
RTÉ double down on FAI Cup as broadcaster strikes new two-year deal
The State broadcaster lost the rights to show the
2
The FAI and RTE confirmed a new two-year broadcast agreement that will show six games in Men's FAI Cup
2
Ryan Brennan of Drogheda United celebrates with the cup after 2024 FAI Cup final
But
Traditionally, the two semi-finals and final were shown, along with around 15 League of Ireland games.
But with Virgin taking over the league and showing 36 matches, RTÉ will increase their coverage with one third-round tie and then two quarter-finals in addition to both semi-finals and the decider.
Next year, RTÉ will show a further game in the second round — the round when League of Ireland sides traditionally enter the competition.
read more on football
RTÉ group head of sport Declan McBennett added: 'The Sports Direct Men's FAI Cup has always proven to be the biggest draw of the domestic soccer season.
'The magic of the Cup prevails. We are delighted our extended coverage and high-quality production standards will capture those moments for clubs and supporters alike.'
Arsenal reveal new home kit for 2025/26 season with major change to badge and eye-watering price
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Irish Examiner
7 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Jack Byrne left out of Rovers squad again after rumoured row with Stephen Bradley
Jack Byrne may have played his last game for Shamrock Rovers as he's been frozen out for tonight's Europa League third round second leg. Bar a brief injury-interrupted spell in Cyprus, when his former Ireland manager Mick McCarthy recruited him to APOEL, the classy midfielder has been with Rovers for the past six years. His goal as a substitute against St Joseph's helped the Hoops hurdle a Conference League round but he's not been with the squad for almost a fortnight. Chatter grew about a spat with his manager when Stephen Bradley omitted the 29-year-old from his squad for last week's trip to FK Ballkani in Kosovo. Exclusion from the initial list means Byrne is also unavailable for this second leg in which the league leaders need to overturn a 1-0 deficit. It also has financial implications as the Ireland international won't be entitled to the European bonus if his team completes the turnaround, setting up a playoff next week for league phase participation. That'll likely be against Portuguese outfit Santa Clara, who lead Larne 3-0 heading into their second leg in the Azores. Bradley is prepared to tackle this task without a player who has been integral to their revival. Byrne was central to their 2019 FAI Cup triumph and three of their four-in-a-row of titles. It's believed the row stems from Byrne taking issues with being left out of the league game against Derry City the weekend before last. Words were exchanged during a preparatory training match, in which the Dubliner was part of the back-up XI. It's only two years since Rovers rejected three bids, rising to €500,000, for their lynchpin from MLS side Charlotte. Byrne was understood to favour the switch at the time but signed a contract extension later in 2023 that expires at the end of 2026. A 12-month further option is held by his club. Bradley would only confirm that the player's absence wasn't due to injury, adamant he wouldn't be distracted ahead of a huge night at Tallaght Stadium. There is still the possibility of a reconciliation but a parting is also a possibility. Both Shelbourne and St Patrick's Athletic previously expressed interest in enlisting the midfielder and would lead the queue were to become available. Graham Burke, right, and Trevor Clarke during training. Picture: Seb Daly/Sportsfile Initially an apprentice at Manchester City, where he played under Patrick Vieira in the development squad, Byrne had spells at Oldham Athletic and Kilmarnock before moving back home. He remains the last player to win the coveted SSE Airtricity Soccer Writers' Ireland Men's Personality of the Year. Bradley does welcome back another Irish international, Graham Burke, into the fold following an injury. 'We were off our level in the first leg,' said the Hoops boss, whose side remain 10 points clear in the Premier Division despite being held scoreless at Galway United on Sunday. 'Ballkani were used to their surface last week whereas our lads were slipping. That's not an excuse that they were, but it played a part. 'They were dangerous where we thought they would be and we were slightly off it, which can happen. 'When that's the case but you leave with a result that keeps us in the tie, you take it. One thing you can never question about our group is their character and togetherness. Hopefully there's a big crowd cheering us on.' Meanwhile, St Patrick's Athletic are in damage limitation mode in Turkey. Tammy Abraham helped himself to a 30-minute hat-trick for Besiktas in last week's first leg as Ole Gunnar Solskjær's side led 4-0 at the break before Simon Power bagged a consolation. The former Manchester United manager will rotate his squad with an eye on the playoff round next week and the start of their domestic league, aware of the chasm between the teams. 'We were too charitable by giving up goals and wanted to get off the plane feeling we'd have a chance of winning the tie,' lamented Saints boss Stephen Kenny in Istanbul. ' We restored some integrity in the second half, we want to do ourselves justice and enjoy the game. 'Besiktas will want to put on a show at home so we've to match that and stay in the game. We were too passive in the first leg and want to bring a greater physicality and intensity.' In other news, Uefa have approved Tolka Park as the venue for Shelbourne's Conference League playoff. There were fears the limited capacity of 3,500 would require a switch to Tallaght but the club have sought and been granted clearance. Joey O'Brien's side will either have a rematch against Linfield — whom they overcame in last month's Champions League opening round — or Vikingur Gøta. The Faroese hold a 2-1 advantage ahead of Thursday's second leg at Windsor Park.


Irish Independent
9 hours ago
- Irish Independent
‘We want to show our fans how we've improved' – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer issues warning to Pat's in Istanbul
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has ominously warned St Patrick's Athletic that his Besiktas side have no plans to ease off in their Conference League third round second leg tie in Istanbul on Thursday night even though the tie is over. Besiktas had the game, and the tie overall, sewn up before half-time in the first leg in Dublin with a 4-0 lead, though Pat's restored some credibility with a strong second half display and a goal. The Saints camp travelled under no illusions that the tie was over with the idea of overturning a three-goal deficit beyond their reach in the second leg (7pm Irish time), and of far more importance to Pat's is Sunday's FAI Cup tie against league champions Shelbourne.

The 42
10 hours ago
- The 42
Boost for Shelbourne as Uefa approve Tolka Park for Conference League play-off
SHELBOURNE HAVE RECEIVED a huge boost ahead of their Uefa Conference League play-off after it was confirmed that the home leg will be played at Tolka Park. It's understood that upgrades made to the stadium as well as the operational aspects of how the League of Ireland champions have managed their European games so far have been enough to convince Uefa delegates to grant a licence for the Drumcondra venue. Advertisement It had been anticipated that Shels would have to move the home leg of their Europa League third round qualifier with Rijeka last night to Tallaght Stadium in order to meet ground regulations and requirements from the governing body. However, Tolka also won the seal of approval for that tie and despite losing the game they did enough with how the event was run to keep such a crucial fixture on their own patch. St Patrick's Athletic, for example, had to move last week's Conference League home tie with Besiktas to the home of Shamrock Rovers and it has traditionally been the case for League of Ireland teams – other than the Hoops – who make it beyond the second round of Europe to move their home fixture. Shels are now due to play at Tolka next Thursday (21 August) against the winner of Linfield and Vikingur with the away leg on 28 August. The Irish League side trail 2-1 from the first leg and should David Healy's side produce a comeback it will be a repeat of the All-Ireland derby from the first round of this year's Champions League qualifiers earlier this summer.