The 2013–14 Irish Cup was the 134th edition of the Irish Cup, the premier knockout cup competition in Northern Irish football since its introduction in 1881. The competition began on 7 September 2013 with the first round and ended on 3 May 2014 with the final. The competition ran without a principal sponsor, but for the second successive season the final was known as the Marie Curie Irish Cup final, after the IFA once again awarded the naming rights for the final to the charity Marie Curie Cancer Care.[1]
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Country |  Northern Ireland |
| Teams | 119 |
| Defending champions | Glentoran |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Glenavon (6th win) |
| Runner-up | Ballymena United |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 124 |
| Goals scored | 488 (3.94 per match) |
Glentoran were the defending champions, following their 3–1 win over Cliftonville after extra time in the 2012–13 final. However, they were eliminated in the quarter-finals by eventual winners Glenavon who defeated Ballymena United 2–1 in the final to lift the cup for the sixth time.[2] As a result, Glenavon qualified for the 2014–15 UEFA Europa League first qualifying round.[3]
Format and schedule
edit119 clubs entered this season's competition, the same number that had taken part the previous season. Originally there had been 122 entrants, but three clubs later withdrew from the competition before the first round matches had been played.
Regional league clubs from level 4 and below on the Northern Ireland football league system entered in the first round and played against other regional league clubs in the first three rounds. Nine clubs were given a bye into the second round this season, necessitated by the number of participants. One of the clubs to receive a bye later withdrew. 29 of the 30 NIFL Championship clubs entered the competition, with Donegal Celtic being the only absentee.[4] The 29 Championship clubs entered in the fourth round, along with the 11 lower league clubs that made it through the first three rounds.
The 12 NIFL Premiership clubs entered in the fifth round, along with the 20 winners from the fourth round matches. Replays were only used if a tie was level after 90 minutes in the fifth round, sixth round and quarter-finals. If a tie in any of these three rounds was still level after 90 minutes of the replay, extra time was used to determine the winner, with a penalty shoot-out to follow if necessary.
| Round | Draw date | First match date | Fixtures | Clubs | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original | Replays | ||||
| First round | 12 August 2013 | 7 September 2013 | 35 | 119 → 84 | |
| Second round | 9 September 2013 | 12 October 2013 | 20† | 84 → 63 | |
| Third round | 22 October 2013 | 9 November 2013 | 11 | 63 → 52 | |
| Fourth round | 11 November 2013 | 7 December 2013 | 20 | 52 → 32 | |
| Fifth round | 16 December 2013 | 11 January 2014 | 16 | 5 | 32 → 16 |
| Sixth round | 11 January 2014 | 8 February 2014 | 8 | 2 | 16 → 8 |
| Quarter-finals | 8 February 2014 | 1 March 2014 | 4 | 0 | 8 → 4 |
| Semi-finals | 1 March 2014 | 5 April 2014 | 2 | 4 → 2 | |
| Final | 3 May 2014 | 1 | 2 → 1 | ||
† One match was not played (walkover)
Results
editFirst round
editThe draw for the first round was made on 12 August 2013 with the matches played on 7 September 2013.
Ards Rangers, Albert Foundry, Ballywalter Recreation, Barn United, Dungiven Celtic, Oxford Sunnyside, Shorts and Strabane Athletic all received byes into the second round.[5] Bangor Rangers, Holywood and Raceview were included in the original draw, but all three clubs withdrew before the first round matches were played. Bangor Rangers had received a bye, Holywood were drawn against Strabane Athletic, and Raceview were drawn against Ards Rangers. As a consequence, Ards Rangers and Strabane Athletic received byes, but Bangor Rangers' withdrawal meant that there would be an odd number of teams proceeding to the second round, necessitating a further bye at that stage.
Source: irishfa.com
Second round
editThe draw for the second round was made on 9 September 2013, with the matches played on 12 October 2013. The 35 winners from the first round matches entered this round, along with the 8 clubs that received a bye. As there was an odd number of clubs in this round, one club, 18th Newtownabbey Old Boys, received a bye into the third round.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 12 October 2013 | ||
| Albert Foundry | 1–01 | Shankill United |
| Ardglass | 4–3 | Banbridge Rangers |
| Ballynahinch United | 0–1 | Sirocco Works |
| Ballywalter Recreation | 2–3 | Rathfriland Rangers |
| Carniny Amateurs | 1–0 | Oxford United Stars |
| Crumlin Star | 2–1 | Dollingstown |
| Crumlin United | 4–4 (a.e.t.) (3–2 p) |
Islandmagee |
| Derriaghy Cricket Club | 7–5 | Ards Rangers |
| Downpatrick | 5–0 | UUJ |
| Downshire Young Men | 1–0 | Mountjoy United |
| Dromara Village | 1–4 | Kilmore Recreation |
| Dungiven Celtic | 0–1 | Newbuildings United |
| Immaculata | walkover† | Camlough Rovers |
| Lisburn Rangers | 2–2 (a.e.t.) (3–2 p) |
Barn United |
| Nortel | 2–0 | Moneyslane |
| Oxford Sunnyside | 1–5 | Drumaness Mills |
| Rathfern Rangers | 3–1 | Killyleagh Youth |
| Richhill | 1–3 | Newry City |
| Seagoe | 0–2 | Bryansburn Rangers |
| Shorts | 0–3 | Bangor Swifts |
| Strabane Athletic | 6–2 | Newtowne |
Source: irishfa.com
†Immaculata won the tie by walkover. Camlough Rovers forfeited the match as they were unable to field a team to fulfil the fixture.[6]
1Albert Foundry were ejected from the competition for fielding an ineligible player during this match.[7]
Third round
editThe third round draw was made on 22 October 2013, with the games played on 9 November 2013. The 21 winners from the second round matches entered this round, along with 18th Newtownabbey Old Boys who had received a bye in the second round. Albert Foundry were replaced with Shankill United, the team they had defeated 1–0 in the second round, after they were found to have fielded an ineligible player in that game.[7]
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 9 November 2013 | ||
| Carniny Amateurs | 3–5 (a.e.t.) | Ardglass |
| Derriaghy Cricket Club | 3–0 | 18th Newtownabbey Old Boys |
| Downshire Young Men | 2–2 (a.e.t.) (4–2 p) |
Shankill United |
| Kilmore Recreation | 0–0 (a.e.t.) (4–2 p) |
Immaculata |
| Lisburn Rangers | 3–1 | Bryansburn Rangers |
| Newbuildings United | 1–2 | Crumlin Star |
| Newry City | 0–0 (a.e.t.) (4–3 p) |
Downpatrick |
| Nortel | 0–2 | Drumaness Mills |
| Rathfern Rangers | 1–2 | Sirocco Works |
| Rathfriland Rangers | 4–1 | Bangor Swifts |
| Strabane Athletic | 2–0 | Crumlin United |
Source: irishfa.com
Fourth round
editThe fourth round draw was made on 11 November 2013, with the games played on 7 December 2013. The 11 winners from the third round matches entered this round, along with 29 of the 30 NIFL Championship clubs. Championship 1 side Donegal Celtic did not enter, which meant that there had to be eleven lower league clubs in this round to make up the requisite numbers, one more than the usual amount of ten.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 7 December 2013 | ||
| Armagh City | 2–0 | Loughgall |
| Ballyclare Comrades | 4–1 | Larne |
| Banbridge Town | 4–2 | Rathfriland Rangers |
| Bangor | 5–2 | Knockbreda |
| Chimney Corner | 3–0 | Wakehurst |
| Coagh United | 0–2 (a.e.t.) | Carrick Rangers |
| Crumlin Star | 4–1 | Newry City |
| Dergview | 2–0 | Drumaness Mills |
| Downshire Young Men | 1–3 | Kilmore Recreation |
| Glebe Rangers | 3–2 (a.e.t.) | Ardglass |
| Harland & Wolff Welders | 8–1 | Killymoon Rangers |
| Institute | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (4–5 p) |
Lisburn Distillery |
| Limavady United | 2–1 | Derriaghy Cricket Club |
| Moyola Park | 2–0 | Annagh United |
| Newington | 1–3 | Ballymoney United |
| Portstewart | 2–5 | Dundela |
| PSNI | 2–1 | Tobermore United |
| Queen's University | 5–0 | Lurgan Celtic |
| Sport & Leisure Swifts | 2–1 | Sirocco Works |
| Strabane Athletic | 2–0 | Lisburn Rangers |
Source: irishfa.com
Fifth round
editThe fifth round draw took place on 16 December 2013. The matches were played on 11 January 2014, and the replays were played on 21 January 2014. The 20 winners from the fourth round matches entered this round, along with the 12 NIFL Premiership clubs. Three regional league clubs made it through the first four rounds. This was the first round of the competition in which replays were used if a match ended level after 90 minutes.
| 11 January 2014 | Harland & Wolff Welders | 2 – 2 | Ballymena United | Tillysburn Park, Belfast |
| 13:30 GMT | Simpson  5'Burrows 77' |
Report | Kane 60' Boyce 86' |
| 11 January 2014 | Queen's University | 1 – 0 | Limavady United | Upper Malone, Belfast |
| 13:30 GMT | Hasson 75' (o.g.) |
Report |
| 11 January 2014 | Lisburn Distillery | 0 – 0 | PSNI | New Grosvenor Stadium, Ballyskeagh |
| 14:00 GMT | Report |
| 11 January 2014 | Armagh City | 2 – 2 | Ards | Holm Park, Armagh |
| 15:00 GMT | Hinds 49' Murray 52' |
Report | Mitchell 45' McMillen 90+5' |
| 11 January 2014 | Ballinamallard United | 0 – 0 | Strabane Athletic | Ferney Park, Ballinamallard |
| 15:00 GMT | Report |
| 11 January 2014 | Ballyclare Comrades | 3 – 0 | Kilmore Recreation | Dixon Park, Ballyclare |
| 15:00 GMT | McClurg 7' (pen.) Trussell 10'Smith 13' |
Report |
| 11 January 2014 | Ballymoney United | 1 – 0 | Banbridge Town | Riada Stadium, Ballymoney |
| 15:00 GMT | McCaughan 35' |
Report |
| 11 January 2014 | Bangor | 7 – 1 | Glebe Rangers | Clandeboye Park, Bangor |
| 15:00 GMT | Lamb 21' Cooling 29' (pen.), 58'McDowell 49', 60'Gardener 63'Forsyth 85' |
Report | Highlands 88' (o.g.) |
| 11 January 2014 | Carrick Rangers | 3 – 2 | Dundela | Inver Park, Larne |
| 15:00 GMT | Lynch 50', 64' Roy 87' |
Report | McCain 38' Beggs 71' |
| 11 January 2014 | Cliftonville | 2 – 2 | Coleraine | Solitude, Belfast |
| 15:00 GMT | Gormley 27' (pen.) Boyce 47' |
Report | Dooley 39' McDaid 59' |
| 11 January 2014 | Crusaders | 2 – 1 | Crumlin Star | Seaview, Belfast |
| 15:00 GMT | Snoddy 4' (pen.) Smith 73' |
Report | Brown 61' |
| 11 January 2014 | Glenavon | 7 – 0 | Sport & Leisure Swifts | Mourneview Park, Lurgan |
| 15:00 GMT | Shannon 4' Marshall 7'O'Neill 9' (o.g.)Rainey 40'McIlveen 62'McDaid 73'Neill 85' |
Report |
| 11 January 2014 | Linfield | 5 – 0 | Dergview | Windsor Park, Belfast |
| 15:00 GMT | Liggett 21' (o.g.) Waterworth 42'Burns 66', 70'Lowry 77' |
Report |
| 11 January 2014 | Moyola Park | 1 – 5 | Dungannon Swifts | Mill Meadow, Castledawson |
| 15:00 GMT | Dowie 40' |
Report | Liggett 7', 20' Lavery 37'Harpur 63' (pen.), 89' (pen.) |
| 11 January 2014 | Portadown | 1 – 3 | Glentoran | Shamrock Park, Portadown |
| 15:00 GMT | Murray 27' (pen.) |
Report | Boyd 19' Allen 57', 90' |
| 11 January 2014 | Warrenpoint Town | 2 – 0 | Chimney Corner | Milltown, Warrenpoint |
| 15:00 GMT | D. Hughes 2', 59' |
Report |
Replays
edit| 21 January 2014 | PSNI | 0 – 2 | Lisburn Distillery | Newforge Lane, Belfast |
| 13:30 GMT | Report | Wright 60' Upton 79' |
| 21 January 2014 | Armagh City | 3 – 1 | Ards | Holm Park, Armagh |
| 19:45 GMT | Murray 54', 84' (pen.) Lennon 60' |
Report | Faulkner 12' |
| 21 January 2014 | Ballinamallard United | 1 – 0 | Strabane Athletic | Ferney Park, Ballinamallard |
| 19:45 GMT | Campbell 20' |
Report |
| 21 January 2014 | Ballymena United | 1 – 0 | Harland & Wolff Welders | The Showgrounds, Ballymena |
| 19:45 GMT | Thompson 75' |
Report |
| 21 January 2014 | Coleraine | 4 – 3 | Cliftonville | The Showgrounds, Coleraine |
| 19:45 GMT | Owens 11' Browne 35'McDaid 50' (pen.)Harkin 72' |
Report | O'Carroll 53' Caldwell 76'Gormley 80' |
Sixth round
editThe sixth round draw took place on 11 January 2014 after the fifth round matches were played, with the matches played on 8 February and 1 March 2014 and the replays played on 17 February and 1 March 2014. The 16 winners from the fifth round matches entered this round. Three clubs from tier three (Championship 2) made it into this round - the lowest ranked clubs that were left in the competition.
| 8 February 2014 | Ballyclare Comrades | 2 – 1 | Carrick Rangers | Dixon Park, Ballyclare |
| 15:00 GMT | Agnew 6' Smith 35' |
Report | Gibson 45' |
| 8 February 2014 | Coleraine | 2 – 3 | Dungannon Swifts | The Showgrounds, Coleraine |
| 15:00 GMT | McNeill 42' Bradley 88' |
Report | Hutchinson 39' Harpur 52'Topley 70' |
| 8 February 2014 | Crusaders | 4 – 0 | Ballymoney United | Seaview, Belfast |
| 15:00 GMT | Owens 23', 37', 74' Dempster 90' |
Report |
| 8 February 2014 | Linfield | 1 – 2 | Ballymena United | Windsor Park, Belfast |
| 15:00 GMT | Lowry 35' |
Report | Jenkins 25' Cushley 66' |
| 8 February 2014 | Lisburn Distillery | 0 – 2 | Queen's University | New Grosvenor Stadium, Ballyskeagh |
| 15:00 GMT | Report | Fulton 19' Allison 52' |
| 8 February 2014 | Warrenpoint Town | 0 – 0 | Bangor | Milltown, Warrenpoint |
| 15:00 GMT | Report |
| 1 March 2014 | Ballinamallard United | 0 – 3 | Glenavon | Ferney Park, Ballinamallard |
| 15:00 GMT | Report | Bates 10', 62', 90+1' |
Replays
edit| 17 February 2014 | Bangor | 1 – 0 | Warrenpoint Town | Clandeboye Park, Bangor |
| 19:45 GMT | Walsh 61' |
Report |
| 1 March 2014 | Glentoran | 2 – 1 | Armagh City | The Oval, Belfast |
| 15:00 GMT | Magee 44' (pen.) Scullion 90' |
Report | Murray 80' |
Quarter-finals
editThe quarter-final draw took place on 8 February 2014 after the sixth round matches had been played, with the matches scheduled for 1 and 10 March 2014. Championship 2 club Queen's University were the lowest ranked team left in the competition - the only representatives from the third tier.
| 1 March 2014 | Ballymena United | 4 – 1 | Dungannon Swifts | The Showgrounds, Ballymena |
| 15:00 GMT | Munster 2' Taylor 22'Boyce 30', 87' |
Report | Harpur 55' |
| 1 March 2014 | Crusaders | 5 – 0 | Ballyclare Comrades | Seaview, Belfast |
| 15:00 GMT | Hanley 15' (pen.) Snoddy 55'Caddell 76'McAllister 87'McCutcheon 90' |
Report |
| 1 March 2014 | Queen's University | 3 – 2 | Bangor | Upper Malone, Belfast |
| 15:00 GMT | Prenter 25', 58' Ferrin 84' (pen.) |
Report | Nixon 29' Forsythe 90+5' (pen.) |
| 10 March 2014 | Glentoran | 1 – 2 | Glenavon | The Oval, Belfast |
| 19:50 GMT | Magee 45' (pen.) |
Report | Lindsay 88' Bates 90' |
Semi-finals
editThe semi-final draw took place on 1 March 2014 after the quarter-final matches had been played, with the matches played on 5 April 2014. Championship 2 club Queen's University reached the semi-finals for the first time in the club's history. They were the only semi-finalist from outside the top flight, and became the first club from outside the top two divisions to reach the semi-final stage since Killyleagh YC did so in 2001–02.[8] For the first time since the 1996–97 competition, neither of the Big Two clubs – Glentoran or Linfield – reached the semi-final stage.
| 5 April 2014 | Ballymena United | 3 – 0 | Queen's University | The Oval, Belfast |
| 15:00 BST | Davidson 35', 50' Kelly 89' |
Report |
| 5 April 2014 | Glenavon | 3 – 1 (a.e.t.) | Crusaders | Windsor Park, Belfast |
| 15:00 BST | Martyn 66', 116' Patton 114' |
Report | Heatley 14' |
Final
editBoth finalists were making their first Irish Cup final appearance of the 21st century, Ballymena United having last played in the showpiece when they lifted the cup in 1989. Glenavon reached the final for the first time since finishing as runners-up in 1998. It was the fourth meeting between the two clubs in the final, and the first since 1981, when Ballymena United won 1–0. The final was played on 3 May 2014 at Windsor Park, Belfast.
| Ballymena United | 1 – 2 | Glenavon |
|---|---|---|
| Jenkins 71' |
Report | Neill 35' Patton 76' |
References
edit- ^ "MARIE CURIE GIVEN IRISH CUP FINAL NAMING RIGHTS". Irish Football Association. irishfa.com. 15 April 2014. Archived from the original on 7 May 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
- ^ "Irish Cup final: Ballymena Utd 1-2 Glenavon". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
- ^ "Access list". Bert Kassies. Archived from the original on 19 August 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
- ^ "Troubled Donegal Celtic ruled out of Irish Cup". Belfast Telegraph. 14 August 2013. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
- ^ "JJB SPORTS IRISH CUP". irishfa.com. 12 August 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
- ^ "Crumlin United boss Paddy Kelly reflects on Islandmagee cup cracker". Belfast Telegraph. 13 October 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
- ^ a b "Player ineligibility issue leads to double cup blow for Albert Foundry". Belfast Telegraph. 16 October 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
- ^ "Championship: Around the grounds". Belfast Telegraph. 9 March 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2014.