FAI Intermediate Cup

The FAI Intermediate Cup is an annual knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland outside of the Football League of Ireland (senior level) and also not open to clubs who play in leagues permitting the use of public pitches (junior level). Organised by the Football Association of Ireland, it also used as a qualifying tournament for intermediate sides to qualify for the FAI Cup.

For its first five seasons from its inception in 1926-27 it was known as the "FAI Qualifying Cup" and the first winners were Leinster Senior League club Drumcondra who as a result of their progress in the Qualifying Cup also entered the FAI Senior Cup and won it, beating Brideville F.C. in a replay at Shelbourne Park.

The competition was renamed the Intermediate Cup at the start of the 1931-32 season and was also open to the reserve teams of Football League of Ireland clubs. Indeed the reserves (or 'B' teams as they were known) won it on several occasions- Bohemians in 1932, Shelbourne F.C. in 1933, Drumcondra in 1947, and St Patrick's Athletic F.C. in 1953.

The trophy has also been won by intermediate clubs who would become League of Ireland members afterwards- Longford Town won it in 1955, 1960 and 1969, Bray Wanderers won it in 1956 and 1958, Home Farm in 1963, 1967 and 1968, and Cobh Ramblers in 1980.

External links

* [http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=42&Itemid=56/ FAI Intermediate Cup 2006/07] @ fai.ie
* [http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=43&Itemid=57/ FAI Intermediate Cup list of previous winners] @ fai.ie