The two sides' four previous meetings that season had seen two heavy defeats for Dundalk, followed by two victories. Shamrock Rovers had finished as runners-up in the 1957–58 League of Ireland, and had already won that season's Shield, Dublin City Cup and Leinster Senior Cup. Rovers were already dominating the Cup's "roll of honour", having won 13 finals to that point – most recently two years earlier. On their way to the final they had defeated non-League Chapelizod (4–1), Sligo Rovers (3–2 in a replay), and St Patrick's Athletic (1–0).[1]
Dundalk had finished eighth in the League and seventh in the Shield, during what was a lean time in the club's history.[2] They were playing in their seventh FAI Cup final, having won the previous three - most recently in 1952, which was also the last time they had won a trophy to that point. To reach the final they had defeated Cork Hibernians (1–0), Limerick in the next round (3–0 in a replay following a 0–0 draw), and Shelbourne in the semi-final (1–0).[3]
Shamrock Rovers were heavy favourites heading into the final, although some pundits felt Dundalk's recent victories had unsettled Rovers, and noted how Dundalk had belied their poor league form by making their way to the final without conceding a goal in any of the previous rounds.[4] The match itself was evenly contested, although Rovers hit the woodwork once in each half. But they looked vulnerable from long balls up the middle of the pitch, and it was from one of these that inside-right Hubie Gannon benefited. The former Rovers player raced between the two Rovers centre backs and reached the ball before the advancing Rovers keeper, Christy O'Callaghan, to head home. Within minutes Rovers won a penalty, but Liam Hennessy missed the spot-kick, and the Rovers challenge faded. The surprise outcome of the match was summed up by the Irish Press headline, "The team that did not have an earthly chance wins the F.A.I. Cup Final".[5] In the process of scoring what turned out to be the winner, Gannon broke his jaw and missed the celebrations, having to spend a week in hospital.[6]
72'
