Distillery Football Club was an Irish association football club originally based on Distillery Road in Drumcondra, Dublin. The club was active during the 1930s and 1940s, fielding teams in both the Leinster Senior League and the Athletic Union League. They also competed in the FAI Cup, the FAI Intermediate Cup, the FAI Junior Cup and the Leinster Senior Cup, winning the three latter trophies. Despite their successes at intermediate and junior level, unlike their contemporaries Sligo Rovers and St Patrick's Athletic, Distillery never joined the League of Ireland.
Distillery first came to national prominence when they won the 1930âÂÂ31 FAI Junior Cup. During the late 1930s and early 1940s they developed into the leading intermediate club team in Ireland, winning the Leinster Senior League on five occasions and the FAI Intermediate Cup four times in row between 1938âÂÂ39 and 1941âÂÂ42. This latter achievement remained unequalled for seventy two years until Avondale United completed a four in a row in 2013âÂÂ14. In 1941âÂÂ42 Distillery also won the Leinster Senior Cup after defeating Bray Unknowns 4âÂÂ1 in the final. As a result, they became the first nonâÂÂLeague of Ireland club to defeat a League of Ireland club in the final. The 1941âÂÂ42 season saw the club achieve a quartet, winning the League Senior League, the Leinster Senior Cup, the FAI Intermediate Cup and the FAI Junior Cup. Tommy Eglington was a member of their 1941âÂÂ42 FAI Junior Cup winning team.
Distillery made their first appearance in the FAI Cup in the 1934âÂÂ35. In the round of sixteen they defeated Butchers (Cork) 3âÂÂ0 after two replays before losing 2âÂÂ1 to Dundalk in the quarter-finals; the match had a tragic sequel as left-back Samuel Beattie died after a clash of heads. An inquest returned a verdict of accidental death, with a rider specifically exculpating the other player involved.
In 1937âÂÂ38 they were FAI Cup semi-finalists. In the round of sixteen they defeated Cobh Ramblers 2âÂÂ1 before knocking out their neighbours Drumcondra 4âÂÂ0 in the quarter-finals. In the semi-finals they drew 2âÂÂ2 with St James's Gate before losing 3âÂÂ2 in a replay. Gate subsequently went on to win the cup. Distillery were quarter-finalists again in 1938âÂÂ39 and 1939âÂÂ40 and also played in the 1940âÂÂ41, 1941âÂÂ42 and 1942âÂÂ43 competitions.
The club played at Rutland Avenue.