2025–26 Irish Cup
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Dates | 9 August 2025 - 2 May 2026 |
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) | 4–0 | Crusaders (1) |
| 10 January 2026 | ||
| Comber Recreation (NL) | 0–3 | Ballymacash Rangers (3) |
| Dungannon Swifts (1) | 3–0 | Ards (2) |
| Carrick Rangers (1) | 5–1 | Queen's University (2) |
| Limavady United (2) | 4–1 | Lisburn Rangers (NL) |
| Armagh City (2) | 1–4 | Drumaness Mills (NL) |
| Moyola Park (3) | 2–4 (a.e.t.) | Harland & Wolff Welders (2) |
| Linfield (1) | 1–0 | Bangor (1) |
| Cliftonville (1) | 3–0 | Dundela (2) |
| 13 January 2026 | ||
| Warrenpoint Town (2) | 4–3 (a.e.t.) | Lisburn Distillery (3) |
| Portadown (1) | 4–2 | Annagh United (2) |
| Ballinamallard United (2) | 0–3 | Institute (2) |
| Glenavon (1) | 4–2 (a.e.t.) | Newington (2) |
| 20 January 2026 | ||
| Glentoran (1) | 4–0 | Strabane Athletic (3) |
| 3 February 2026 | ||
| Ballymena United (1) | 1–2 | Larne (1) |
| Loughgall (2) | 2–0 | Knockbreda (3) |
Sixth round
The sixteen fifth round winners entered the sixth round. The draw was held on 10 January 2026.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 February 2026 | ||
| Limavady United (2) | 1–0 | Linfield (1) |
| 7 February 2026 | ||
| Cliftonville (1) | 2–1 | Glenavon (1) |
| Portadown (1) | 1–2 | Dungannon Swifts (1) |
| Warrenpoint Town (2) | 0–2 | Larne (1) |
| Carrick Rangers (1) | 1–4 (a.e.t.) | Coleraine (1) |
| Harland & Wolff Welders (2) | 3–0 | Ballymacash Rangers (3) |
| Loughgall (2) | 2–1 | Institute (2) |
| 17 February 2026 | ||
| Glentoran (1) | 5–0 | Drumaness Mills (NL) |
Quarter-finals
The eight sixth round winners entered the quarter-finals. The draw was held on 7 February 2026.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 March 2026 | ||
| Glentoran (1) | 1–1 (0–3 p) | Larne (1) |
| 7 March 2026 | ||
| Dungannon Swifts (1) | 3–0 | Harland & Wolff Welders (2) |
| Limavady United (2) | 0–2 | Coleraine (1) |
| Loughgall (2) | 0–3 | Cliftonville (1) |
Semi-finals
The four quarter-final winners entered the semi-finals. The draw was held on 7 March 2026.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 3 April 2026 | ||
| Cliftonville (1) | Dungannon Swifts (1) | |
| 4 April 2026 | ||
| Coleraine (1) | Larne (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.