# 2015–16 Irish Cup

The 2015–16 Irish Cup (known as the Tennent's Irish Cup for sponsorship purposes) was the 136th edition of the Irish Cup, the premier knockout cup competition in Northern Irish football since its introduction in 1881. The competition began on 18 August 2015 with the first round and concluded with the final at Windsor Park on 7 May 2016. The cup was sponsored by Tennent's Lager, the competition's first title sponsor since 2012.
Glentoran were the defending champions, after they lifted the cup for the second time in three seasons and for the 22nd time overall by defeating Portadown 1–0 in the 2015 final. Their defence of the Cup ended in the sixth round after falling to a 4–1 home defeat against 2013–14 winners, Glenavon.
Glenavon who were the eventual winners after beating Linfield 2-0 in the final, qualified for the 2016–17 UEFA Europa League first qualifying round

## Format and schedule

129 clubs entered this season's competition, an increase of four clubs compared with the 2014–15 total of 125 clubs. 82 regional league clubs from tiers 4–7 in the Northern Ireland football league system entered the competition in the first round, with a further seven clubs receiving byes to proceed directly into the second round as necessitated by the number of participants. These clubs contested the first three rounds, with the 12 surviving clubs joining the 28 NIFL Championship clubs in the fourth round. The 12 NIFL Premiership clubs enter the competition in the fifth round, along with the 20 winners from the fourth round matches. All ties level after 90 minutes used extra time to determine the winner, with a penalty shoot-out to follow if necessary.
| Round | Draw date | First match date | Fixtures | Clubs |
| First round | 22 July 2015 | 18 August 2015 | 41 | 129 → 88 |
| Second round | 25 August 2015 | 3 October 2015 | 24 | 88 → 64 |
| Third round | 13 October 2015 | 7 November 2015 | 12 | 64 → 52 |
| Fourth round | 10 November 2015 | 5 December 2015 | 20 | 52 → 32 |
| Fifth round | 8 December 2015 | 9 January 2016 | 16 | 32 → 16 |
| Sixth round | 9 January 2016 | 6 February 2016 | 8 | 16 → 8 |
| Quarter-finals | 6 February 2016 | 5 March 2016 | 4 | 8 → 4 |
| Semi-finals | 5 March 2016 | 1 April 2016 | 2 | 4 → 2 |
| Final | | 7 May 2016 | 1 | 2 → 1 |
| Tiers | Leagues | No. of Entries | Entry round |
| 1 | NIFL Premiership | 12 | Fifth round |
| 2 | NIFL Championship 1 | 28 | Fourth round |
| 3 | NIFL Championship 2 | 28 | Fourth round |
| 4 | Ballymena & Provincial Football League Premier Division Mid-Ulster Football League Intermediate A Northern Amateur Football League Premier Division Northern Ireland Intermediate League | 89 | First round (Second round if byed) |
| 5 | Mid-Ulster Football League Intermediate B Northern Amateur Football League Division 1A | 89 | First round (Second round if byed) |
| 6 | Northern Amateur Football League Division 1B | 89 | First round (Second round if byed) |
| 7 | Northern Amateur Football League Division 1C | 89 | First round (Second round if byed) |

## Results

Note: The league tier of each club at the time of entering the competition is listed in parentheses.

### First round

The draw for the first round was made on 22 July 2015 with the matches played between 18 and 22 August 2015.
Seven clubs received byes into the second round, namely: Downpatrick (4), Dunmurry Recreation (5), Groomsport (7), Larne Tech Old Boys (5), Oxford United Stars (4), Rathfriland Rangers (5) and Seagoe (5).
Note: All entrants at this stage were at regional level (tiers 4–7).
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| 18 August 2015 |||
| Newcastle (6) | 3–2 | Ballynahinch Olympic (6) |
| 20 August 2015 |||
| Drumaness Mills (4) | 1–4 | Dunloy (4) |
| 21 August 2015 |||
| Ballynure Old Boys (4) | 1–2 | Sirocco Works (6) |
| 22 August 2015 |||
| Abbey Villa (5) | 4–1 | UUJ (6) |
| Ardstraw (4) | 1–5 | Newry City (4) |
| Ballynahinch United (6) | 2–4 | Valley Rangers (4) |
| Ballywalter Recreation (6) | 4–2 | Iveagh United (7) |
| Bloomfield (6) | 1–4 | Desertmartin (4) |
| Chimney Corner (4) | 3–3 (aet) (3–4 p) | Downshire Young Men (7) |
| Comber Recreation (5) | 3–0 | Windmill Stars (5) |
| Craigavon City (5) | 3–4 | Lower Maze (4) |
| Crumlin Star (4) | 3–0 | Shorts (7) |
| Crumlin United (4) | 3–2 | Nortel (4) |
| Derriaghy Cricket Club (4) | 4–1 | Orangefield Old Boys (5) |
| Donard Hospital (6) | 2–4 | Shankill United (4) |
| Dromara Village (5) | 2–1 | Colin Valley (6) |
| Dromore Amateurs (7) | 0–3 | Lisburn Rangers (5) |
| Dundonald (5) | 3–2 | Broomhill (4) |
| Dungiven Celtic (4) | 1–5 | Newtowne (4) |
| Dunmurry Young Men (7) | 8–1 | Laurelvale (5) |
| East Belfast (5) | 1–2 | Ards Rangers (4) |
| Fivemiletown United (4) | 2–3 | St Mary's (4) |
| Grove United (6) | 0–1 | Malachians (4) |
| Hanover (4) | 5–1 | Ballymoney United (4) |
| Immaculata (4) | 2–1 | 1st Bangor Old Boys (5) |
| Killyleagh Youth (5) | 3–2 | Bryansburn Rangers (7) |
| Lurgan Town (5) | 0–1 | Wellington Recreation (6) |
| Magherafelt Sky Blues (4) | 1–2 | Brantwood (4) |
| Moneyslane (5) | 2–1 | Barn United (5) |
| Mossley (7) | 1–3 | 18th Newtownabbey Old Boys (7) |
| Newbuildings United (4) | 2–3 | Crewe United (4) |
| Oxford Sunnyside (5) | 2–7 | Rosario YC (6) |
| Portaferry Rovers (6) | 0–3 | Banbridge Rangers (4) |
| Rathcoole (4) | 3–2 | Ballymacash Rangers (4) |
| Rathfern Rangers (6) | 4–2 | Richhill (5) |
| Saintfield United (7) | 1–2 | Ardglass (4) |
| Seapatrick (4) | 1–0 | Killymoon Rangers (4) |
| St Patrick's Young Men (5) | 2–1 | Markethill Swifts (5) |
| Strabane Athletic (4) | 11–0 | Kilmore Recreation (4) |
| Tandragee Rovers (4) | 1–0 | Albert Foundry (4) |
| Trojans (4) | 2–1 | Islandmagee (4) |
Source: irishfa.com

### Second round

48 clubs competed in the second round; the 41 winners from the first round matches, along with the seven clubs that received byes. The draw took place on 25 August 2015, with the matches played on 3 October 2015.
Note: All entrants at this stage were at regional level (tiers 4–7).
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| 18th Newtownabbey Old Boys (7) | 1–3 | Abbey Villa (5) |
| Ardglass (4) | 3–1 | Killyleagh Youth (5) |
| Ards Rangers (4) | 4–1 | Strabane Athletic (4) |
| Ballywalter Recreation (6) | 0–4 | Tandragee Rovers (4) |
| Banbridge Rangers (4) | 2–0 | Seapatrick (4) |
| Brantwood (4) | 2–3 | Sirocco Works (6) |
| Crumlin Star (4) | 2–1 | Newry City (4) |
| Crumlin United (4) | 9–1 | Seagoe (5) |
| Derriaghy Cricket Club (4) | 1–6 | Trojans (4) |
| Desertmartin (4) | 1–2 | Lisburn Rangers (5) |
| Downshire Young Men (7) | 4–2 | Moneyslane (5) |
| Dromara Village (5) | 2–1 | Newcastle (6) |
| Dunloy (4) | 2–10 | Dundonald (5) |
| Dunmurry Recreation (5) | 5–3 | Hanover (4) |
| Groomsport (7) | 1–4 | Newtowne (4) |
| Immaculata (4) | 10–0 | Dunmurry Young Men (7) |
| Larne Tech Old Boys (5) | 2–2 (aet) (4–5 p) | Oxford United Stars (4) |
| Malachians (4) | 0–1 | Comber Recreation (5) |
| Rathcoole (4) | 1–2 | Lower Maze (4) |
| Rathfriland Rangers (5) | 1–0 | Crewe United (4) |
| St Mary's (4) | 3–1 | Downpatrick (4) |
| St Patrick's Young Men (5) | 4–1 | Shankill United (4) |
| Valley Rangers (4) | 3–1 | Rathfern Rangers (6) |
| Wellington Recreation (6) | 2–1 | Rosario YC (6) |
Source: irishfa.com

### Third round

The 24 winners from the second round entered this round. The draw took place on 13 October 2015, with the fixtures played on 7 November 2015. As the only tier 7 club remaining, Downshire Young Men were the lowest-ranked side to reach this stage of the competition, but were ultimately knocked out after a narrow 3–2 defeat to Crumlin United.
Note: All entrants at this stage were at regional level (tiers 4–7).
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Abbey Villa (5) | 1–1 (aet) (4–2 p) | Dunmurry Recreation (5) |
| Ards Rangers (4) | 4–1 | St Mary's (4) |
| Comber Recreation (5) | 3–4 | Ardglass (4) |
| Crumlin Star (4) | 5–0 | Dundonald (5) |
| Downshire Young Men (7) | 2–3 | Crumlin United (4) |
| Immaculata (4) | 4–2 | Lower Maze (4) |
| Lisburn Rangers (5) | 3–0 | Tandragee Rovers (4) |
| Newtowne (4) | 3–2 | Dromara Village (5) |
| Oxford United Stars (4) | 1–0 | St Patrick's Young Men (5) |
| Rathfriland Rangers (5) | 4–2 | Sirocco Works (6) |
| Trojans (4) | 5–1 | Banbridge Rangers (4) |
| Valley Rangers (4) | 0–2 | Wellington Recreation (6) |
Source: irishfa.com

### Fourth round

The fourth round draw was completed on 10 November 2015, with the matches completed between 5 December 2015 and 2 January 2016. The 28 NIFL Championship clubs entered the competition at this stage, and were joined by the 12 third round winners. As the only tier 6 club remaining, Wellington Recreation were the lowest-ranked side to reach this stage of the competition, but they were eliminated by Harland & Wolff Welders.
Note: Intermediate clubs entered the competition at this stage (tiers 2–3).
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| 5 December 2015 |||
| Annagh United (2) | 2–1 | Dollingstown (3) |
| Ards (2) | 7–0 | Donegal Celtic (2) |
| Ards Rangers (4) | 2–3 | Oxford United Stars (4) |
| Armagh City (2) | 3–0 | Lisburn Rangers (5) |
| Ballyclare Comrades (2) | 0–1 | Crumlin Star (4) |
| Banbridge Town (3) | 3–3 (aet) (3–2 p) | Crumlin United (4) |
| Dundela (3) | 0–2 | Immaculata (4) |
| Harland & Wolff Welders (2) | 3–2 | Wellington Recreation (6) |
| Loughgall (2) | 2–1 | Trojans (4) |
| Lurgan Celtic (2) | 4–0 | Ardglass (4) |
| Newington YC (3) | 1–2 (aet) | PSNI (3) |
| Queen's University (3) | 1–2 | Tobermore United (3) |
| Wakehurst (3) | 1–1 (aet) (3–2 p) | Glebe Rangers (3) |
| 8 December 2015 |||
| Bangor (2) | 5–0 | Coagh United (3) |
| 9 December 2015 |||
| Institute (2) | 1–1 (aet) (5–4 p) | Newtowne (4) |
| 19 December 2015 |||
| Dergview (2) | 1–6 | Sport & Leisure Swifts (3) |
| Larne (2) | 2–0 | Limavady United (3) |
| Lisburn Distillery (2) | 2–3 (aet) | Knockbreda (2) |
| Portstewart (3) | 3–1 | Moyola Park (3) |
| 2 January 2016 |||
| Abbey Villa (5) | 0–4 | Rathfriland Rangers (5) |

### Fifth round

The fifth round draw took place on 8 December 2015, with the matches completed on 9 and 19 January 2016. The 20 winners from the fourth round matches joined the 12 NIFL Premiership clubs to make up the final 32 clubs. As the sole remaining club from tier 5, Rathfriland Rangers were the lowest ranked side to reach the fifth round, but were eliminated by Crusaders.
Note: Senior clubs entered the competition at this stage (tier 1).

### Sixth round

The sixth round draw was made on 9 January 2016, with the matches played on 6 and 15 February 2016. The 16 winners from the fifth round matches entered this round. As the only representative from outside the Northern Ireland Football League, Crumlin Star were the lowest-ranked club to reach this stage of the competition, but they were eliminated after a narrow 1–0 defeat against Carrick Rangers.

### Quarter-finals

The 8 winners of the sixth round matches entered the quarter-finals. The draw took place on 6 February 2016, with the matches played on 5 March 2016. As the only two representatives from outside the NIFL Premiership, second tier sides Loughgall and Lurgan Celtic were the lowest-ranked clubs to reach the quarter-finals. It was Lurgan Celtic's first ever appearance in the quarter-finals. Most notably, this round of matches saw Ronnie McFall's reign as Portadown manager come to an end after 29 years. Appointed in December 1986, he was at the time the longest-serving manager in European football, and resigned after his side's shock 3–2 home defeat against Lurgan Celtic.

### Semi-finals

The 4 quarter-final winners entered the semi-finals, with the matches played at Windsor Park on 1 and 2 April 2016. The dates for the matches were switched after the draw, following a request from the PSNI. As the only representative from outside the NIFL Premiership remaining, second tier side Lurgan Celtic were the lowest-ranked club to reach the semi-finals. It was their first ever appearance in the semi-finals, but they were eliminated by Linfield.

### Final

The final was played on 7 May 2016 at Windsor Park. Linfield appeared in the final for a record 62nd time, the seventh time in eleven seasons, and the first time since winning a third consecutive cup in the 2012 final. Glenavon reached the final for the second time in three seasons after winning the cup in 2013–14. It was only the fourth ever meeting between the two sides in the final, and the first since the 1992 final when Glenavon defeated Linfield 2–1 at the Oval to win the cup for the fourth time. History would repeat itself as Glenavon went on to beat Linfield 2-0 to win the cup for the seventh time and the second time in three seasons