agree exit deal". RTÉ News. 20 December 2007. Retrieved 23 March 2013.