The 2023–24 Irish Cup (known as the Clearer Water Irish Cup for sponsorship purposes) was the 144th edition of the Irish Cup, the premier knock-out cup competition in Northern Irish football since its inauguration in 1881.[1] The winners qualified for the 2024–25 Conference League second qualifying round.
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Dates | 12 Aug 2023 – 4 May 2024 |
| Defending champions | Crusaders |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Cliftonville (9th title) |
| Runner-up | Linfield |
Cliftonville won the cup (their ninth Irish Cup win) on 4 May 2024, defeating Linfield 3–1 in the final.
Results
editFirst round
edit105 clubs in Tier 3 and below entered the first round. The draw was held on 5 July 2023.[2]
The following teams received byes:
- NIFL Premier Intermediate League (3): Ballymacash Rangers and Tobermore United
- Ballymena & Provincial Football League Intermediate Division (4): Chimney Corner, Donegal Celtic, Glebe Rangers, and Rathcoole
- Mid-Ulster Football League Intermediate A (4): Valley Rangers
- Northern Amateur League Premier Division (4): 1st Bangor Old Boys, Ballynahinch Olympic, Crumlin Star, Derriaghy Cricket Club, Dromara Village, Immaculata, and Rosario Youth Club
- Mid-Ulster Football League Intermediate B (5): Craigavon City, Dromore Amateurs, Lower Maze, and Seapatrick
- Northern Amateur League Division 1A (5): Dunmurry Recreation
- Northern Amateur League Division 1B (6): Mossley
- Northern Amateur League Division 1C (7): Shamrock, Short Brothers, and Wellington Recreation
- Notes
- ^ Dollingstown were expelled from the cup; Lisburn Rangers were reinstated.
Second round
editThe second round draw was held on 14 August 2023.[3]
Third round
editThe third round draw was held on 18 September 2023.[4]
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 28 October 2023 | ||
| Derriaghy Cricket Club (NL) | 4–1 | Aquinas (NL) |
| Downshire Young Men (NL) | 1–3 | Ballymacash Rangers (3) |
| Immaculata (NL) | 0–3 | Crumlin Star (NL) |
| Lisburn Rangers (NL) | 4–3 | Dunmurry Recreation (NL) |
| Newbuildings United (NL) | 0–5 | Limavady United (3) |
| Portstewart (3) | 1–3 | Ballymoney United (NL) |
| Queen's University (3) | 4–3 | Comber Recreation (NL) |
| Seapatrick (NL) | 0–2 | Valley Rangers (NL) |
| Strabane Athletic (NL) | 3–2 | Dromara Village (NL) |
| Tobermore United (3) | 4–1 | Kilmore Recreation (NL) |
| Warrenpoint Town (3) | 3–0 | Abbey Villa (NL) |
| Wellington Recreation (NL) | 1–3 | Fivemiletown United (NL) |
| Willowbank (NL) | 1–0 | Moyola Park (3) |
| 4 November 2023 | ||
| Glebe Rangers (NL) | 0–2 | Oxford Sunnyside (NL) |
| Rosemount Rec (NL) | 4–2 | Lisburn Distillery (3) |
| 11 November 2023 | ||
| Drumaness Mills (NL) | 3–2 | PSNI (3) |
Fourth round
editThe fourth round draw was held on 30 October 2023.[5]
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 25 November 2023 | ||
| Ballymacash Rangers (3) | 3–1 | Drumaness Mills (NL) |
| Crumlin Star (NL) | 2–0 | Limavady United (3) |
| Fivemiletown United (NL) | 0–5 | Strabane Athletic (NL) |
| Queen's University (3) | 3–2 | Derriaghy Cricket Club (NL) |
| Rosemount Rec (NL) | 3–1 | Ballymoney United (NL) |
| Valley Rangers (NL) | 0–3 | Oxford Sunnyside (NL) |
| Warrenpoint Town (3) | 6–1 | Lisburn Rangers (NL) |
| Willowbank (NL) | 3–2 | Tobermore United (3) |
Fifth round
editThe eight fourth round winners were joined by the twelve teams from the 2023–24 NIFL Premiership and the twelve teams from the 2023–24 NIFL Championship in the fifth round. The draw was held on 6 December 2023. Five teams from the fourth tier were the lowest ranked surviving teams in this round.[6]
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 5 January 2024 | ||
| Coleraine (1) | 0–3 (a.e.t.) | Cliftonville (1) |
| 6 January 2024 | ||
| Knockbreda (2) | 0–4 | Glenavon (1) |
| Oxford Sunnyside (NL) | 2–3 (a.e.t.) | Ballymacash Rangers (3) |
| Queen's University (3) | 0–4 | Ballymena United (1) |
| Ballyclare Comrades (2) | 5–2 | Strabane Athletic (NL) |
| Bangor (2) | 3–1 | Dergview (2) |
| Carrick Rangers (1) | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (4–5 p) | Portadown (2) |
| Crusaders (1) | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (6–7 p) | Ards (2) |
| Dungannon Swifts (1) | 5–0 | Willowbank (NL) |
| Glentoran (1) | 1–0 | Annagh United (2) |
| Harland & Wolff Welders (2) | 1–4 | Larne (1) |
| Institute (2) | 2–0 (a.e.t.) | Crumlin Star (NL) |
| Linfield (1) | 4–2 | Warrenpoint Town (3) |
| Loughgall (1) | 3–0 | Rosemount Rec (NL) |
| Newington (2) | 2–1 | Dundela (2) |
| Newry City (1) | 3–2 | Ballinamallard United (2) |
Sixth round
editThe 16 fifth round winners entered the sixth round. The draw was held on 6 January 2024. Ballymacash Rangers from the Intermediate Division (Tier 3) were the lowest ranked survivor in this round, and the only non-senior team in the last 16.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 February 2024 | ||
| Ballymacash Rangers (3) | 1–6 | Glentoran (1) |
| 3 February 2024 | ||
| Cliftonville (1) | 4–0 | Loughgall (1) |
| Dungannon Swifts (1) | 2–3 | Ballyclare Comrades (2) |
| Institute (2) | 1–0 | Ards (2) |
| Larne (1) | 5–0 | Glenavon (1) |
| Linfield (1) | 2–0 | Ballymena United (1) |
| Newry City (1) | 1–2 | Newington (2) |
| Portadown (2) | 2–1 | Bangor (2) |
Quarter-finals
editThe eight sixth round winners entered the quarter-finals. The draw was held on 3 February 2024.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 March 2024 | ||
| Portadown (2) | 0–2 | Cliftonville (1) |
| 2 March 2024 | ||
| Glentoran (1) | 2–0 | Ballyclare Comrades (2) |
| Larne (1) | 4–1 | Newington (2) |
| 3 March 2024 | ||
| Institute (2) | 1–3 | Linfield (1) |
Semi-finals
editThe four quarter-final winners entered the semi-finals. The draw was held on 2 March 2024.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 29 March 2024 | ||
| Glentoran (1) | 1–3 | Linfield (1) |
| 30 March 2024 | ||
| Cliftonville (1) | 2–0 | Larne (1) |
Final
editThe final was held between the two semi-final winners.
References
edit- ^ "Tennent's Irish Cup". Irish Football Association. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
- ^ "Irish Cup First Round draw". Irish Football Association. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
- ^ "Draw made for Irish Cup second round". Irish Football Association. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
- ^ "Irish Cup: Draw made for round three". Irish Football Association. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
- ^ "Clearer Water Irish Cup Fourth Round draw". Irish Football Association. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
- ^ "Draw made for Clearer Water Irish Cup fifth round". Irish Football Association. Retrieved 6 December 2023.