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We’ve had some drama already at the Aviva Stadium today.
A last-gasp Wexford Youths goal has brought the FAI Women’s Cup final into extra-time. More details here.
Some pre-match reading for you…
- Cork City boss looking to call upon spirit of ’98 and upset the odds again in FAI cup final
- ‘To rip the team apart and leave the club in tatters like that, it was disgusting to see’
- An absolute honour to be involved in occasions like this’ – Dreams of the double drive Dundalk
- Seven reasons why you shouldn’t miss Sunday’s FAI Cup final
- FAI Cup final’s success has little to do with FAI and everything to do with people who actually care
More drama here in the FAI Women’s Cup final — Derbhaile Beirne scores a last-gasp goal for Shelbourne to take the game to penalties.
This is going to be a tough act to follow.
Wexford Youths are the FAI Women’s Cup champions after beating Shelbourne on penalties.
There were strange scenes during the shootout, as the men’s players were warming up during the shootout down the other end — not exactly a respectful showing towards the women’s game.
The team news is out…
James McClean will be cheering on Dundalk today.
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We’re underway…
Early half chance for Cork, Billy Dennehy crosses for Mark O’Sullivan, but the latter’s header is comfortably saved.
There’s a superb atmosphere here at the Aviva.
Ronan Finn receives a pass from Richie Towell and steers a shot just wide.
Meanwhile, signs of early nerves as Mark McNulty makes a mess of a kick and it goes out of play.
Dundalk are starting to get on top.
Richie Sadlier has weighed in on warm-up gate.
Darren Meenan’s corner curls straight out of play — that’s a little careless, albeit it is a windy day.
Dundalk are controlling the game at the moment.
This is a good spell for Dundalk — they’re passing the ball confidently and dominating possession.
Liam Miller looks like the man who’s been given the unenviable task of marking Richie Towell.
Kevin O’Connor attempts an ambitious pass but it goes straight into Gary Rogers’ hands.
Cork need to be better with the ball.
There’s a moment of panic for Dundalk as Gary Rogers throws it straight to Garry Buckley.
His subsequent ball into the box is headed clear comfortably, however.
Cork are starting to come into this game more now.
More nervousness in the Dundalk defence as Darren Dennehy is involved in a goalmouth scramble.
The league champions eventually clear though.
Alan Bennett heads a corner just wide.
After early Dundalk dominance, Cork are enjoying a good spell in their opponents’ territory now.
Billy Dennehy curls a free kick over the bar.
Shortly thereafter, Garry Buckley attempts an audacious effort from way out to try and catch Gary Rogers out, after the goalkeeper’s initial unconvincing clearance.
There’s been a bit of a stoppage for Liam Miller to receive treatment, but it looks like the ex-Man United man is going to be okay to continue.
From the ensuing free kick, Andy Boyle heads the ball narrowly wide.
Kevin O’Connor finds space in midfield but his shot from outside the box drifts wide.
Cork look the slightly more purposeful side going forward at the moment.
A dangerous free kick is flighted into the box but David McMillan can’t quite get his head to it.
Stephen Kenny’s side have looked particularly dangerous so far from set pieces, and it could be their best bet for a breakthrough, with Cork otherwise looking very solid and well-organised at the back.
Sean Gannon is currently receiving treatment.
As I type, David McMillan tests the keeper with a decent strike, before Liam Miller is booked for a clumsy tackle on Darren Meenan.
Sean Gannon can’t continue after that knock and he’s replaced by Stephen O’Donnell.
This game has a palpable fiery edge to it now after that bad Miller tackle.
HALF-TIME: CORK CITY 0-0 DUNDALK
So it’s been a fairly even first half.
Both sides have had decent spells though it’s been quite cagey with no clear-cut chances as of yet.
Dundalk will be hoping to get the likes of Richie Towell into the game a bit more after the break, while Cork need to be better on the ball, with too many stray passes and basic errors preventing John Caulfield’s side from gaining any momentum or coherence in their play.
The second half is underway…
Lively start to the second half. Billy Dennehy charges down the right, but his cross is cleared.
Shortly thereafter, David McMillan’s shot is tipped over by Mark McNulty.
McMillan runs through on goal again, but his touch is too heavy and McNulty collects the ball comfortably.
This second period has already been far more open than the first half.
Dennehy curls another free kick into the box, but Rogers does well to claim it.
Shortly thereafter, Garry Buckley shoots narrowly wide from the edge of the box.
Liam Miller and Richie Towell battle for the ball.
Dane Massey heads a dangerous Cork free kick away for a corner.
John Caulfiled’s side look the more likely right now.
Liam Miller, who was a doubt before this game, has been replaced by another ex-Ireland international — Colin Healy.
Meenan’s corner comes to Towell, whose shot is blocked and cleared.
Moments later, the Dundalk midfielder again finds himself in a decent position on the edge of the box, but his shot fails to trouble McNulty unduly.
This game is still very finely balanced.
Super driving run from Daryl Horgan across the Cork box and past one defender as if he wasn’t there.
However, his eventual shot is straight at McNulty.
Towell tries to link up with McMillan, but the pass is intercepted and Cork clear.
Both sides have lacked killer instinct in the final third today.
David McMillan is replaced by Ciaran Kilduff.
As I type, the ball falls to Billy Dennehy on the edge of the box, but his attempt on goal is well blocked.
Decent positive play from Andy Boyle, who drives forward from the back, but his pass is overhit.
Both sides continue to cancel each other out with defences largely on top.
A Dundalk free kick is blocked down, before Stephen O’Donnell’s shot swerves wide.
Meanwhile, Darren Meenan has been replaced by John Mountney.
Danny Morrissey is replacing Mark O’Sullivan for Cork now.
This game looks destined for extra-time.
Ross Gaynor has just been booked for a deliberate handball to stop a Dundalk attack.
From the ensuing set piece, Kilduff heads over in a moment of slight panic in the Cork box.
Horgan badly overhits a cross as another Dundalk attack comes to an abrupt halt.
More flares are visible in the ground — this time from the Dundalk end.
Half chance for Dundalk as Kilduff heads it into Towell’s path.
However, Dundalk’s star man just can’t connect properly with the shot.
FULL-TIME: CORK CITY 0-0 DUNDALK – EXTRA-TIME TO BE PLAYED.
As expected, it’s been a very tight game, with both sides failing to score over the course of the 90 minutes.
Dundalk definitely edged the second half, and were throwing bodies forward by the end, with their opponents holding on a little.
Cork, as well as they have played, look to be tiring now, and may be hoping for penalties.
We’re back on again for the start of extra-time…
Good driving run forward by Ronan Finn, but his shot at McNulty is tame ultimately.
Dundalk are continuing where they left off at the end of normal time.
Dundalk had every outfield player in the Cork half there. The league champions look the fitter of the two sides at this stage.
As I type, Ronan Finn flashes a shot well wide.
Karl Sheppard is now receiving treatment for what looks like cramp. The crowd aren’t happy with the time it’s taking to treat him.
Cork are hanging on a bit now, with Dundalk dominating possession and territory.
Dan Murray has now replaced Sheppard, as Dundalk win a corner and continue to press for a goal.
Another half chance, as Horgan’s snap shot from the edge of the area flies wide.
Cork are struggling to get out of their own half at times.
A quick break sees Towell sprint forward, but his pass is too heavy for Kilduff.
Towell has been a little disappointing today by his own very high standards.
HALF-TIME OF EXTRA-TIME: CORK CITY 0-0 DUNDALK
The second half of extra time has begun…
DUNDALK 1-0 CORK (TOWELL 107)
It’s a moment of magic that might just have won the game for Dundalk.
Horgan, who’s been excellent all game, sprints past his opponent down the left and squares it to Richie Towell, who makes no mistake with a cool finish into the corner of the net.
Cork aren’t down and out yet.
They’re pressing for an equaliser and Darren Dennehy has just seen his header tipped over by Rogers.
Down the other end, a cross is fired into the box, but no one is on hand to connect with it.
The roles of the two sides have unsurprisingly reversed completely since that goal.
It’s now Dundalk who have every player in their own half.
As I type, however, the league champions break, but John Mountney’s shot on the edge of the area is blocked.
Cork have every player up bar the goalkeeper, whose free kick goes frustratingly straight into Rogers’ hands.
Tense times.
Dundalk are keeping the ball well now and frustrating Cork.
Less than a minute remains.
Cork win a free kick after a rash challenge on the edge of the box by Kilduff.
Buckley fires a shot well wide.
FULL-TIME: DUNDALK 1-0 CORK – DUNDALK ARE THE 2015 FAI CUP WINNERS
So that’s that. Dundalk have done the double, thanks to Richie Towell’s match-winning strike.
On the balance of play, few would argue that it wasn’t deserved.
The league champions grew increasingly dominant and the game wore on, and looked the fitter and more dangerous of the two sides throughout extra time.
Despite a manful, disciplined and defensively impressive display, Cork were ultimately beaten by the better team on the day.
Good luck and thanks joe
Thanks for the good times Joe. We had many.
Enjoy your time with your family,
you deserve it.
He’ll go back to rugby that’s for sure . He could make a decent substitute for Nucifora as High Performance Director for the IRFU . It’d give him better family time and we won’t have to see him against us ..
@Limón Madrugada: why is Nucifora leaving?
@John Thomas: his contract is up in 2021 I believe
@Limón Madrugada: he could take the real madrid job….
@Hanzee: I’ve no doubt he’d make a better fist of it than Lopetegui . But he’d sleep even less and the attention from the ladies would surely turn his head and he’s a family man.
@Limón Madrugada: Zidane
@John Jones: is that code for something . I’m well aware that Zidane is the coach of Real Madrid , it was Lopetegui who got fired …
@Limón Madrugada: Lapotegui is only two points behind though
@Dave O Keeffe: 2 points a la Liga trophy and 3CLs behind
@Limón Madrugada: ah yeah but Zidane never won the u19 and u21 euros. Be pretty amazing if Lapotegui won the league or the CL three times in a few months.
@Dave O Keeffe: it’d be even more amazing if there was a coach called Lapotegui …
There is always a Job for the Best and you are the Best You have taken Ireland to the Top
Thank you and Good Luck in the Future
@pat seery: How has he ‘taken Ireland to the top’? Do you not remember that Ireland got hammered in the quarter final of the RWC again only 3 days ago?
@mar: they were literally number one in the world coming into the tournament
@Andrew Doyle: for 1 week
@bmul: yes the top, as stated
@bmul: Agustin Pichot, Vice-chairman of World Rugby had the following to say about Ireland being ranked No. 1:
“It’s ridiculous! I’m going to change it,” “It is all mathematical and I would say that it is almost a matter of marketing.” (quotes taken from an article in the Irish Independent).
The Vodafone Ireland #teamofus in the RWC was a marketing scam. The bubble burst quickly but some still seem to #believe.
@mar: I’d say you fall into the bracket of people that likes to see others fail
@John Jones: I’d say you quickly jump to conclusions about people.
@mar: Nobody listens to Augstin Pichot. He’s a dope.
@mar: Grow up mate
@Patrick N O Leary: If you still think Joe brought Ireland to the top and that the No. 1 ranking in any way reflected reality then no doubt it’s you who needs to grow up.
@Andrew Doyle: all that says is the ratings are a joke
@mar:
You are a assho@# with an childish mind: We got beaten by the real No. 1 in the world :: Joe never accepted that flash position as most of us real Rugby Fans did not either :: What Joe brought was a very high position in World Rugby, one we never got near before :: I have been following it since the 60s and Joe got us in a place I had never seen. In 2018 we were the closest at 1, 2, 3 which ever you want but we had beaten ALL the top teams in the World (N Z 2 times ) We got beaten by the real No 1 in the world 3 days ago and no body with any sense though different :: BUT YOU DID :: that says a lot about you and your knowledge of Rugby::
I will say it again you are a childish ASS@# with a nasty agenda against out game ::PISS OFF IMO IMO
@Martin Quinn: you are some dose
Thanks Joe. You are a legend. Enjoy the time with your Family. The team has excelled under your Management. It’s been an incredible ride
@Jason: they have not.
Remember the game at soldier field? The pit of sheer excitement and disbelief in your stomach at witnessing that spectacle, Ireland, like monsters, doninating the ‘All Blacks’, the physicality, perfect skills, and fully determined, making history from the off. Unbelievable! One of those events you remember with crystal clarity. Only one of many! There was no show like the Joe Show
@Daimhín De Naois: Got stuffed when it mattered though
@will: call over Will. I’ll piss in your chips for you. Save you the bother
@will: every game matters to the All Blacks. That’s what makes them so damn good!
@will: yes they did but let’s not forget the mighty NZ were the best in the world from 1990 to 2006 and still kept losing in QFs and SFs including great legends of NZ rugby. Failure is not the ultimate definition , nor is success . You would have learnt that doing your grinds at Leeson St.
@Daimhín De Naois: you also remember not so long ago, the mighty Aussies, well beaten by England, trouncing the All Blacks. Hyperbole of the highest degree.
@Daimhín De Naois: Rugby doesn’t really float my boat but I cannot for the life of me understand why “fans” put so much value in these Test/Challenge games ? Surely winning last weekend or the previous other Q/F collapses is the only measurement of achievement on a world stage ??? I’m a long suffering Galway hurling fan, I’ve seen enough failure and thankfully some success to know the difference…
@Groundhurling: In any sport it’s up to those participating, and to a certain extent those spectating, how important any game is. Rugby has a long tradition of competitive test matches. Before 1987 there was no world cup and only the 4/5 nations and test matches. Obviously the arrival of the world cup pushed test matches down a rung in terms of importance but there’s no reason for them to suddenly become meaningless. I doubt anyone disputes that winning a Q/F trumps winning an Autumn test. Is it because friendlies in soccer and challenge matches in GAA are meaningless that people can’t get their heads around rugby tests carrying some value?
@Daimhín De Naois: what year was that again?
@Groundhurling:
Stick to the GAA then :: and you got an A I only a few years ago so why compline ::there are teams who have not won in years :: and don’t tell us how we are feeling
Brilliant coach , the best we have ever had. Sport is cruel . You can be brilliant for years and then just for whatever reason don’t perform for a short period and all your hard work can seem to be undone in a few minutes .
He has given us some great days and was a gentleman to boot .
Best wishes to Joe and his family
Thanks Joe. You are a legend. Enjoy the time with your Family. The team has excelled under your Management. It’s been an incredible ride
@Jason: we’re a GAA country, punching above our weight in rugby. 2200 GAA clubs vs 200 rugby clubs. We can’t compete against Southern hemisphere in matches that really count bar glorified money spinning friendlies.
@Peadar: all the more of an achievement to go to Number 1 in the world with such a low amount of rugby clubs. Think you need to elevate your viewpoint, if only for yourself Peadar
@Peadar: New Zealand have 141 thousand registered players. We have 95 thousand. We’re not battling overwhelming odds here, yet we have only ever won 2 matches against them (both under Schmidt). South Africa and England Both have far greater playing numbers than the all blacks and throughout history have mostly been inferior to them. Money, resources and playing numbers will only get you so far. Ireland are aswell resourced as is possible, rugby receives greater coverage and promotion than any other sport in this country despite it not being the most popular (but is loved by the ruling class and that’s what matters really isn’t it…) and we’ve never been beyond the last 8 of a World Cup.
In the last three world cups before this one we’ve gone out to Argentina twice and wales once. Both countries of similar player numbers and we were hammered on each occasion just like we were last weekend.
We went to world number one a few weeks after England put nearly 60 points on us! That ranking system is a sham.
We just aren’t good enough and never have been when it matters. Simple as.
@John drennan: Ruling class? Ffs.
@Cian: IRFU states there are 194,300 registered rugby players in ireland.
NZRU states 156,000 registered players
@Walter Obrien:
I stopped reading John drennan post when that came up ::”the ruling class”
He is an assh@#@ and I told you before you should know something about Rugby before you comment and here again you are doing it.
Regarding N Z :: I have been there and those numbers mean nothing :: When a N Z baby (male and Female ) is born, it comes out of with a “Baby birth Ball” in the position for passing. All they want to do is play for N Z :: we face the GAA (Hurling and Football):: Soccer and forth comes Rugby :: and our baby’s just have the love of their parents to get them through:: you can use figures anyway you want but it is what is in the sole and in NZ it is Rugby
It is sad to read an Irish Poster agreeing with some other Country troll:: you should be ashamed
Your a legend. Thank you
Thank you Joe for all of the good times good luck and enjoy the time off.
Yup
I don’t think we would have had Chicago without Joe
Honestly, one of the best weekends ever
Too loyal to the older crew joe
@Tony Mcgrath: on the balance of performances that’s too harsh, has been and will be the best return from a coach we are likely to have for years.
Joe Schmidt should be convinced to stay involved with the Ireland rugby team in some capacity. We will need him.
@J. Reid: I agree. I’d say he’d jump at a chance to right the last few weeks. I’d love him to take a special role with academy players or send project teenagers to him in NZ. No better man to take a break and analyse his errors and adapt. He learnt more than IRFU did.
Joe, you’re the best we’ve ever had! You owe us nothing, we will forever be in your debt. Good luck and every happiness to you and your family.
Think we were spoilt for the past 6 years. Anyone here saying otherwise will be regretting it. 6 nations time we will be lucky to get past Italy/Scotland Our card is marked. Thanks Joe, you will be sorely missed, pity it didn’t work out to go out on a deserved high.
A highly talented coach and a gentleman to boot. Thanks Joe, good memories, best of luck for the future. Irish Rugby is in a better realm thanks to your hard work and commitment.
Thanks for the good times joe, But let’s call a spade a spade, 2019 has been a disaster and theirs no getting away from it, the 2015 quarter final defeat vs Argentina was the one that got away.
@Alan Brazil: what has that got to do with this article? Are you just going to crawl into every article to bang the same drum? We know 2019 was a dissapointment, we all saw that for ourselves. Nonetheless, he’s the best and most successful coach we’ve ever had and its no surprise he’s had offers… Which, I must remind you, is what this article is about.
@Brendan Heery: Good for him, no f
@Alan Brazil: finished with Irish international rugby now until the 2021 six nations
@Alan Brazil: A true Irish rugby fan, ill be looking out for you.
@Alan Brazil:
You were always finished with Ireland :: all your posts were anti Ireland ::dont give us this chrap of 2021 :go off and don’t come back ::OK ::OK
France hoping to get him.
@Brian Farrell: there’s a job opening in Australia at the moment. Although I’d love to see him take a Pacific island team like Fiji and turn them into a tier 1 nation.
Thanks for the memories Joe enjoy your time with family
Thanks for the incredible entertainment & pride Joe, you’ve worked so hard & I have enjoyed every minute of your tenure
Thanks for the memories Joe and may an incredibly lucrative offer fall in your lap in due course. You deserve no less.
A Great Coach But above all a real gentleman.
About to take off for Tokyo. Had high hopes like Joe and the team but such is life. 2018 and previous years were incredible and for sure we enjoyed every moment of the games and celebrations.
Wishing him the very best for his year ahead and wishing the team rest and regrouping.
Meanwhile there are some great games to enjoy for the next two weekends.
In terms of 6 Nations and one off tests his era was a resounding success. However in terms of World Cups it was a resounding failure.
@Patrick Jackman: the same could have been said about Graham Henry and Steve Hansen up to 2011 … without so much success at 6N but obviously plenty at Tri Nations .. and they got slaughtered back home for it , as did John Mitchell etc ..
No
When it’s done, it’s done
I’d love to see him step down a few levels, relax and rediscover his more relaxed side.
@Eddie Hekenui: he’ll never be stuck , he’d be the perfect guy for WR to parachute into the Tier 2 qualifiers in the 12 months prior to a RWC . Daniel Hourcade was assistant coach to Portugal in 2007 all covered by WR .
@Limón Madrugada: He’ll definitely have a job sooner rather than later. World Rugby pay for the coaches of a lot of the Tier 2 teams but I can’t see Schmidt going that way yet. Maybe down the line but he’d be far too in demand now. He’s also spoken about going home and having more time with family so I think he’ll end up in the Mitre 10 or Super Rugby in the next 18 months. I’d like to see him help out in a school in NZ for the next few months though. It’d be a great way to recuperate.
@Eddie Hekenui: Blackrock college has dibs on him in Ireland :-) .He would be an awesome addition to Spanish rugby that’s for sure .
Thanks for everything you gave Irish rugby Joe at Leinster and Ireland. You took it on to another level entirely. A sad end no doubt and maybe 2018 was the peak when we won everything. Irelands demise this year struck me as a bit similar to Fergie somehow winning league in his last year at ManU with a fairly ordinary squad then they fell off a cliff after that. How could same players perform so differently in a year. One thing that stands out for me in relation to how good Joe is how players speak of him. Almost uniformly positive and that he was best coach they ever worked with and he improved them as players. Even older guys nearing end of their careers like POC, shaggy and Best. I look forward to hearing stories behind the scenes in future biography. Enjoy the break Joe.