2025–26 Irish Cup

2025–26 Irish Cup
Tournament details
CountryNorthern Ireland
Dates9 Aug 2025 - TBD
Defending championsDungannon 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.

Team 1  Score  Team 2
9 August 2025
18th Newtownabbey Old Boys (NL) 2–0 Portavogie Rangers (NL)
1st Bangor Old Boys (NL) 5–1 Dunloy (NL)
Ambassadors (NL) 4–1 Belfast Celtic (NL)
Aquinas (NL) 4–6 Dromara Village (NL)
Ballymoney United (NL) 3–0 Windmill Stars (NL)
Bloomfield (NL) 0–8 Comber Recreation (NL)
Bryansburn Rangers (NL) 4–1 Tobermore United (NL)
Castlewellan Town (NL) 2–1 Bangor Amateurs (NL)
Colin Valley (NL) 2–0 Orangefield Old Boys (NL)
Crumlin Star (NL) 5–0 Mossley (NL)
Dergview (3) 3–2 St Matthew's (NL)
Desertmartin (NL) 3–1 Moneyslane (NL)
Dollingstown (3) 7–0 Rathcoole (NL)
Dromore Amateurs (NL) 2–5 Finaghy (NL)
Dunmurry Recreation (NL) 1–2 Abbey Villa (NL)
Dunmurry Young Men (NL) 8–6 (a.e.t.) Inspired Talents (NL)
FC Mindwell (NL) 1–0 Crewe United (NL)
Greenisland (NL) 0–1 Newry City (3)
Heights (NL) 6–3 (a.e.t.) Lurgan Town (NL)
Holywood (NL) 3–1 Banbridge Town (3)
Islandmagee (NL) 2–4 Sirocco Works (NL)
Killyleagh Youth (NL) 1–2 (a.e.t.) Shamrock (NL)
Lisburn Rangers (NL) 1–0 Derriaghy Cricket Club (NL)
Malachians (NL) 1–2 Glebe Rangers (NL)
Markethill Swifts (NL) 2–5 Donegal Celtic (NL)
Moyola Park (3) 3–0 St Oliver Plunkett (NL)
Newmills (NL) 5–0 Tandragee Rovers (NL)
Oxford Sunnyside (3) 2–4 Lisburn Distillery (3)
Portadown BBOB (NL) 0–5 Ballymacash Rangers (3)
Portstewart (3) 1–2 (a.e.t.) Newtowne (NL)
Rathfriland Rangers (3) 4–1 Brantwood (NL)
Rectory Rangers (NL) 0–7 Banbridge Rangers (NL)
Richhill (NL) 1–0 Shankill United (NL)
Rosario Youth Club (NL) 1–2 St James' Swifts (NL)
Rosemount Rec (NL) 0–4 Knockbreda (3)
Saintfield United (NL) 3–5 (a.e.t.) Seagoe (NL)
St Luke's (NL) 5–0 Downshire Young Men (NL)
St Mary's Newtownabbey (NL) 0–3 (a.e.t.) Willowbank (NL)
St Mary's Youth (NL) 3–1 (a.e.t.) Ballynahinch Olympic (NL)
Strabane Athletic (3) 6–0 Cookstown Youth (NL)
Suffolk (NL) 2–3 (a.e.t.) Crumlin United (NL)
Valley Rangers (NL) 0–3 Ballyclare Comrades (3)
Wellington Recreation (NL) 8–0 Tullyvallen (NL)
Bessbrook United (NL) 0–2 Ards Rangers (NL)
Albert Foundry (NL) 1–0 Newcastle (NL)

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]

Team 1  Score  Team 2
12 September 2025
Crumlin Star (NL) 1–2 Holywood (NL)
13 September 2025
1st Bangor Old Boys (NL) 2–6 Dromara Village (NL)
Abbey Villa (NL) 4–0 Coagh United (3)
Ards Rangers (NL) 4–3 Ballymoney United (NL)
Ballymacash Rangers (3) 2–0 18th Newtownabbey Old Boys (NL)
Bryansburn Rangers (NL) 3–0 Immaculata (NL)
Castlewellan Town (NL) 1–3 Maiden City (NL)
Colin Valley (NL) 2–4 Lisburn Rangers (NL)
Comber Recreation (NL) 8–0 PSNI (NL)
Craigavon City (NL) 7–7 (3–4 p) Lower Maze (NL)
Crumlin United (NL) 4–0 Portaferry Rovers (NL)
Dergview (3) 2–2 (4–2 p) Ballyclare Comrades (3)
Desertmartin (NL) 3–3 (4–5 p) Drumaness Mills (NL)
Donegal Celtic (NL) 3–3 (4–3 p)[a] Willowbank (NL)
Dunmurry Young Men (NL) 2–5 St James' Swifts (NL)
FC Mindwell (NL) 2–1 Seagoe (NL)
Glebe Rangers (NL) 3–1 Ambassadors (NL)
Hanover (NL) 1–0 Tullycarnet (NL)
Killymoon Rangers (NL) 2–4 Newry City (3)
Kilmore Recreation (NL) 3–2 Newtowne (NL)
Knockbreda (3) 1–0 Wellington Recreation (NL)
Larne Technical Old Boys (NL) 1–4 Wakehurst (NL)
Moyola Park (3) 8–1 St Luke's (NL)
Newbuildings United (NL) 2–1 Banbridge Rangers (NL)
Rathfriland Rangers (3) 1–0 Albert Foundry (NL)
Richhill (NL) w/o Grove United (NL)
Seapatrick (NL) 3–0 Heights (NL)
Shamrock (NL) 3–4 Finaghy (NL)
Sirocco Works (NL) 1–3 Fivemiletown United (NL)
St Mary's Youth (NL) 0–4 Lisburn Distillery (3)
Strabane Athletic (3) 7–0 Newmills (NL)
Woodvale (NL) 0–3 Dollingstown (3)
Notes
  1. ^ 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

  1. ^ "Tennent's Irish Cup". Irish Football Association. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  2. ^ "Irish Cup final - Dungannon win penalty shootout against Reds - reaction". BBC Sport. 3 May 2025.
  3. ^ "Clearer Water Irish Cup R1 draw completed". Irish Football Association. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  4. ^ "Clearer Water Irish Cup Second Round draw". Irish Football Association. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
  5. ^ "Clearer Water Irish Cup Third Round draw". Irish Football Association. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
  6. ^ "Clearer Water Irish Cup Fourth Round draw". Irish Football Association. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  7. ^ "Clearer Water Irish Cup Fifth round draw completed". Irish Football Association. Retrieved 9 December 2025.