In this post, you can find our FAI Cup Semi-Finals Preview as we find out who’s going to make the final of Ireland’s premier cup competition.
FAI Cup Acca Selections
Cork City vs St Patrick’s Athletic – St Patrick's Athletic Win + BTTS @ 13/5
Shamrock Rovers vs Kerry FC – Shamrock Rovers @ 1/11
A Double with these selections pays at approximately 2.93//1 with BoyleSports.
Cork City vs St Patrick’s Athletic – Friday 7.45 pm, RTÉ 2
Odds
Cork City – 14/5
St Parick’s Athletic – 3/4
Draw – 9/4
Preview
Following their 2-1 defeat to Galway United last Friday Night, Cork City are as good as down in the Premier Division, a feat which has been fairly certain for months. However, the FAI Cup has been kinder to them in 2025, and they now stand an outside chance of becoming the first First Division Irish side to play in Europe since UCD qualified through the fairplay table in 2015. A colossal effort will be needed to get over the line, though they did hold Pats to a 0-0 draw last June.
Pre-season, Stephen Kenny’s Pats side were expected to be battling it out at the top of the Premier Division. However, ropey league form and a competitive race for the final European slots mean the FAI Cup may be their best opportunity to secure European Football in 2026. Teenage sensation Mason Melia scored a brace in their 4-0 victory over them last month, and though Pat’s haven’t scored as many as they should’ve in 2025, they will be playing the joint-worst defence in the Premier Division (56 Goals Conceded).
Prediction: Cork City 2-2 St Patrick’s Athletic
Anything can happen in a Cup game, but these sides, on the whole, are on different stratospheres in terms of where their respective clubs are going. Cork City may give it a rattle, but I don’t think they’ve enough in both their ability (football and mental) to get over the line.
Best Bet: St Patrick's Athletic Win + BTTS @ 13/5
Shamrock Rovers vs Kerry– Sunday 4 pm, RTÉ 2
Odds
Shamrock Rovers - 1/11
Kerry – 12/1
Draw – 7/1
Preview
Shamrock Rovers have been the outstanding side in Irish Football for some time, and bar their blip in 2024, they’re on the verge of securing their fifth Premier Division title in six seasons in the coming weeks. Furthermore, they continue to make waves in Europe, becoming a consistent entity at that level and raising the bar of expectations. However, despite that dominance in the league and their European performance, the FAI Cup has been a place where they’ve relatively underperformed, with their last success coming in 2019 when they defeated Dundalk following a 1-1 draw, winning 4-2 on penalties. Their last success before that was the 1986/1987 season.
Another historic occasion is on the cards for Ireland’s newest League of Ireland club, Kerry FC, who only joined the pyramid in 2022. Their comeback victory in the Quarter-Final to come from 3-0 behind to drag the game into Extra Time before winning in a historic 4-3 win over Sligo Rovers is a testament to the work that’s gone on behind the scenes and a credit to the coaching of Colin Healy. However, this game will be the toughest test in the history of the club.
Prediction: Shamrock Rovers 3-0 Kerry
A real David vs Goliath cup clash, and even with the home side's underperformance in this competition, they should really be operating on a far different level with respect to Kerry FC.
Best Bet: Shamrock Rovers @ 1/11
*Prices are subject to fluctuation.
Remember, Always Gamble Responsibly.
