2025–26 Irish Cup
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Dates | 9 Aug 2025 - TBD |
| Defending champions | Dungannon Swifts |
The 2025–26 Irish Cup (known as the Clearer Water Irish Cup for sponsorship purposes) is the 146th edition of the Irish Cup, the premier knock-out cup competition in Northern Irish football since its inauguration in 1881. The winners qualify for the 2026–27 Conference League second qualifying round.[1] Dungannon Swifts are the defending cup holders.[2]
Results
First round
90 clubs in Tier 3 and below entered the first round. The draw was held on 3 July 2025.[3]
The following teams received byes: Coagh United, Craigavon City, Drumaness Mills, Fivemiletown United, Grove United, Hanover, Immaculata, Killymoon Rangers, Kilmore Recreation, Larne Technical Old Boys, Lower Maze, Maiden City, Newbuildings United, Portaferry Rovers, PSNI, Seapatrick, Tullycarnet, Wakehurst, and Woodvale.
Second round
The 45 first round winners and 19 teams given byes entered the second round. The draw was held on 11 August 2025.[4]
- Notes
- ^ Donegal Celtic were expelled from the cup for fielding an ineligible player; Willowbank were reinstated.
Third round
The 32 second round winners entered the third round. The draw was held on 15 September 2025.[5]
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 25 October 2025 | ||
| Abbey Villa (NL) | 3–4 | Strabane Athletic (3) |
| Ards Rangers (NL) | 1–3 | Rathfriland Rangers (3) |
| Comber Recreation (NL) | 8–1 | Glebe Rangers (NL) |
| Crumlin United (NL) | 0–8 | Newry City (3) |
| Dergview (3) | 0–0 (5–4 p) | Bryansburn Rangers (NL) |
| Dromara Village (NL) | 1–4 | Lisburn Distillery (3) |
| Drumaness Mills (NL) | 6–4 | Fivemiletown United (NL) |
| Hanover (NL) | 1–0 | FC Mindwell (NL) |
| Holywood (NL) | 3–5 | Finaghy (NL) |
| Kilmore Recreation (NL) | 0–3 | Ballymacash Rangers (3) |
| Knockbreda (3) | 4–3 | Dollingstown (3) |
| Maiden City (NL) | 0–3 | Willowbank (NL) |
| Moyola Park (3) | 5–0 | Lower Maze (NL) |
| Newbuildings United (NL) | 2–1 | Richhill (NL) |
| Seapatrick (NL) | 3–5 | Wakehurst (NL) |
| St James' Swifts (NL) | 2–2 (2–4 p) | Lisburn Rangers (NL) |
Fourth round
The 16 third round winners entered the fourth round. The draw was held on 30 October 2025.[6]
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 21 November 2025 | ||
| Newry City (3) | 1–2 | Drumaness Mills (NL) |
| 22 November 2025 | ||
| Ballymacash Rangers (3) | 4–0 | Willowbank (NL) |
| Comber Recreation (NL) | 3–1 | Hanover (NL) |
| Lisburn Distillery (3) | 4–2 | Finaghy (NL) |
| Lisburn Rangers (NL) | 4–4 (4–3 p) | Dergview (3) |
| Newbuildings United (NL) | 1–2 | Moyola Park (3) |
| Strabane Athletic (3) | 2–1 | Rathfriland Rangers (3) |
| Wakehurst (NL) | 2–4 | Knockbreda (3) |
Fifth round
The eight fourth round winners, the 12 teams from the 2025–26 NIFL Premiership, and the 12 teams from the 2025–26 NIFL Championship entered the fifth round. The draw was held on 9 December 2025.[7]
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 9 January 2026 | ||
| Coleraine (1) | Crusaders (1) | |
| 10 January 2026 | ||
| Armagh City (2) | Drumaness Mills (NL) | |
| Ballinamallard United (2) | Institute (2) | |
| Ballymena United (1) | Larne (1) | |
| Carrick Rangers (1) | Queen's University (2) | |
| Cliftonville (1) | Dundela (2) | |
| Comber Recreation (NL) | Ballymacash Rangers (3) | |
| Dungannon Swifts (1) | Ards (2) | |
| Glenavon (1) | Newington (2) | |
| Knockbreda (3) | Loughgall (2) | |
| Limavady United (2) | Lisburn Rangers (NL) | |
| Linfield (1) | Bangor (1) | |
| Lisburn Distillery (3) | Warrenpoint Town (2) | |
| Moyola Park (3) | Harland & Wolff Welders (2) | |
| Portadown (1) | Annagh United (2) | |
| Strabane Athletic (3) | Glentoran (1) | |
References
- ^ "Tennent's Irish Cup". Irish Football Association. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
- ^ "Irish Cup final - Dungannon win penalty shootout against Reds - reaction". BBC Sport. 3 May 2025.
- ^ "Clearer Water Irish Cup R1 draw completed". Irish Football Association. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
- ^ "Clearer Water Irish Cup Second Round draw". Irish Football Association. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ "Clearer Water Irish Cup Third Round draw". Irish Football Association. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
- ^ "Clearer Water Irish Cup Fourth Round draw". Irish Football Association. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
- ^ "Clearer Water Irish Cup Fifth round draw completed". Irish Football Association. Retrieved 9 December 2025.