1978–79 Irish Cup

Irish Cup 1978–79 Northern Ireland 16 Cliftonville (8th win) Portadown 17 68 1977–78 1979–80 The 1978–79 Irish Cup was the 99th edition of the Irish Cup, Northern Ireland's premier football knock-out cup competition. The defending champions were Linfield, who defeated Ballymena United 3–1 in the 1977–78 final.https://www.rsssf.org/tablesn/nilcuphist.html Northern Ireland Cup Finals Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation RSSSF 26 October 2012 However, they were knocked out by eventual winners Cliftonville in the first round. Cliftonville went on to win the cup for the 8th time, defeating Portadown 3–2 in the final. The 1979 victory represented their first cup success in 70 years; this remains a record for the longest gap between Irish Cup wins.https://www.rsssf.org/tablesn/nil79.html Northern Ireland 1978/79 Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation RSSSF 26 October 2012 This was Cliftonville's last Irish Cup success until the club won the Irish Cup for the first time in 45 years in 2024, though they had reached the final five times since this win; in 1997, 1999, 2009, 2013 and 2018. They lost the 1997, 2009, 2013 and 2018 finals, and were disqualified before the final was played in 1999 when it was discovered that they had fielded an ineligible player in the earlier rounds. Results First round Ards 1–3 Portadown Ballymena United 2–1 Crusaders Coleraine 5–2 Downpatrick Rec. Distillery 0–2 Banbridge Town Glenavon 4–1 Bangor Larne 3–2 Glentoran Linfield 3–4 Cliftonville Omagh Town 2–6 RUC |} Quarter-finals Coleraine 2–3 Cliftonville Glenavon 3–2 Banbridge Town Portadown 2–11 Ballymena United RUC 0–1 Larne |} 1This tie required a replay, after the first game ended as a 0–0 draw. Semi-finals Cliftonville 1–02 Larne Portadown 2–1 Glenavon |} 2This tie required a replay, after the first game ended as a 2–2 draw. Final 28 April 1979 Cliftonville 3 – 2 Report Portadown Platt 32Adair 46Bell 89 Campbell 2Alexander 77 Windsor Park, Belfast References Category:Irish Cup seasons Cup