{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}} {{Use Irish English|date=March 2021}} {{Infobox football match | title = 2007 FAI Cup final | event = 2007 FAI Cup | team1 = Cork City | team1score = 1 | team2 = Longford Town | team2score = 0 | date = 2 December 2007 | stadium = RDS Arena | city = Dublin | man_of_the_match1a = | referee = Dave McKeon | attendance = | previous = 2006 | next = 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== {{main article|2007 FAI Cup}}
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=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;margin-left:1em;float:right" <!-- |+ '''Cork City''' --> !width="25" | Round !width="150" | Opposition !width="50" | Score |- | 2nd | Shelbourne (a) | 0-1 |- | 3rd | Kilkenny City (h) | 5-1 |- |rowspan="2" | Quarter-finals | Waterford United (a) | 1-1 |- | Waterford United (h) | 4-0 |- | Semi-finals | Bohemians (a) | 0-2 |} Cork City began the competition against First Division side Shelbourne. Cork City won the game 1–0; Roy O'Donovan's penalty in the 8th minute being the only goal of the game. O'Donovan won the penalty himself after a foul from Conor Rafferty.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/irish/2007/0615/219045-corkcity/ |title=Shelbourne 0-1 Cork City |date=16 June 2007 |work=rte.ie/sport |accessdate=26 October 2012}}</ref> The third round match against Kilkenny City finished 5–1 to Cork. Cork players Brian O'Callaghan, Leon McSweeney and Colin Healy all scored in a 6-minute period in the first half to put the home side 3-0 up. Although Kilkenny did pull a goal back, John O'Flynn scored two goals towards the end of the second half to seal a comfortable win.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/irish/2007/0817/221639-faifordcup/ |title=Cork City 5-1 Kilkenny City |date=17 August 2007 |work= RTÉ News|accessdate=26 October 2012}}</ref> Cork City required a replay to advance past the quarter-finals after initially drawing 1–1 against Waterford United. Waterford took the lead on 10 minutes through Dave Warren's free kick and they could have doubled their lead but for Alan Kearney's goal being ruled out on 28 minutes. Cork equalised early in the second half through Denis Behan but nearly fell behind again after Vinnie Sullivan hit the woodwork.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/irish/2007/0922/223014-waterfordcork/ |title=Waterford Utd 1-1 Cork City |date=22 September 2007 |work=rte.ie/sport |accessdate=26 October 2012}}</ref> The replay was not such a close encounter as Cork, this time playing at home, comfortably won 4–0. Denis Behan scored a hat-trick. with Liam Kearney scoring the other goal.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/irish/2007/0925/223099-corkwaterford/ |title=Cork City 4-0 Waterford United |date=25 September 2007 |work=rte.ie/sport |accessdate=26 October 2012}}</ref> Bohemians were the opposition in the semi-final. Although they were the away side, Cork guaranteed their place in final by winning 2–0. Liam Kearney scored both the goals.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/irish/2007/1026/224253-corkcity/ |title=Bohemians 0-2 Cork City |date=26 October 2007 |work=rte.ie/sport |accessdate=26 October 2012}}</ref>
===Longford Town=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;margin-left:1em;float:right" <!-- |+ '''Longford Town''' --> !width="25" | Round !width="150" | Opposition !width="50" | Score |- | 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|date=June 2013}} 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.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/irish/2007/0818/221682-longfordtown/ |title=Longford Town 2-0 Fanad United |date=18 August 2007 |work= RTÉ News|accessdate=26 October 2012}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/irish/2007/0922/222984-faicup/ |title=Longford Town 3-1 Limerick 37 |date=22 September 2007 |work= RTÉ News|accessdate=19 November 2012}}</ref> Longford then reached the final after a 1–0 win over UCD. Robbie Martin, a former UCD player, scored the winning goal.<ref name="UCD">{{cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/irish/2007/1028/224309-ucdlongfordtown/ |title=UCD 0-1 Longford Town |date=28 October 2007 |work= RTÉ News|accessdate=19 November 2012}}</ref>
==Pre-match== Longford Town were appearing the final for the fourth time in seven years<ref name="UCD" /> having won the tournament in 2004 and 2003 and finishing as runners-up in 2001, despite never contesting a FAI Cup final before 2001.<ref name="RSSF">[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iercuphist.html List of cup finals]</ref> Cork City's last appearance in the final was in 2005,<ref name="RSSF" /> when they lost to Drogheda United. Cork had also previously contested the FAI Cup final in 1989 and 1998, winning on the latter occasion.<ref name="RSSF" />
Colm James and Ian Ryan were cup-tied for Longford, while David Freeman was also absent due to illness.<ref name="preview">{{cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/irish/2007/1130/225404-faicup/ |title=FAI Ford Cup final preview |date=30 November 2007 |work=RTÉ Sport |accessdate=6 April 2013}}</ref> Cork's only absentee through injury was Darragh Ryan,<ref name="preview" /> although Liam Kearney, John O’Flynn and Brian O’Callaghan had themselves all recently returned from injury.<ref name="preview" /> Cork's Neal Horgan and Gary Deegan of Longford were suspended for the final. Both clubs attempted to persuade the FAI to postpone their suspensions on compassionate grounds,<ref name="preview" /> but the appeals were ultimately unsuccessful.<ref name="examiner">{{cite web |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/rugby/arid-10049342.html |title=City in touching distance of Cup crown |date=1 December 2007 |work=Irish Examiner |access-date=6 April 2013}}</ref>
Longford went into the match having already been relegated from the League of Ireland Premier Division.<ref name="examiner" /> Cork had finished 4th in the league and were generally regarded as favourites going into the cup final.<ref name="examiner" />
A minute's silence was held before the game in memory of Longford Town club president Peter Keenan who had died that week.<ref name="preview" />
===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.<ref name="contract">{{cite web |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-10048784.html |title=Cork players ‘unsettled’ by contract issue |last1=Mackey |first1=Liam |date=24 November 2007 |website=www.irishexaminer.com |access-date=8 June 2013}}</ref> Richardson's own future at the club was also unresolved.<ref name="contract" />
===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.<ref name="revenue">{{cite web |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-10047615.html |title=Cork make Cup final pull-out threat as FAI target all of gate and TV cash |last1=Riordan |first1=John |date=10 November 2007 |website=www.irishexaminer.com |access-date=8 June 2013}}</ref> Traditionally, the FAI would take 40% of the revenue<ref name="revenue" /> and the participating clubs would split the remaining money after running costs had been deducted.<ref name="revenue" /> 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,<ref name="revenue" /> which the organisation claimed was a substantial increase on the previous year's figures.<ref name="revenue" /> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/farming/arid-10047969.html |title=FAI stand firm in final money row |last1=Mackey |first1=Liam |last2=Riordan |first2=John |date=15 November 2007 |website=www.irishexaminer.com |access-date=8 June 2013}}</ref>
==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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-10043822.html |title=RDS to host FAI Cup final |date=28 September 2007 |access-date=8 June 2013}}</ref> The weather was very poor, with Cork City beginning the match playing against the wind.<ref name="rte report">{{cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/irish/2007/1202/225478-faicup/ |title=Cork City 1-0 Longford Town |date= 2 December 2007|accessdate=8 June 2013 |work=RTÉ News}}</ref> Longford, despite widely being considered underdogs, were the better side in the first thirty minutes<ref name="match report" /> and had several opportunities of note, in particular Jamie Duffy's effort on 15 minutes which Michael Devine did well to save.<ref name="rte report" /><ref name="match report" /> Cork's first clear-cut chance came after 30 minutes following a mistake in the Longford defence.<ref name="match report" />
Longford had to play against the wind in the second half and this coincided with Cork becoming more dominant in the game.<ref name="match report" /> Billy Woods' free kick early in the half eluded everyone and the ball went just wide.<ref name="match report" /> 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.<ref name="match report" /> Behan had the opportunity to double his side's advantage in the 80th minute but could only hit the crossbar,<ref name="match report" /> as did O'Flynn three minutes later.<ref name="match report" /> Longford's defeat was effectively sealed in the final few minutes of the match when Patrick Sullivan was sent off following a poor tackle.<ref name="match report" />
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===Match details=== {{football box |date = 2 December 2007 <br /> 15:30 |team1 = Cork City |score = 1 – 0 |report = [http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/irish/2007/1202/225478-faicup/ Match report] |team2 = Longford Town |goals1 = D. Behan {{goal|60}} |goals2 = |stadium = RDS Arena | attendance = }} {| width="100%" |valign="top" width="50%"| {| | '''Cork City:''' |- | {{flagicon|IRL}} Michael Devine |- | {{flagicon|IRL}} Cillian Lordan || |- | {{flagicon|IRL}} Brian O'Callaghan |- | {{flagicon|ENG}} Dan Murray |- | {{flagicon|IRL}} Billy Woods || || {{suboff|67}} |- | {{flagicon|IRL}} Leon McSweeney |- | {{flagicon|IRL}} Joe Gamble |- | {{flagicon|IRL}} Colin Healy || || |- | {{flagicon|IRL}} Liam Kearney || || {{suboff|85}} |- | {{flagicon|IRL}} Denis Behan|| || |- | {{flagicon|IRL}} John O'Flynn |- | '''Substitutes:''' |- | {{flagicon|IRL}} Colin O'Brien || || {{subon|67}} |- | {{flagicon|IRL}} Gareth Farrelly || || {{subon|85}} |- | '''Manager:''' Damien Richardson |} |valign="top"| |valign="top" width="50%"| {| | '''Longford Town:''' |- | {{flagicon|IRL}} Seamus Kelly |- | {{flagicon|IRL}} Patrick Sullivan || {{sentoff|2|90+3}} |- | {{flagicon|IRL}} Damien Brennan || || |- | {{flagicon|IRL}} Kevin Doherty |- | {{flagicon|IRL}} Sean Prunty || |- | {{flagicon|}} Jamie Duffy || || {{suboff|78}} |- | {{flagicon|IRL}} Daire Doyle |- | {{flagicon|ENG}} Mark Rutherford || |- | {{flagicon|IRL}} Robbie Martin |- | {{flagicon|IRL}} Dave Mooney |- | {{flagicon|IRL}} Dessie Baker || || {{suboff|55}} |- | '''Substitutes:''' |- | {{flagicon|IRL}} John Reilly || || {{subon|78}} |- | {{flagicon|USA}} Ian Wexler || || {{subon|55}} |- | '''Manager:''' Alan Mathews |- |} |} {| width=100% style="font-size: 90%" | width=50% valign=top| '''MATCH OFFICIALS''' * Referee: Dave McKeon | width=50% valign=top| '''MATCH RULES''' *90 minutes. *30 minutes of extra-time if necessary. *Penalty shoot-out if scores still level. *Seven named substitutes *Maximum of 3 substitutions. |}
==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".<ref name="season preview">{{cite web |url=http://www.extratime.ie/newsdesk/articles/22/ |title=Season Preview 2008: Cork City |last1=Kelly |first1=Turlough |date=21 February 2008 |work=extratime.ie |accessdate=24 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303233731/http://www.extratime.ie/newsdesk/articles/22/ |archive-date=2016-03-03 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Cork City manager Damien Richardson left the club a couple of weeks after the final<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/irish-soccer-league/2007/1220/226074-corkcity/ |title=Richardson and Cork agree exit deal |date=20 December 2007 |work= RTÉ News|accessdate=23 March 2013}}</ref> and was replaced by Alan Mathews, who had managed Longford Town in this final.<ref name="season preview" />
Cork City qualified for the UEFA Cup and Setanta Cup by winning the match.<ref name="match report">{{cite web |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-10049449.html |title=Behan grabs cup for City slickers |last1=Mackey |first1=Liam |date=3 December 2007 |website=www.irishexaminer.com |access-date=8 June 2013}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|2}}
{{Cork City F.C.}} {{Longford Town F.C.}} {{FAI Cup seasons}}
2007 Category:2007 in Republic of Ireland association football cups Category:FAI Cup seasons Fai Cup Final 2007 Fai Cup Final 2007 FAI Cup Final, 2007 FAI Cup Final Category:December 2007 in Ireland