Some ‘Blues In The Cup’ Statistics

(first published in the September 2009 St Patrick’s Athletic FAI Cup programme)

Waterford United have completed 77 FAI Cup campaigns to date (this season is their 78th), and over the years they have had some good runs in this, the blue ribband event of Irish soccer.

In what hopefully bodes well for tonight’s game, the Blues have the upper hand in their ‘last eight’ ties to date, coming out slightly ahead of the break-even point. They have contested 22 semi-finals, and 9 finals, but have only managed to hoist the trophy on two occasions.

Here is a brief look at United’s record in the FAI Ford Cup.
Bear in mind that in many cases the quarter final matches would have been Waterford’s first or second ties of the respective campaign.

Campaigns completed: 77
Fell at first hurdle: 29 (including replays)
Fell at 2nd hurdle: 23 (including replays)

Quarter Finals: Won 22 of 41
Beaten Shamrock Rovers twice, Limerick twice, Shelbourne, St Pat’s twice, Transport, Dundalk twice, Drumcondra, Dalkey United, Drogheda FC, Home Farm, Galway Rovers, Athlone Town, Limerick United, Finn Harps, Drogheda United, Cobh Ramblers, Rockmount, and had 1 bye.
Fallen to Dolphin, Shelbourne (twice), Bohemians, Dundalk (twice), Bray Unknowns, Shamrock Rovers, Cork Athletic, Evergreen, Limerick (three times), Cork Hibs (twice), Drogheda FC, St James’ Gate, Longford Town, and Cork City.

Semi Finals: Won 9 of 22
A little less successful at the penultimate stage, they’ve nonetheless seen off Longford Town (1937), Shamrock Rovers (1941 and ’79), Limerick (1959), Drumcondra (1968), Dundalk (1972), Limerick United (1980), St Pat’s (1986), and Derry City (2004).
But they lost out to Shelbourne (1949 and ’97), Dundalk (1952), Drumcondra (1955 and ’61), Cork Athletic (1956), Cork Hibs (1960), Shamrock Rovers (1962, ’66 and ’78), Sligo Rovers (1981), UCD (1984), and Longford Town (2001).

Finals: Won 2 of 9
The Blues of course beat St. James’ Gate in 1937, and St. Patrick’s Athletic in 1980, to lift the trophy, but have left Dublin empty handed on 7 other occasions.
They lost out to Cork United in 1941, St. Pat’s in ’59, Shamrock Rovers in 1968, and again in 1986, Cork Hibs in ’72, Dundalk in 1979 and most recently Longford in 2004.

Replay record: The Blues have a so-so record in Cup replays, winning 21, drawing 9, and losing 25 over the years.
They are unbeaten in penalty shoot-outs however, having seen off UCD away in the 3rd round by 7-6 in the 2000/01 season, Limerick at home by 4-2 in their 2002/03 2nd round tie, and Sligo Rovers 4-3 in 2007, again away in the 3rd round.