2014–15 Irish Cup

Irish Cup 2014–15 Northern Ireland 125 Glentoran (22nd win) Portadown 124 511 2013–14 2015–16 The 2014–15 Irish Cup was the 135th edition of the Irish Cup, the premier knockout cup competition in Northern Irish football since its introduction in 1881. The competition began on 23 August 2014 with the first round, and concluded on 2 May 2015 with the final. For the first time since 1995, the Oval was chosen as the final venue following the discovery of damage to a stand at Windsor Park during the stadium's redevelopment.https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32252749 Irish Cup final switched to the Oval BBC Sport 10 April 2015 10 April 2015 Glenavon were the defending champions, following their 2–1 win over Ballymena United in the 2014 final.https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/27268792 Irish Cup final: Ballymena Utd 1-2 Glenavon BBC Sport 3 May 2014 10 June 2015 However, this season they were eliminated in the sixth round after a shock 2–0 defeat to second-tier side Harland & Wolff Welders.https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/31204141 Irish Cup sixth round: Holders Glenavon beaten by H&W Welders BBC Sport 7 February 2015 10 June 2015 Glentoran were the eventual cup winners for the second time in three seasons and the 22nd time overall by defeating Portadown 1–0 in the final,https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32568117 Irish Cup final: Glentoran 1-0 Portadown BBC Sport 2 May 2015 2 May 2015 and subsequently qualified for the 2015–16 UEFA Europa League first qualifying round. Format and schedule 125 clubs entered this season's competition, an increase of six clubs compared with the 2013–14 total of 119 clubs. Initially there had been 128 entrants, however three clubs – Draperstown Celtic, Lisanally Rangers and Mountjoy United – all withdrew after the first round draw had been made, with Lisanally Rangers later dissolving.https://www.facebook.com/LRFC.Armagh/posts/770946886281182 Facebook - Lisanally Rangers Football Club 17 July 2014 Facebook 19 August 2014 80 regional league clubs from tiers 4–7 in the Northern Ireland football league system entered the competition in the first round. A further 4 clubs proceeded directly into the second round; one club received a bye (necessitated by the number of participants), while the other 3 clubs had no first round matches after their opponents withdrew from the competition. These clubs contested the first three rounds, with the 11 surviving clubs joining the 29 NIFL Championship clubs in the fourth round. The 12 NIFL Premiership clubs then entered the competition in the fifth round, along with the 20 winners from the fourth round matches. In a major change to the rules from previous seasons, replays were abolished. All ties level after 90 minutes used extra time to determine the winner, with a penalty shoot-out to follow if necessary. RoundDraw dateFirst match dateFixturesClubs First round 29 July 2014 23 August 2014 40 125 → 85 Second round 1 September 2014 4 October 2014 22 85 → 63 Third round 6 October 2014 8 November 2014 11 63 → 52 Fourth round 10 November 2014 6 December 2014 20 52 → 32 Fifth round 17 December 2014 10 January 2015 16 32 → 16 Sixth round 10 January 2015 7 February 2015 8 16 → 8 Quarter-finals 7 February 2015 28 February 2015 4 8 → 4 Semi-finals 28 February 2015 21 March 2015 2 4 → 2 Final 2 May 2015 1 2 → 1 Results The league tier of each club at the time of entering the competition is listed in parentheses. First round The draw for the first round was made on 29 July 2014 with the matches played on 23 August 2014. Markethill Swifts received a bye into the second round. After the draw was made, Draperstown Celtic, Lisanally Rangers and Mountjoy United withdrew, and their first round opponents subsequently proceeded to the second round.http://www.irishfa.com/domestic/irish-cup/ Domestic - Irish Cup Irish Football Association 19 August 2014 Note: All entrants at this stage were at regional level (tiers 4–7). |- Abbey Villa (4) walkover Lisanally Rangers (4) (withdrew) Albert Foundry (4) 1–0 Portaferry Rovers (6) Ardglass (4) 4–3 (aet) Fivemiletown United (4) Ards Rangers (4) 3–2 Islandmagee (4) Ballymacash Rangers (4) 2–1 Dromara Village (5) Ballynahinch Olympic (6) 3–1 Grove United (6) Ballynahinch United (6) 2–3 (aet) Lisburn Rangers (5) Ballywalter Recreation (6) 2–0 Bryansburn Rangers (7) Banbridge Rangers (4) walkover Draperstown Celtic (4) (withdrew) Bangor Amateurs (7) 2–1 Dundonald (5) Chimney Corner (4) 2–3 (aet) Malachians (4) Comber Recreation (4) 1–2 Hanover (5) Crewe United (4) 0–7 St Mary's (4) Crumlin Star (4) 2–1 Larne Technical Old Boys (5) Crumlin United (5) 5–1 Orangefield Old Boys (5) Derriaghy Cricket Club (4) 3–1 Newcastle (6) Drumaness Mills (4) 2–1 Downshire Young Men (6) Dungiven Celtic (4) 0–1 Donard Hospital (7) Dunloy (4) 2–0 Ballysillan Swifts (4) Dunmurry Recreation (5) 3–0 Downpatrick (5) East Belfast (6) 3–2 Lower Maze (4) Groomsport (7) 0–4 1st Bangor Old Boys (6) Holywood (7) walkover Mountjoy United (4) (withdrew) Immaculata (4) 2–0 St Patrick's Young Men (5) Killyleagh Youth (4) 2–2 (aet)(3–2 p) Barn United (5) Killymoon Rangers (4) 2–5 (aet) Newtowne (4) Kilmore Recreation (4) 2–5 Brantwood (4) Kilroot Recreation (7) 0–8 Sirocco Works (6) Lurgan Town (5) 2–3 (aet) UUJ (5) Magherafelt Sky Blues (4) 4–2 Dromore Amateurs (7) Moneyslane (5) 1–4 Colin Valley (7) Newbuildings United (4) 1–3 Desertmartin (4) Nortel (4) 2–2 (aet)(2–3 p) Shankill United (4) Oxford Sunnyside (5) 1–3 Ardstraw (4) Rathfern Rangers (6) 3–1 Iveagh United (7) Rathfriland Rangers (5) 4–0 Seagoe (5) Richhill (5) 0–2 Oxford United Stars (4) Roe Rovers (4) 1–3 (aet) Broomhill (4) Saintfield United (7) 2–2 (aet)(8–9 p) Shorts (7) Strabane Athletic (4) 1–4 (aet) Newry City (4) Tandragee Rovers (4) 4–1 Dunmurry Young Men (6) Valley Rangers (5) 2–3 Bloomfield (6) Wellington Recreation (6) 3–2 (aet) Ballynure Old Boys (4) |} Source: irishfa.com Second round The draw for the second round took place on 1 September 2014, with the matches played on 4 October 2014. The 40 winners from the first round matches entered this round, along with Abbey Villa, Banbridge Rangers, Holywood and Markethill Swifts. Note: All entrants at this stage were at regional level (tiers 4–7). |- 1st Bangor Old Boys (6) 2–0 Colin Valley (7) Abbey Villa (4) 2–0 Ardstraw (4) Ardglass (4) 2–4 Ards Rangers (4) Ballynahinch Olympic (6) 2–2 (aet)(2–3 p) Immaculata (4) Ballywalter Recreation (6) 4–5 Shankill United (4) Banbridge Rangers (4) 4–3 (aet) Shorts (7) Bloomfield (6) 2–3 St Mary's (4) Brantwood (4) 4–2 Bangor Amateurs (7) Crumlin United (5) 7–0 Broomhill (4) Derriaghy Cricket Club (4) 3–2 Holywood (7) Desertmartin (4) 1–3 Newtowne (4) Dunmurry Recreation (5) 0–2 Oxford United Stars (4) Hanover (5) 4–4 (aet)(5–3 p) Magherafelt Sky Blues (4) Killyleagh Youth (4) 0–3 Drumaness Mills (4) Malachians (4) 1–4 (aet) Crumlin Star (4) Markethill Swifts (5) 1–5 East Belfast (6) Newry City (4) 1–0 Donard Hospital (7) Rathfern Rangers (6) 2–5 Albert Foundry (4) Rathfriland Rangers (5) 3–0 Dunloy (4) Sirocco Works (6) 1–1 (aet)(1–3 p) Lisburn Rangers (5) Tandragee Rovers (4) 5–1 Ballymacash Rangers (4) UUJ (5) 2–0 Wellington Recreation (6) |} Source: irishfa.com Third round The draw for the third round took place on 6 October 2014, with the matches played on 8, 15 and 29 November 2014. The 22 winners from the second round entered this round. Note: All entrants at this stage were at regional level (tiers 4–7). |- |colspan="3" style="background:#E8FFD8;"|8 November 2014 Albert Foundry (4) 6–1 St Mary's (4) Banbridge Rangers (4) 0–2 Tandragee Rovers (4) Crumlin United (5) 3–0 UUJ (5) Derriaghy Cricket Club (4) 2–2 (aet)(2–0 p) Oxford United Stars (4) Drumaness Mills (4) 1–2 Brantwood (4) East Belfast (6) 3–5 Newtowne (4) Immaculata (4) 0–2 Crumlin Star (4) Lisburn Rangers (5) 2–7 (aet) Ards Rangers (4) Newry City (4) 4–0 Hanover (5) |- |colspan="3" style="background:#E8FFD8;"|15 November 2014 Abbey Villa (4) 1–2 Shankill United (4) |- |colspan="3" style="background:#E8FFD8;"|29 November 2014 1st Bangor Old Boys (6) 1–1 (aet)(6–5 p) Rathfriland Rangers (5) |} Source: irishfa.com Fourth round The fourth round draw was made on 10 November 2014, with the matches played on 6 December 2014. The 11 winners from the third round matches entered this round, along with the 29 NIFL Championship clubs. 1st Bangor Old Boys were the lowest ranked team to reach this round – the only representatives as low as the sixth tier of the Northern Ireland football league system that still remained in the competition. However, the run came to an end after a 3–0 defeat to Annagh United. Note: Intermediate clubs from tiers 2 and 3 entered the competition at this stage. |- Annagh United (3) 3–0 1st Bangor Old Boys (6) Armagh City (2) 2–0 Shankill United (4) Banbridge Town (3) 1–4 Ards (2) Bangor (2) 2–1 Lurgan Celtic (3) Carrick Rangers (2) 4–1 Albert Foundry (4) Coagh United (3) 0–2 Brantwood (4) Dergview (2) 0–1 Larne (2) Derriaghy Cricket Club (4) 3–2 Wakehurst (3) Donegal Celtic (2) 2–3 (aet) Ballyclare Comrades (2) Dundela (2) 4–1 Ballymoney United (3) Harland & Wolff Welders (2) 2–0 Dollingstown (3) Limavady United (3) 1–3 (aet) Tobermore United (3) Lisburn Distillery (2) 0–1 Crumlin Star (4) Loughgall (2) 6–2 Tandragee Rovers (4) Moyola Park (3) 3–2 Glebe Rangers (3) Newtowne (4) 4–1 Crumlin United (5) Portstewart (3) 2–1 Newry City (4) PSNI (2) 2–1 Knockbreda (2) Queen's University (3) 2–3 Newington YC (3) Sport & Leisure Swifts (3) 2–6 Ards Rangers (4) |} Source: irishfa.com Fifth round The draw for the fifth round took place on 17 December 2014, with the games played on 10 and 20 January 2015. The 20 winners from the fourth round matches entered this round, along with the 12 NIFL Premiership clubs. The 5 clubs from the fourth tier that made it through to this round were the lowest ranked clubs remaining in the competition. Note: Senior clubs from tier 1 entered the competition at this stage. eeeeee 10 January 2015 13:30 GMT Harland & Wolff Welders (2) 2 – 0 Report Derriaghy Cricket Club (4) Deans 30Armstrong 80 Tillysburn Park, Belfast 10 January 2015 13:30 GMT Portstewart (3) 3 – 2 Report Dundela (2) Stewart 8 16Peden 59 Keenan 7Jackson 42 Seahaven, Portstewart eeeeee 10 January 2015 13:30 GMT PSNI (2) 1 – 2 yes Report Portadown (1) Agnew 24 Twigg 7Casement 110 Newforge Lane, Belfast 10 January 2015 13:30 GMT Tobermore United (3) 0 – 2 Report Linfield (1) Waterworth 25 81 Fortwilliam Park, Tobermore eeeeee 10 January 2015 15:00 GMT Annagh United (3) 1 – 3 Report Ballyclare Comrades (2) Campbell 53 Reid 9Brown 10 87 Tandragee Road, Portadown 10 January 2015 15:00 GMT Armagh City (2) 3 – 0 Report Newtowne (4) Hoey 28Boyle 40Haveron 80 Holm Park, Armagh eeeeee 10 January 2015 15:00 GMT Ballymena United (1) 4 – 0 Report Crumlin Star (4) Tipton 4 pen.McCutcheon 27Boyce 70 83 Ballymena Showgrounds, Ballymena 10 January 2015 15:00 GMT Bangor (2) 4 – 0 Report Brantwood (4) McDowell 12Youle 16Forsythe 25Nixon 79 Clandeboye Park, Bangor eeeeee 10 January 2015 15:00 GMT Cliftonville (1) 6 – 0 Report Ards Rangers (4) Gormley 12 52J. Donnelly 42 90McDaid 47Murray 75 Solitude, Belfast 10 January 2015 15:00 GMT Coleraine (1) 1 – 3 Report Warrenpoint Town (1) Miskimmin 82 D. Hughes 65S. Hughes 79 88 Coleraine Showgrounds, Coleraine eeeeee 10 January 2015 15:00 GMT Crusaders (1) 6 – 0 Report Newington YC (3) Clarke 16Adamson 31Molloy 37O'Carroll 57 84O'Flynn 81 Seaview, Belfast 10 January 2015 15:00 GMT Dungannon Swifts (1) 4 – 2 yes Report Ballinamallard United (1) Hazley 2Glackin 18Liggett 98 106 Courtney 37Kee 75 Stangmore Park, Dungannon eeeeee 10 January 2015 15:00 GMT Glentoran (1) 2 – 0 Report Ards (2) McKee 60McCaffrey 90 The Oval, Belfast 10 January 2015 15:00 GMT Institute (1) 5 – 1 Report Loughgall (2) McFadden 24Curry 51McManus 54 59 pen.Walsh 73 Ferguson 12 Riverside Stadium, Drumahoe eeeeee 10 January 2015 15:00 GMT Larne (2) A – A Match abandoned with the score at 0–0 after 28 minutes due to a serious player injury.Report Carrick Rangers (2) Inver Park, Larne 10 January 2015 15:00 GMT Moyola Park (3) 2 – 3 Report Glenavon (1) Walls 13Dowie 30 Braniff 48 62Bradley 89 Mill Meadow, Castledawson eeeeee 20 January 2015 19:45 GMT Larne (2) 1 – 2 Report Carrick Rangers (2) McCabe 65 Chines 38 pen.McCloskey 75 Inver Park, Larne Sixth round The sixth round draw took place after the fifth round matches had been played, with the fixtures played on 7 February 2015. The 16 winners from the fifth-round matches entered this round. Third-tier club Portstewart were the lowest-ranked side to reach this stage of the competition. Linfield's home tie against Warrenpoint Town was initially delayed until 16 February 2015 to allow time for an IFA investigation into allegations that a Warrenpoint Town player, Darren Forsyth, who had played in the 3–1 win over Coleraine in the previous round may have been ineligible. In the event of Forsyth being deemed as ineligible, Warrenpoint Town would have faced expulsion from the competition, with Coleraine reinstated as Linfield's sixth round opponents.http://www.irishfa.com/domestic/item/9570/challenge-cup-committee-statement/ Challenge Cup Committee Statement Irish Football Association 2 February 2015 However, the IFA later cleared Forsyth to play. At the request of both clubs, the match was rescheduled back to its original date of 7 February 2015.http://www.irishfa.com/domestic/item/9584/irish-cup-linfield-v-warrenpoint-town/ IRISH CUP: LINFIELD V WARRENPOINT TOWN Irish Football Association 5 February 2015 eeeeee 7 February 2015 13:30 GMT Harland & Wolff Welders (2) 2 – 0 Report Glenavon (1) Rainey 11Davidson 74 Tillysburn Park, Belfast 7 February 2015 13:30 GMT Portstewart (3) 0 – 2 Report Portadown (1) Twigg 77Murray 90 Seahaven, Portstewart eeeeee 7 February 2015 15:00 GMT Ballyclare Comrades (2) 0 – 0 yes Report Dungannon Swifts (1) 4 – 5 Dixon Park, Ballyclare 7 February 2015 15:00 GMT Bangor (2) 0 – 2 Report Crusaders (1) O'Carroll 17 pen.O'Flynn 63 Clandeboye Park, Bangor eeeeee 7 February 2015 15:00 GMT Carrick Rangers (2) 3 – 1 yes Report Institute (1) Lagan 88Chines 95Dick 110 McFadden 75 Taylors Avenue, Carrickfergus 7 February 2015 15:00 GMT Cliftonville (1) 1 – 2 Report Ballymena United (1) McMullan 47 pen. Cushley 90 90+3 Solitude, Belfast eeeeee 7 February 2015 15:00 GMT Glentoran (1) 4 – 1 Report Armagh City (2) Gordon 50McAlorum 58Allen 69McCaffrey 81 Murray 79 The Oval, Belfast 7 February 2015 15:00 GMT Linfield (1) 5 – 0 Report Warrenpoint Town (1) Burns 10Waterworth 45 83 87Lowry 90+1 Windsor Park, Belfast Quarter-finals The quarter-final draw took place on 7 February 2015 after the sixth round matches had been played, with the matches played on 28 February 2015. The 8 winners of the sixth round matches entered the quarter-finals. Carrick Rangers and Harland & Wolff Welders were the lowest ranked sides to reach the quarter-finals, as the only two clubs from outside the top-flight remaining in the competition. eeeeee 28 February 2015 13:30 GMT Harland & Wolff Welders (2) 2 – 3 Report Ballymena United (1) McLellan 34 pen. 51 Boyce 78Tipton 85Thompson 90+5 Tillysburn Park, Belfast 28 February 2015 15:00 GMT Crusaders (1) 4 – 1 Report Carrick Rangers (2) Clarke 55 85O'Carroll 64Whyte 86 McClean 41 o.g. Seaview, Belfast eeeeee 28 February 2015 15:00 GMT Glentoran (1) 3 – 0 Report Dungannon Swifts (1) Allen 14Kane 67Henderson 85 The Oval, Belfast 28 February 2015 15:00 GMT Portadown (1) 3 – 2 Report Linfield (1) Casement 8 pen.Twigg 23 43 Lowry 72 85 Shamrock Park, Portadown Semi-finals The 4 quarter-final winners entered the semi-finals, with the matches played on 21 March 2015 at neutral venues. eeeeee 21 March 2015 15:00 GMT Crusaders (1) 0 – 1 Report Glentoran (1) Allen 39 Mourneview Park, Lurgan 21 March 2015 17:30 GMT Ballymena United (1) 1 – 3 Report Portadown (1) Boyce 70 McAllister 4Gault 16McMahon 27 The Oval, Belfast Final On 2 May 2015, the final was played at the Oval, Belfast for the first time since 1995. It was switched from the usual venue following the discovery of damage to a stand at Windsor Park. Glentoran had reached the final for the second time in three seasons, after winning the cup in 2013. Portadown had last reached the final in 2010, when they lost 2–1 against Linfield. It was only the third ever meeting between the two sides in the final, with Glentoran being the victors on both previous occasions. In fact, Portadown had never scored a goal against the Glens in a final, losing 3–0 in 1990 and 1–0 in the last meeting in 2000. The trend continued, with Glentoran winning once again without conceding a goal, to lift the cup for the 22nd time overall. 2 May 2015 14:30 BST Glentoran (1) 1 – 0 BBC SportIFA Portadown (1) Scullion 54 The Oval, Belfast 8,072 Ross Dunlop References External links Official site nifootball.co.uk Category:Irish Cup seasons Cup