St Michael Bleiburg and Janesboro played out a 1-1 draw in the first round of the Ireland FAI Cup on 16 May 2026. The match, held at a chilly Bleiburg Park, saw both sides share the spoils after an evenly contested 90 minutes. A replay will now be needed to decide who advances to the next round.

Match Report

The home side started brightly, taking the lead in the 14th minute. A long ball over the top caught out the Janesboro defence, and St Michael Bleiburg forward Alan O’Sullivan calmly slotted the ball past the advancing goalkeeper. Janesboro responded well, creating several half‑chances before halftime, but the score remained 1‑0 at the break.

Janesboro equalised in the 57th minute through a well‑worked move. Midfielder David Ryan played a one‑two on the edge of the box before firing a low shot into the bottom corner. Both teams pushed for a winner in the final half‑hour, but neither could find a decisive finish. The match ended 1‑1, forcing a replay at a date to be confirmed.

Cup Context

St Michael Bleiburg, a club from the Munster Senior League, showed they could compete against a League of Ireland First Division side in Janesboro. The replay will be held at Janesboro’s home ground, giving them the advantage of familiar surroundings. The winner will face a third‑round tie against a higher‑ranked opponent.