Irish Cup
| Irish Cup | |
|---|---|
| Current season or competition: Irish Cup 2008–09 |
|
| Sport | Football |
| Founded | 1880 |
| Country(ies) |  Northern Ireland Ireland (until 1921) |
| Most recent champion(s) |
Linfield F.C. (2007-08) |
| TV partner(s) | Irish Cup Final, Live of BBCNI |
| Official website | [1] |
The Irish Cup is the national cup knock-out competition in Northern Irish football. Inaugurated in 1881, it is the fourth oldest national cup competition in the world. Prior to the break-away from the Irish Football Association by clubs from what would become the Irish Free State in 1921, the Irish Cup was the national cup competition for the whole of Ireland. Linfield are the current holders of the Irish Cup after defeating Dungannon Swifts on penalties on 5 May 2007.
The Irish Cup is currently sponsored by JJB Sports. It was previously sponsored by Nationwide Building Society and Bass Ireland Ltd.
Contents |
Format
The competition is open to all clubs in Northern Ireland enjoying “intermediate” or “senior” status. Clubs obtain such status by meeting minimum criteria laid down by the Irish Football Association in respect of facilities, etc. Each club, for example, must have its own enclosed ground. The twelve senior clubs of the IFA Premiership are exempt until the fourth round, which consists of 32 clubs and is played in January. The seventeen members of the IFA Championship enter in the third round. The competition begins in October with the first round. In 2008–09, a total of 101 clubs entered the competition.
The competition format is that of a knock-out. Teams are drawn against each other randomly. The team who is drawn first from each tie is the home team, except in the case (from the fifth round onwards) of an intermediate team drawn first against a senior team, when the tie is played at the ground of the senior team. Prior to the fourth round, if the match finishes in a draw, extra time is played and (if necessary) penalties are used to decide the winner. From the fourth round until the sixth round (the quarter-finals), if the match finishes in a draw, there is no extra time and a replay is played at the ground of the second-drawn team (except in the case of a tie between a senior team and an intermediate team, in which case the replay will always be at the senior team’s ground). In the replay, if the scores are still level at full time, extra time is played and (if necessary) penalties. At the semi-final stage, the two ties are played at neutral venues, with a draw resulting in extra time and penalties as necessary. The final is now traditionally on the first Saturday in May, and is played to a finish, with extra time and penalties as necessary. Since 1996, the final has always been played at Windsor Park, Belfast.
Different formats and rules have been used in the past in respect of eligibility to enter the competition, the number of teams and rounds, replays, extra time, penalties, etc., but since its inception in 1881, the competition has always been a randomly-drawn knock-out competition, and has always been, and continues to be, considered the most important such competition in Northern Ireland (and, prior to 1921, Ireland), second only to the Irish Premier League. The Cup Final is the climax of the domestic season in Northern Ireland and usually attracts the biggest attendance of any club match.
The winners of the Irish Cup qualify to represent Northern Ireland in the following season’s UEFA Cup, except when they have also won the Premier League championship (and thus qualified for the UEFA Champions League), in which case the losing finalists are entered into the UEFA Cup. Similarly, the winners (or runners-up if the winners have already qualified via the Premier League) also qualify for the next season’s all-Ireland Setanta Cup.
History and records
The Irish Cup started in the 1880–81 season. The draw for the first round took place on 10 January 1881. The trophy was first awarded to Moyola Park (from Castledawson in Co. Londonderry) when they beat Cliftonville (from Belfast) 1–0 in the final at Cliftonville, Belfast on 9 April 1881.
Since the inception of the Irish Football League in 1890-91 (and excluding the First and Second World War years when the League was suspended), the Cup has been won by Irish League teams on every occasion except three famous ‘giant-killing’ occasions when "junior" teams beat senior opponents in the final: in 1928, Willowfield beat Larne 1–0; in 1955, Dundela beat Glenavon 3–0; and in 1976, Carrick Rangers beat Linfield 2–1.
From 1881 to 1921, when the Irish Cup was an all-Ireland competition, southern clubs (from what would become the Irish Free State and later the Republic of Ireland) only won the competition four times out of a possible 41: Shelbourne (from Dublin) won three times (in 1906, 1911 and 1920); and Bohemians (also from Dublin) won it in 1908. During this period, southern clubs reached the final 14 times: Bohemians was the first to do so (1895), and played in a total of six finals; Shelbourne also 1897 and the Freebooters (from Dublin) in 1901. There were two all-southern finals: Bohemians defeating Shelbourne in 1908, and Shelbourne defeating Bohemians in 1911 (both ties required replays).
In the second competition in 1881–82, Queen's Island became the first Belfast team to win the Cup and the Cup didn't leave Belfast again for another 24 years when Shelbourne became the first team from Dublin to win it in 1905–06. Of the 127 competitions played since 1880–81, Belfast teams have won the Cup 94 times. The most successful team from outside Belfast has been Ballymena United, who have won the Cup six times.
The first final to be played outside Belfast was in 1901, when Cliftonville defeated Freebooters at Jones's Road, Dublin.
The first final between two teams from outside Belfast was in 1908, when Bohemians beat Shelbourne.
In 1921, Glenavon became the first team from Co. Armagh to reach the final, but no team from Armagh won the Cup until Glenavon in 1957. Co. Down's first Cup finalists and winners were Ards in 1927; and Co. Antrim's were Ballymena United in 1929. In 2007, Dungannon Swifts became the first team from Co. Tyrone to reach the final.
In the early years, Army regiments stationed in Ireland entered teams, three of which reached the final: the Gordon Highlanders in 1890, the Black Watch in 1892 and the Sherwood Foresters in 1897. The Gordon Highlanders was the only Army team to win the Cup.
The longest gap between Irish Cup wins was 70 years between Cliftonville’s wins in 1909 and 1979.
The longest gap between Irish Cup finals was 55 years between Bangor’s appearances in the 1938 and 1993 finals.
Larne have been to the most finals (five) without ever winning.
The highest score recorded in a Cup final was 10–1, when Linfield defeated Bohemians in 1895.
Over the years, 19 replays have been required, the first in 1890 after Cliftonville and the Gordon Highlanders drew 2–2. On eight occasions, a second replay was required, and the last time this occurred was 1993 when Bangor defeated Ards 1–0 after two 1–1 draws. It was decided after this that there should only be one replay in which penalties would be used to determine the winner if necessary, and eventually the rules for the final were changed to remove replays altogether, with penalties being used if necessary after extra time in the first match. The first final to be won on penalties was in 2007, when Linfield beat Dungannon Swifts 3–2 on penalties following a 2–2 draw after extra time.
On three occasions the final was not played. In 1912, three of the four semi-finalists (Cliftonville, Glentoran and Shelbourne) resigned from the Irish Football Association, leaving Linfield as the only remaining team in the competition, who were awarded the Cup. In 1920, Shelbourne, who had beaten Glenavon in one semi-final, were awarded the Cup without playing the final, when the two other semi-finalists, Belfast Celtic and Glentoran, were both disqualified. (Celtic were disqualified after their supporters at fired shots into the Glentoran supporters; and Glentoran were disqualified for fielding an unlisted player.) In 1999, Portadown were awarded the Cup when the other finalists, Cliftonville, were disqualified after it came to light that they had fielded an ineligible player during the earlier rounds.
A total of 21 different teams have won the Irish Cup, and 32 different teams have reached the final.
The most common final has been Glentoran v Linfield. These teams have played each other in fourteen finals: first in 1899 and most recently in 2006. Linfield won on eight occasions and Glentoran on six.
On four occasions the same two teams have reached the final in consecutive years: in 1885 and 1886, Distillery and Alexander; in 1913 and 1914, Glentoran and Linfield; in 1930 and 1931, Ballymena United and Linfield; and in 2003 and 2004, Coleraine and Glentoran.
Linfield hold the records both for the most wins (39 times between 1891 and 2008) and the most finals (59 between 1891 and 2008).
Glentoran hold the record for the most consecutive wins: four times from 1985 to 1988. Distillery (1884–1886) and Linfield (1891–1893 and 2006–2008) have each won the Cup three times in a row.
Linfield hold the record for the most consecutive finals: five times from 1891 to 1895 (equalled between 1912 and 1916 if 1912 – when the final was not played – is counted). Four consecutive finals has been achieved four times: Shelbourne from 1905 to 1908; Linfield from 1960 to 1963 and from 1975 to 1978; and Glentoran from 1985 to 1988. Three consecutive finals has been achieved six times: Cliftonville from 1881 to 1883; Distillery from 1884 to 1886; Ballymena United form 1929 to 1931; Linfield from 1944 to 1946, and again from 2006 to 2008; and Glenavon from 1996 to 1998.
Linfield is the only team to have lost three finals in a row when they were beaten in the 1975, 1976 and 1977 finals by Coleraine, Carrick Rangers and Coleraine respectively. They avoided losing four in a row when they defeated Ballymena United 3–1 in the 1978 final. Teams have lost two finals in a row on six occasions: Cliftonville in 1881 and 1882; Alexander in 1885 and 1886; Shelbourne in 1907 and 1908; Glenavon in 1921 and 1922; Ballymena United in 1930 and 1931; and Glentoran in 1942 and 1943.
In 2001, the final was broadcast live on television for the first time, and has been on every occasion since.
Shelbourne, Bohemians and Derry City are the only clubs to win both the Irish Cup and the FAI Cup.
Windsor Park has hosted the most finals (64, including replays), followed by The Oval with 24, Solitude with 22, Celtic Park with 12 and Dalymount Park with 8.
Final results
| Season | Date | Winner | Score | Runner-up | Venue | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1880–81 | 09.04.81 | Moyola Park | 1 – 0 | Cliftonville | Cliftonville, Belfast | 1,500 |
| 1881–82 | 13.05.82 | Queen's Island | 2 – 1 | Cliftonville | Ulster Ground, Ballynafeigh, Belfast | 2,000 |
| 1882–83 | 5.05.83 | Cliftonville | 5 – 0 | Ulster | Bloomfield Ground, Knock, Belfast | 2,000 |
| 1883–84 | 19.04.84 | Distillery | 5 – 0 | Wellington Park | Ulster Ground, Ballynafeigh, Belfast | 2,000 |
| 1884–85 | 21.3.85 | Distillery | 2 – 0 | Limavady United | Ulster Ground, Ballynafeigh, Belfast | 2,000 |
| 1885–86 | 27.3.86 | Distillery | 1 – 0 | Limavady United | Ulster Ground, Ballynafeigh, Belfast | 1,000 |
| 1886–87 | 12.2.87 | Ulster | 3 – 0 | Cliftonville | Broadway Ground, Belfast | 4,000 |
| 1887–88 | 17.3.88 | Cliftonville | 2 – 1 | Distillery | Ulster Ground, Ballynafeigh, Belfast | 3,000 |
| 1888–89 | 16.03.89 | Distillery | 5 – 4 | YMCA | Ulster Ground, Ballynafeigh, Belfast | 3,500 |
| 1889–90 | 08.03.90 | Gordon Highlanders | 2 – 2 | Cliftonville | Ulster Ground, Ballynafeigh, Belfast | 4,500 |
| Replay | 12.03.90 | Gordon Highlanders | 3 – 1 | Cliftonville | Ulsterville, Belfast | 3,500 |
| 1890–91 | 14.03.91 | Linfield | 4 – 2 | Ulster | Solitude, Belfast | 5,000 |
| 1891–92 | 12.03.92 | Linfield | 7 – 0 | The Black Watch | Solitude, Belfast | |
| 1892–93 | 11.03.93 | Linfield | 5 – 1 | Cliftonville | Ulsterville, Belfast | |
| 1893–94 | 17.03.94 | Distillery | 2 – 2 | Linfield | Solitude, Belfast | 5,500 |
| Replay | 18.04.94 | Distillery | 3 – 2 | Linfield | Solitude, Belfast | |
| 1894–95 | 23.03.95 | Linfield | 10 – 1 | Bohemians | Solitude, Belfast | 2,000 |
| 1895–96 | 14.03.96 | Distillery | 3 – 1 | Glentoran | Solitude, Belfast | 6,000 |
| 1896–97 | 20.03.97 | Cliftonville | 3 – 1 | Sherwood Foresters | Grosvenor Park, Belfast | 5,000 |
| 1897–98 | 19.03.98 | Linfield | 2 – 0 | St Columb's Hall Celtic | The Oval, Belfast | 3,000 |
| 1898–99 | 18.03.99 | Linfield | 2 – 1 | Glentoran | Solitude, Belfast | 7,000 |
| 1899–1900 | 24.03.00 | Cliftonville | 2 – 1 | Bohemians | Grosvenor Park, Belfast | 5,500 |
| 1900–01 | 13.04.01 | Cliftonville | 1 – 0 | Freebooters | Jones's Road, Dublin(1) | |
| 1901–02 | 15.03.02 | Linfield | 5 – 0 | Distillery | Solitude, Belfast | |
| 1902–03 | 14.03.03 | Distillery | 3 – 1 | Bohemians | Dalymount Park, Dublin | |
| 1903–04 | 17.03.04 | Linfield | 5 – 1 | Derry Celtic | Grosvenor Park, Belfast | |
| 1904–05 | 11.03.05 | Distillery | 3 – 0 | Shelbourne | Solitude, Belfast | 13,000 |
| 1905–06 | 28.04.06 | Shelbourne | 2 – 0 | Belfast Celtic | Dalymount Park, Dublin | |
| 1906–07 | 23.03.07 | Cliftonville | 1 – 0 | Shelbourne | Celtic Park, Belfast | |
| Replay | 20.04.07 | Cliftonville | 1 – 0 | Shelbourne | Dalymount Park, Dublin | |
| 1907–08 | 21.03.08 | Bohemians | 1 – 1 | Shelbourne | Dalymount Park, Dublin | |
| Replay | 28.03.08 | Bohemians | 3 – 1 | Shelbourne | Dalymount Park, Dublin | |
| 1908–09 | 03.04.09 | Cliftonville | 0 – 0 | Bohemians | Windsor Park, Belfast | |
| Replay | 10.04.09 | Cliftonville | 2 – 1 | Bohemians | Dalymount Park, Dublin | |
| 1909–10 | 26.03.10 | Distillery | 1 – 0 | Cliftonville | The Oval, Belfast | 10,000 |
| 1910–11 | 25.03.11 | Shelbourne | 0 – 0 | Bohemians | Dalymount Park, Dublin | |
| Replay | 15.04.11 | Shelbourne | 2 – 1 | Bohemians | Dalymount Park, Dublin | |
| 1911–12 | Linfield | (Default winner. Other semi-finalists withdrew) | ||||
| 1912–13 | 29.03.13 | Linfield | 2 – 0 | Glentoran | Celtic Park, Belfast | 20,000 |
| 1913–14 | 28.03.14 | Glentoran | 3 – 1 | Linfield | Grosvenor Park, Belfast | 20,000 |
| 1914–15 | 27.03.15 | Linfield | 1 – 0 | Belfast Celtic | Solitude, Belfast | |
| 1915–16 | 25.3.16 | Linfield | 1 – 1 | Glentoran | Celtic Park, Belfast | |
| Replay | 1.4.16 | Linfield | 1 – 0 | Glentoran | Grosvenor Park, Belfast | |
| 1916–17 | 31.3.17 | Glentoran | 2 – 0 | Belfast Celtic | Windsor Park, Belfast | 20,000 |
| 1917–18 | 30.3.18 | Belfast Celtic | 0 – 0 | Linfield | The Oval, Belfast | |
| Replay | 13.4.18 | Belfast Celtic | 0 – 0 | Linfield | Solitude, Belfast | |
| 2nd replay | 24.4.18 | Belfast Celtic | 2 – 0 | Linfield | Grosvenor Park, Belfast | |
| 1918–19 | 29.03.19 | Linfield | 1 – 1 | Glentoran | Celtic Park, Belfast | 18,000 |
| Replay | 05.04.19 | Linfield | 0 – 0 | Glentoran | Grosvenor Park, Belfast | |
| 2nd replay | 07.04.19 | Linfield | 2 – 1 | Glentoran | Solitude, Belfast | |
| 1919–20 | - | Shelbourne | (final not played) | |||
| 1920–21 | 26.03.21 | Glentoran | 2 – 0 | Glenavon | Windsor Park, Belfast | |
| 1921–22 | 25.03.22 | Linfield | 2 – 0 | Glenavon | Solitude, Belfast | |
| 1922–23 | 31.3.23 | Linfield | 2 – 0 | Glentoran | Solitude, Belfast | |
| 1923–24 | 29.3.24 | Queen's Island | 1 – 0 | Willowfield | Windsor Park, Belfast | |
| 1924–25 | 21.3.25 | Distillery | 2 – 1 | Glentoran | Solitude, Belfast | 20,000 |
| 1925–26 | 27.3.26 | Belfast Celtic | 3 – 2 | Linfield | Solitude, Belfast | |
| 1926–27 | 26.3.27 | Ards | 3 – 2 | Cliftonville | The Oval, Belfast | |
| 1927–28 | 25.4.28 | Willowfield | 1 – 0 | Larne | Windsor Park, Belfast | |
| 1928–29 | 30.5.29 | Ballymena | 2 – 1 | Belfast Celtic | Solitude, Belfast | |
| 1929–30 | 29.03.30 | Linfield | 4 – 3 | Ballymena | Celtic Park, Belfast | |
| 1930–31 | 28.03.31 | Linfield | 3 – 0 | Ballymena | The Oval, Belfast | |
| 1931–32 | 26.03.32 | Glentoran | 2 – 1 | Linfield | Celtic Park, Belfast | |
| 1932–33 | 08.04.33 | Glentoran | 1 – 1 | Distillery | Windsor Park, Belfast | 33,000 |
| Replay | 12.04.33 | Glentoran | 1 – 1 | Distillery | Windsor Park, Belfast | 25,000 |
| 2nd replay | 28.04.33 | Glentoran | 3 – 1 | Distillery | Windsor Park, Belfast | |
| 1933–34 | 14.04.34 | Linfield | 4 – 0 | Cliftonville | The Oval, Belfast | |
| 1934–35 | 06.04.35 | Glentoran | 0 – 0 | Larne | Windsor Park, Belfast | 15,000 |
| Replay | 10.04.35 | Glentoran | 0 – 0 | Larne | Windsor Park, Belfast | |
| 2nd replay | 30.04.35 | Glentoran | 1 – 0 | Larne | Windsor Park, Belfast | 10,545 |
| 1935–36 | 04.04.36 | Linfield | 0 – 0 | Derry City | Celtic Park, Belfast | |
| Replay | 08.04.36 | Linfield | 2 – 0 | Derry City | Celtic Park, Belfast | |
| 1936–37 | 10.04.37 | Belfast Celtic | 3 – 0 | Linfield | The Oval, Belfast | |
| 1937–38 | 09.04.38 | Belfast Celtic | 0 – 0 | Bangor | Solitude, Belfast | |
| 1937–38 | 07.05.38 | Belfast Celtic | 2 – 0 | Bangor | Solitude, Belfast | |
| 1938–39 | 29.04.39 | Linfield | 2 – 0 | Ballymena United | Solitude, Belfast | |
| 1939–40 | 20.04.40 | Ballymena United | 2 – 0 | Glenavon | Windsor Park, Belfast | |
| 1940–41 | 26.04.41 | Belfast Celtic | 1 – 0 | Linfield | Windsor Park, Belfast | 12,000 |
| 1941–42 | 18.04.42 | Linfield | 3 – 1 | Glentoran | Celtic Park, Belfast | |
| 1942–43 | 17.04.43 | Belfast Celtic | 1 – 0 | Glentoran | Windsor Park, Belfast | |
| 1943–44 | 17.04.44 | Belfast Celtic | 3 – 1 | Linfield | Windsor Park, Belfast | |
| 1944–45 | 14.04.45 | Linfield | 4 – 2 | Glentoran | Celtic Park, Belfast | 20,000 |
| 1945–46 | 13.04.46 | Linfield | 3 – 0 | Distillery | Celtic Park, Belfast | 20,137 |
| 1946–47 | 26.04.47 | Belfast Celtic | 1 – 0 | Glentoran | Windsor Park, Belfast | 25,000 |
| 1947–48 | Linfield | 3 – 0 | Coleraine | Celtic Park, Belfast | 31,000 | |
| 1948–49 | 16.04.49 | Derry City | 1 – 0 | Glentoran | Windsor Park, Belfast | 27,000 |
| 1949–50 | 22.04.50 | Linfield | 2 – 1 | Distillery | Windsor Park, Belfast | 17,000 |
| 1950–51 | 28.04.51 | Glentoran | 3 – 1 | Ballymena United | Windsor Park, Belfast | 25,000 |
| 1951–52 | 26.04.52 | Ards | 1 – 0 | Glentoran | Windsor Park, Belfast | 20,000 |
| 1952–53 | Linfield | 5 – 0 | Coleraine | Solitude, Belfast | 21,000 | |
| 1953–54 | 24.04.54 | Derry City | 2 – 2 | Glentoran | Windsor Park, Belfast | 35,000 |
| Replay | 29.04.54 | Derry City | 0 – 0 | Glentoran | Windsor Park, Belfast | 28,000 |
| 2nd replay | 10.05.54 | Derry City | 1 – 0 | Glentoran | Windsor Park, Belfast | 28,000 |
| 1954–55 | 23.04.55 | Dundela | 3 – 0 | Glenavon | Windsor Park, Belfast | 10,000 |
| 1955–56 | 21.04.56 | Distillery | 2 – 2 | Glentoran | Windsor Park, Belfast | 16,000 |
| Replay | 26.04.56 | Distillery | 0 – 0 | Glentoran | Windsor Park, Belfast | |
| 2nd replay | 30.04.56 | Distillery | 1 – 0 | Glentoran | Windsor Park, Belfast | 20,000 |
| 1956–57 | 13.04.57 | Glenavon | 2 – 0 | Derry City | Windsor Park, Belfast | 23,000 |
| 1957–58 | Ballymena United | 2 – 0 | Linfield | The Oval, Belfast | 24,000 | |
| 1958–59 | 18.04.59 | Glenavon | 1 – 1 | Ballymena United | Windsor Park, Belfast | 18,000 |
| Replay | 29.04.59 | Glenavon | 2 – 0 | Ballymena United | Windsor Park, Belfast | |
| 1959–60 | Linfield | 5 – 1 | Ards | The Oval, Belfast | 20,000 | |
| 1960–61 | 22.04.61 | Glenavon | 5 – 1 | Linfield | Solitude, Belfast | 22,000 |
| 1961–62 | Linfield | 4 – 0 | Portadown | The Oval, Belfast | 20,000 | |
| 1962–63 | 20.04.63 | Linfield | 2 – 1 | Distillery | The Oval, Belfast | 20,000 |
| 1963–64 | 25.04.64 | Derry City | 2 – 0 | Glentoran | Windsor Park, Belfast | 19,000 |
| 1964–65 | 24.04.65 | Coleraine | 2 – 1 | Glenavon | Windsor Park, Belfast | 18,000 |
| 1965–66 | 23.04.66 | Glentoran | 2 – 0 | Linfield | The Oval, Belfast | 20,000 |
| 1966–67 | 22.04.67 | Crusaders | 3 – 1 | Glentoran | Windsor Park, Belfast | 20,000 |
| 1967–68 | 27.04.68 | Crusaders | 2 – 0 | Linfield | The Oval, Belfast | 18,000 |
| 1968–69 | 19.04.69 | Ards | 0 – 0 | Distillery | Windsor Park, Belfast | 17,000 |
| Replay | 23.04.69 | Ards | 4 – 2 | Distillery | Windsor Park, Belfast | 16,000 |
| 1969–70 | 04.04.70 | Linfield | 2 – 1 | Ballymena United | Solitude, Belfast | 12,000 |
| 1970–71 | 03.04.71 | Distillery | 3 – 0 | Derry City | Windsor Park, Belfast | 6,000 |
| 1971–72 | 22.04.72 | Coleraine | 2 – 1 | Portadown | Windsor Park, Belfast | 8,000 |
| 1972–73 | 28.04.73 | Glentoran | 3 – 2 | Linfield | Windsor Park, Belfast | 12,000 |
| 1973–74 | 27.04.74 | Ards | 2 – 1 | Ballymena United | Windsor Park, Belfast | 7,000 |
| 1974–75 | 19.04.75 | Coleraine | 1 – 1 | Linfield | The Showgrounds, Ballymena | 5,600 |
| Replay | 23.04.75 | Coleraine | 0 – 0 | Linfield | The Showgrounds, Ballymena | 5,400 |
| 2nd replay | 29.04.75 | Coleraine | 1 – 0 | Linfield | The Showgrounds, Ballymena | 5,200 |
| 1975–76 | 10.04.76 | Carrick Rangers | 2 – 1 | Linfield | The Oval, Belfast | 9,500 |
| 1976–77 | Coleraine | 4 – 1 | Linfield | The Oval, Belfast | 10,000 | |
| 1977–78 | 29.04.78 | Linfield | 3 – 1 | Ballymena United | The Oval, Belfast | 12,000 |
| 1978–79 | Cliftonville | 3 – 2 | Portadown | Windsor Park, Belfast | 15,000 | |
| 1979–80 | 26.04.80 | Linfield | 2 – 0 | Crusaders | The Oval, Belfast | 12,000 |
| 1980–81 | 02.05.81 | Ballymena United | 1 – 0 | Glenavon | Windsor Park, Belfast | 6,000 |
| 1981–82 | 24.04.82 | Linfield | 2 – 1 | Coleraine | The Oval, Belfast | 12,000 |
| 1982–83 | 30.04.83 | Glentoran | 1 – 1 | Linfield | Windsor Park, Belfast | 12,000 |
| Replay | 07.05.83 | Glentoran | 2 – 1 | Linfield | The Oval, Belfast | 8,000 |
| 1983–84 | 05.05.84 | Ballymena United | 4 – 1 | Carrick Rangers | Windsor Park, Belfast | 5,000 |
| 1984–85 | 04.05.85 | Glentoran | 1 – 1 | Linfield | The Oval, Belfast | 12,000 |
| Replay | 11.05.85 | Glentoran | 1 – 0 | Linfield | Windsor Park, Belfast | 12,000 |
| 1985–86 | 03.05.86 | Glentoran | 2 – 1 | Coleraine | Windsor Park, Belfast | 8,000 |
| 1986–87 | 02.05.87 | Glentoran | 1 – 0 | Larne | Windsor Park, Belfast | 8,000 |
| 1987–88 | 30.04.88 | Glentoran | 1 – 0 | Glenavon | Windsor Park, Belfast | 10,000 |
| 1988–89 | 06.05.89 | Ballymena United | 1 – 0 | Larne | The Oval, Belfast | 5,000 |
| 1989–90 | 05.05.90 | Glentoran | 3 – 0 | Portadown | Windsor Park, Belfast | 12,000 |
| 1990–91 | 04.05.91 | Portadown | 2 – 1 | Glenavon | Windsor Park, Belfast | 12,000 |
| 1991–92 | 02.05.92 | Glenavon | 2 – 1 | Linfield | The Oval, Belfast | 12,000 |
| 1992–93 | 01.05.93 | Bangor | 1 – 1 (aet) | Ards | Windsor Park, Belfast | 8,500 |
| Replay | 08.05.93 | Bangor | 1 – 1 (aet) | Ards | Windsor Park, Belfast | 6,000 |
| 2nd replay | 11.05.93 | Bangor | 1 – 0 (aet) | Ards | Windsor Park, Belfast | 5,000 |
| 1993–94 | 07.05.94 | Linfield | 2 – 0 | Bangor | The Oval, Belfast | 10,000 |
| 1994–95 | 06.05.95 | Linfield | 3 – 1 | Carrick Rangers | The Oval, Belfast | 6,800 |
| 1995–96 | 04.05.96 | Glentoran | 1 – 0 | Glenavon | Windsor Park, Belfast | 10,000 |
| 1996–97 | 03.05.97 | Glenavon | 1 – 0 | Cliftonville | Windsor Park, Belfast | 8,222 |
| 1997–98 | 02.05.98 | Glentoran | 1 – 0 (aet) | Glenavon | Windsor Park, Belfast | 8,250 |
| 1998–99 | n–a | Portadown | w–o | Cliftonville (disqualified) | ||
| 1999–00 | 06.05.00 | Glentoran | 1 – 0 | Portadown | Windsor Park, Belfast | 8,355 |
| 2000–01 | 05.05.01 | Glentoran | 1 – 0 (aet) | Linfield | Windsor Park, Belfast | 14,190 |
| 2001–02 | 11.05.02 | Linfield | 2 – 1 | Portadown | Windsor Park, Belfast | 11,129 |
| 2002–03 | 03.05.03 | Coleraine | 1 – 0 | Glentoran | Windsor Park, Belfast | 9,000 |
| 2003–04 | 01.05.04 | Glentoran | 1 – 0 | Coleraine | Windsor Park, Belfast | 8,300 |
| 2004–05 | 07.05.05 | Portadown | 5 – 1 | Larne | Windsor Park, Belfast | 5,431 |
| 2005–06 | 06.05.06 | Linfield | 2 – 1 | Glentoran | Windsor Park, Belfast | 12,500 |
| 2006–07 | 05.05.07 | Linfield | 2 – 2 (aet) (3 – 2 on pens) |
Dungannon Swifts | Windsor Park, Belfast | 7,600 |
| 2007–08 | 03.05.08 | Linfield | 2 – 1 | Coleraine | Windsor Park, Belfast | 8,452 |
Performance By Club
| Club | Winners | Runners-up | Winning Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linfield | 39 | 20 | 1890–91, 1891–92, 1892–93, 1894–95, 1897–98, 1898–99, 1901–02, 1903–04, 1911–12, 1912–13, 1914–15, 1915–16, 1918–19, 1921–22, 1922–23, 1929–30, 1930–31, 1933–34, 1935–36, 1938–39, 1941–42, 1944–45, 1945–46, 1947–48, 1949–50, 1952–53, 1959–60, 1961–62, 1962–63, 1969–70, 1977–78, 1979–80, 1981–82, 1993–94, 1994–95, 2001–02, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 |
| Glentoran | 20 | 19 | 1913–14, 1916–17, 1920–21, 1931–32, 1932–33, 1934–35, 1950–51, 1965–66, 1972–73, 1982–83, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1989–90, 1995–96, 1997–98, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2003–04 |
| Distillery | 12 | 7 | 1883–84, 1884–85, 1885–86, 1888–89, 1893–94, 1895–96, 1902–03, 1904–05, 1909–10, 1924–25, 1955–56, 1970–71 |
| Cliftonville | 8 | 9 | 1882–83, 1887–88, 1896–97, 1899–00, 1900–01, 1906–07, 1908–09, 1978–79 |
| Belfast Celtic | 8 | 4 | 1917–18, 1925–26, 1936–37, 1937–38, 1940–41, 1942–43, 1943–44, 1946–47 |
| Ballymena United | 6 | 8 | 1928–29, 1939–40, 1957–58, 1980–81, 1983–84, 1988–89 |
| Glenavon | 5 | 10 | 1956–57, 1958–59, 1960–61, 1991–92, 1996–97 |
| Coleraine | 5 | 6 | 1964–65, 1971–72, 1974–75, 1976–77, 2002–03 |
| Ards | 4 | 2 | 1926–27, 1951–52, 1968–69, 1973–74 |
| Portadown | 3 | 6 | 1990–91, 1998–99, 2004–05 |
| Derry City | 3 | 3 | 1948–49, 1953–54, 1963–64 |
| Shelbourne | 3 | 3 | 1905–06, 1910–11, 1919–20 |
| Crusaders | 2 | 1 | 1966–67, 1967–68 |
| Queen's Island | 2 | – | 1881–82, 1923–24 |
| Bohemians | 1 | 5 | 1907–08 |
| Bangor | 1 | 2 | 1992–93 |
| Carrick Rangers | 1 | 2 | 1975–76 |
| Ulster | 1 | 2 | 1886–87 |
| Willowfield | 1 | 1 | 1927–28 |
| Dundela | 1 | – | 1954–55 |
| Gordon Highlanders | 1 | – | 1889–90 |
| Moyola Park | 1 | – | 1880–81 |
| Larne | – | 5 | – |
| Derry Celtic(2) | – | 2 | – |
| Limavady United | – | 2 | – |
| The Black Watch | – | 1 | – |
| Dungannon Swifts | – | 1 | – |
| Freebooters | – | 1 | – |
| Sherwood Foresters | – | 1 | – |
| Wellington Park | – | 1 | – |
| YMCA | – | 1 | – |
Notes
- Note (1): The following sources give the venue as Jones's Road - [2] and [3] - but the Association of Football Statisticians 1900-1901 Annual (AFS, 1985) gives the venue as Grosvenor Park, Belfast.<–small>
- Note (2): including one final as St Columb's Hall Celtic
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