Irish Cup

National football competition in Northern Ireland

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The Irish Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly referred to as the Irish Cup is the primary football knock-out cup competition in Northern Ireland. Inaugurated in 1881, it is the fourth-oldest national cup competition in the world. Prior to the break-away from the Irish Football Association by clubs from what would become the Irish Free State in 1921, the Irish Cup was the national cup competition for the whole of Ireland.

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Cliftonville's captains key to Irish Cup success Chris Curran, Joe Gormley and Rory Hale reflect on helping Cliftonville to win their first Irish Cup since 1979 BBC Sport - Published on May 5, 2024
'The day belongs to us' - Magilton joy as Reds win Irish Cup Cliftonville manger Jim Magilton praises his team as they come from behind to beat Linfield 3-1 in the Irish Cup final. BBC Sport - Published on May 4, 2024
The Irish Cup final 90 years in the making Cliftonville against Linfield is a familiar fixture in local football, but Saturday's Irish Cup final between the sides has been 90 years in the making. BBC Sport - Published on May 3, 2024

We started 'Red Army' but time to put 1979 to bed - Quinn Marty Quinn recounts Cliftonville's last Irish Cup triumph in 1979 and is optimistic the trophy will return to Solitude for the first time in 45 years. BBC Sport - Published on May 3, 2024
Curran and Gormley out to end long wait for Irish Cup win Cliftonville's Chris Curran and Joe Gormley talk about their hope of ending the club's long wait for Irish Cup success BBC Sport - Published on May 2, 2024
Irish Cup 'everything' after league disappointment - Mulgrew Linfield captain Jamie Mulgrew believes that winning the Irish Cup would help to "soften the blow" of missing out on the Irish Premiership title. BBC Sport - Published on May 1, 2024

Friends Healy and Magilton turn to foes for Irish Cup final Friends David Healy and Jim Magilton turn to foes in the battle for Irish Cup glory on Saturday. BBC Sport - Published on April 30, 2024
Magilton praises 'magnificent' Cliftonville win Cliftonville manager Jim Magilton praises his side's "magnificent performance from start to finish" in their 2-0 Irish Cup semi-final win against Larne. BBC Sport - Published on March 31, 2024
Cliftonville to face Linfield in Irish Cup final Jonny Addis and Rory Hale score as Cliftonville defeat Larne 2-0 at Windsor Park to reach the Irish Cup final, where the Reds will face Linfield. BBC Sport - Published on March 30, 2024
Clinical Linfield beat Glens to reach Irish Cup final Linfield are through to the Irish Cup final following a 3-1 victory against Glentoran at The Oval. BBC Sport - Published on March 29, 2024

Irish Cup semi-final - Build-up to Cliftonville v Larne Live coverage from Windsor Park, Belfast as Cliftonville face Larne in the Irish Cup semi-final. BBC Sport - Published on March 29, 2024
Glentoran v Linfield - Irish Cup semi-final Live coverage of Glentoran against Linfield in the Irish Cup semi-final, from The Oval, Belfast. BBC Sport - Published on March 29, 2024
What is at stake for the four Irish Cup semi-finalists? This year's Irish Cup has gone very much with the formbook but what would a success mean for the four semi-finalists? BBC Sport - Published on March 28, 2024	Oval to stage Blues-Glens Irish Cup semi-final after venue draw Glentoran come out winners in a draw to determine the venue for their Irish Cup semi-final against Linfield with the Oval to host the 29 March game. BBC Sport - Published on March 6, 2024
Listen: Irish Cup quarter-final - Institute v Linfield Live coverage of the Irish Cup quarter-final between Institute and Linfield from the Brandywell Stadium. BBC Sport - Published on March 2, 2024	Irish Cup quarter-finals - Build-up on Sportsound Live radio, text and in-play clip coverage of Saturday's Irish Cup quarter-finals - Glentoran v Ballyclare Comrades and Larne v Newington BBC Sport - Published on March 2, 2024
Cliftonville edge Portadown in Irish Cup quarter-final Cliftonville beat Championship side Portadown 2-0 at Shamrock Park to reach the semi-final stage of the Irish Cup. BBC Sport - Published on March 1, 2024	Watch: Irish Cup - Portadown v Cliftonville Coverage from Shamrock Park as Championship side Portdown host Cliftonvillle in the Irish Cup quarter-final. BBC Sport - Published on March 1, 2024
'No pressure' on Ports in Reds cup game - Currie Portadown boss Niall Currie says there is "no pressure" on his side going into Friday's Irish Cup quarter-final match with Cliftonville. BBC Sport - Published on February 29, 2024	'The players deserve this' - Phillips on Irish Cup upset Ards interim manager Daryl Phillips praises his side for "digging in deep" after beating holders Crusaders on penalties in the Irish Cup fifth round. BBC Sport - Published on January 7, 2024
Ards knock out holders Crues as Ports beat Carrick Ards knock out Irish Cup holders Crusaders in a dramatic penalty shootout at Seaview while Portadown defeat Carrick Rangers on spot-kicks at Taylors Avenue. BBC Sport - Published on January 6, 2024	Linfield survive scare and Glens net late winner Linfield come from two goals down to beat Warrenpoint Town 4-2 in the Irish Cup fifth round while Glentoran leave it late to see off Annagh United 1-0. BBC Sport - Published on January 6, 2024
Hale's extra-time hat-trick helps Reds progress in Irish Cup Cliftonville knocked Coleraine out of the Irish Cup at the fifth-round stage courtesy of a Ronan Hale hat-trick in extra-time at the Showgrounds. BBC Sport - Published on January 5, 2024	Irish Cup fifth round - text updates from 13:30 GMT kick-offs Follow live text commentary of the 15 Irish Cup fifth round ties taking place on Saturday, with live audio coverage on Sportsound from 14:00 GMT. BBC Sport - Published on January 5, 2024
'There's magic at the Dub' - Queen's historic run to semis 10 years on James Lavery, then captain and now manager, and Matty Hughes, then ball boy and now captain, reflect on Queen's University's run to the Irish Cup semi-finals in 2014. BBC Sport - Published on January 5, 2024	'Cup win could help put tough period behind us' Coleraine manager Oran Kearney says Friday's Irish Cup fifth round tie against Cliftonville represents an opportunity to turn round their disappointing season up to this point. BBC Sport - Published on January 4, 2024
Watch: Irish Cup fifth-round draw Watch live coverage of the Irish Cup fifth-round draw at Windsor Park. BBC Sport - Published on December 5, 2023	Watch: Women's Irish Cup final - Cliftonville v Glentoran Watch and follow text updates as Cliftonville face holders Glentoran in the Women's Irish Cup final at Windsor Park in Belfast. BBC Sport - Published on October 20, 2023
Live text - Women’s Irish Cup semi-finals Live text commentary coverage of the Women's Irish Cup semi-finals as Lisburn Rangers face Cliftonville and Sion Swifts take on Glentoran. BBC Sport - Published on September 15, 2023	Callacher to join Crusaders when Blues deal ends Defender Jimmy Callacher is to join Irish Cup winners Crusaders on a two-year deal following the expiry of his contract at Linfield. BBC Sport - Published on May 25, 2023
'We were just brilliant' - Crusaders skipper Lowry Crusaders captain Philip Lowry says they were "brilliant from start to finish" as the north Belfast side beat Ballymena United 4-0 to retain the Irish Cup. BBC Sport - Published on May 7, 2023	Crusaders dominate final to win Irish Cup Crusaders win a third Irish Cup in five years with a dominant 4-0 win over Ballymena United at Windsor Park. BBC Sport - Published on May 7, 2023
Holders Crues meet Ballymena in cup final re-match Holders Crusaders will attempt to retain the Irish Cup when they face last year's beaten finalists Ballymena United at Windsor Park. BBC Sport - Published on May 6, 2023	Caddell could retire on cup final high... again Crusaders midfielder Declan Caddell explains one of the most fascinating comebacks in recent history as he aims to end his career with Irish Cup glory for a second time. BBC Sport - Published on May 5, 2023
All you need to know about the Irish Cup final BBC Sport NI assesses the prospects for the 2023 Irish Cup final between Ballymena United and holders Crusaders. BBC Sport - Published on May 3, 2023	Burns to miss final after red card challenge rejected Crusaders will be without skipper Billy Joe Burns for the Irish Cup final after the club's challenge against his red card in the defeat by Larne is unsuccessful. BBC Sport - Published on April 20, 2023
Caddell nets in stoppage time to book final spot Declan Caddell scores in second-half stoppage time to give Crusaders a 1-0 Irish Cup semi-final win over Dungannon Swifts. BBC Sport - Published on April 1, 2023	Ballymena beat Larne to make Irish Cup decider Ballymena United produce an Irish Cup upset with a 2-0 victory over Premiership leaders Larne in the Seaview semi-final. BBC Sport - Published on March 31, 2023
Watch: Larne v Ballymena United Coverage of the Irish Cup semi-final between Premiership pacesetters Larne and the Sky Blues at Seaview. BBC Sport - Published on March 31, 2023	Crues, Swifts and Ballymena into cup semi-finals Dungannon Swifts shock Cliftonville, holders Crusaders beat Glentoran and Ballymena United see off Ballyclare Comrades after extra-time in the Irish Cup. BBC Sport - Published on March 4, 2023
Ryan's last-gasp goal sees Larne past Welders Andy Ryan's 89th-minute goal earns Premiership leaders Larne a fortunate 1-0 Irish Cup quarter-final over Championship outfit H&W Welders. BBC Sport - Published on March 3, 2023	Irish Cup quarter-finals & Irish Premiership - Sportsound build-up Sportsound build-up, then text updates, audio and in-play clips of Saturday's Irish Cup quarter-finals and two Irish Premiership matches. BBC Sport - Published on March 3, 2023
Watch: H&W Welders v Larne Live coverage of the Irish Cup quarter-final between H&W Welders & Larne at Blanchflower Stadium. BBC Sport - Published on March 3, 2023	Dad's cup success inspiring Ferguson to dream big In-form H&W Welders striker Matthew Ferguson reveals how memories of his dad Glenn winning the Irish Cup are inspiring him ahead of his side's quarter-final with Larne. BBC Sport - Published on March 2, 2023
Welders stun Glenavon in Irish Cup as Glens win Oisin Barr scores the winner as Championship side H&W Welders stunned Irish Premiership outfit Glenavon 1-0 in the last-16 of the Irish Cup at Mourneview Park. BBC Sport - Published on February 4, 2023	Watch: Bangor v Crusaders - Irish Cup sixth round Live coverage of the Irish Cup sixth round match between Bangor and Irish Cup holders Crusaders at Clandeboye Park. BBC Sport - Published on February 3, 2023
Irish Cup fifth round - Sportsound build-up Live text coverage and in-play clips from six of the Irish Cup fifth round ties plus score updates from the rest of the fixtures. BBC Sport - Published on January 7, 2023	Hale hits hat-trick as Cliftonville hammer Dundela A Ronan Hale hat-trick helps ease Cliftonville through to the sixth round of the Irish Cup with a 5-0 win over Championship side Dundela at Wilgar Park. BBC Sport - Published on January 6, 2023
Watch: Dundela v Cliftonville - Irish Cup fifth round Live video, text and in-play coverage of Championship side Dundela taking on the Reds at Wilgar Park in the Irish Cup. BBC Sport - Published on January 6, 2023	Good neighbours won't be good friends for cup tie Tony Kane is full of admiration for lifelong friend, neighbour and colleague Joe Gormley - but that won't matter when Dundela aim to shock Cliftonville in the Irish Cup. BBC Sport - Published on January 5, 2023