FAI Cup round-up: Galway United blitz Dundalk as St Patrick’s Athletic come through Finn Harps test

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Galway United boss John Caulfield Credit: Paul Dolan (ETPhotos)

Runaway First Division leaders Galway United blitzed Dundalk 4-0 to seal their place in the last four of the FAI Cup.

The Tribesmen came into the game off the back of a sensational league campaign that has seen them all but secure their promotion back to the Premier Division.

But this may be their most impressive win of the season.

Having dispatched UCD 5-1 in the previous round, United repeated the trick against Stephen O’Donnell’s dismal Dundalk.

Stephen Walsh opened the scoring as early as the eighth minute of the game, with Ed McCarthy doubling their advantage soon after.

Maurice Nugent made it 3-0 soon afterwards before David Hurley completed the rout five minutes before the break with a penalty after Aodh Dervin was fouled.

And that win means Galway United have reached the last four of the cup for the first time in over a decade – while it also piles the pressure on Dundalk.

The Lilywhites must now attempt to pick themselves up in the league with their European hopes hanging by a literal thread.

And there may have been another cup shock on the night at Finn Park if Harps held out against 2021 cup winners St Patrick’s Athletic.



The First Division strugglers have endured a challenging league season but managed to give the Saints a fright in Ballybofey.

Teenage striker Sean O’Donnell gave Dave Rogers’ side a 24th minute lead – and they took that advantage into the half-time break.

But a penalty from Chris Forrester in the 48th minute levelled the game to ease the pressure on the Saints.

And with just five minutes of normal time remaining Tommy Lonergan was on hand to score and send St Pat’s through to a semi-final.

Meanwhile, two-late goals from Cork City proved to be the difference as Wexford were downed in the FAI Cup quarter-finals at Turner’s Cross.



Trailing just before the break to a bizarre goal from Aaron Dobbs, City rallied to edge past the First Division side.

Malik Dijksteel and Ruairi Keating were both on target for the Leesiders as James Keddy’s First Division battlers gave it as good as they got.

And at Weavers Park, Bohemians also reached the semi-final stage thanks to a 3-1 win over Drogheda United.

Krystian Nowak put Bohs ahead on the stroke of half-time before Ryan Brennan equalised from the spot five minutes into the second half.

But a late brace from in-form hitman Jonathan Afolabi sent the Gypsies through.

They will learn their semi-final opponents during Tuesday afternoon’s draw at FAI HQ.

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