# 2011–12 Irish Cup

The 2011–12 Irish Cup (known as the JJB Sports Irish Cup for sponsorship reasons) was the 132nd edition of the Irish Cup, Northern Ireland's premier football knock-out cup competition.. The competition began on 17 September 2011 with the first round and ended on 5 May 2012 with the final.
Linfield were the defending champions, after a 2–1 victory over Crusaders in last season's final. The two clubs met again in this season's final, and Linfield successfully defended the cup to win it for the sixth time in seven seasons after defeating Crusaders 4–1. Crusaders qualified for the first qualifying round of the 2012–13 UEFA Europa League as Linfield had already qualified for the UEFA Champions League by winning the 2011–12 IFA Premiership.

## Results
### First round

The draw for the first round was held on 1 September 2011. Ards Rangers, Broomhedge, Lower Maze, Newington Youth Club, Rathfriland Rangers and Sirocco Works all received a bye into the Second Round. Matches were played on 17 and 24 September 2011.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| 1st Bangor Old Boys | 2–0 | Drumaness Mills |
| Abbey Villa | 6–0 | Groomsport |
| Banbridge Rangers | 2–0 | Ardstraw |
| Bangor Rangers | 3–3 (1–4 p) | Rathfern Rangers |
| Bangor Swifts | 4–1 | Richhill |
| Barn United | 3–4 | Holywood |
| Bloomfield | 0–1 | Draperstown Celtic |
| Bourneview Young Men | 2–9 | Immaculata |
| Bryansburn Rangers | 5–3 | Ballywalter Recreation |
| Carniny Amateurs | 3–2 | Saintfield United |
| Comber Recreation | 1–1 (2–4 p) | Ballynahinch United |
| Crumlin Star | 5–0 | Lisburn Rangers |
| Desertmartin | 1–5 | Brantwood |
| Downpatrick | 2–0 | Mossley |
| Dromara Village | 7–1 | 18th Newtownabbey Old Boys |
| Dromore Amateurs | 3–5 | Shorts |
| Dungiven | 1–2 | Mountjoy United |
| East Belfast | 4–1 | Shankill United |
| Grove United | 0–3 | Tandragee Rovers |
| Islandmagee | 4–0 | Dunmurry Young Men |
| Iveagh United | 2–1 | Craigavon |
| Killyleagh Youth | 2–3 | Albert Foundry |
| Kilmore Recreation | 5–5 (2–4 p) | Derriaghy Cricket Club |
| Kilroot Recreation | 1–2 | Newcastle |
| Larne Tech Old Boys | 4–2 | Seagoe |
| Lurgan Town Boys | 0–2 | Raceview |
| Magherafelt Sky Blues | 2–0 | Crewe United |
| Malachians | 3–6 | Crumlin United |
| Newbuildings United | 9–1 | Hanover |
| Nortel | 1–2 | Lisanally Rangers |
| Rosario Youth Club | 2–0 | Downshire Young Men |
| Strabane & Sion Swifts United | 4–2 | Ballynure Old Boys |
| UUJ | 4–7 | Dunmurry Recreation |
| Wellington Recreation | 2–1 | Dollingstown |
Source: irishfa.com

### Second round

The games were played on 22 October 2011.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| 1st Bangor Old Boys | 4–3 | Strabane & Sion Swifts United |
| Abbey Villa | 1–2 | Crumlin Star |
| Ballynahinch United | 3–2 | Crumlin United |
| Bangor Swifts | 2–5 | Dromara Village |
| Bryansburn Rangers | 2–4 | Albert Foundry |
| Carniny Amateurs | 3–5 | Newbuildings United |
| Derriaghy Cricket Club | 4–1 | Raceview |
| Downpatrick | 4–2 | Brantwood |
| East Belfast | 0–1 | Sirocco Works |
| Holywood | 2–5 | Ards Rangers |
| Iveagh United | 5–2 | Broomhedge |
| Lisanally Rangers | 1–4 | Larne Tech Old Boys |
| Magherafelt Sky Blues | 0–1 | Immaculata |
| Mountjoy United | 2–2 (5–3p) | Newcastle |
| Rathfern Rangers | 0–2 | Newington Youth Club |
| Rathfriland Rangers | 3–2 | Draperstown Celtic |
| Rosario Youth Club | 1–2 | Bangridge Rangers |
| Shorts | 2–3 | Dunmurry Recreation |
| Tandragee Rovers | 0–1 | Islandmagee |
| Wellington Recreation | 3–1 | Lower Maze |
Source: irishfa.com

### Third round

The games were played on 19 November 2011.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Ards Rangers | 3–1 | Albert Foundry |
| Derriaghy Cricket Club | 1–0 | Ballynahinch United |
| Dunmurry Recreation | 4–0 | 1st Bangor Old Boys |
| Immaculata | 2–0 | Crumlin Star |
| Larne Tech Old Boys | 2–0 | Downpatrick |
| Mountjoy United | 0–3 | Bangridge Rangers |
| Newbuildings United | 6–1 | Dromara Village |
| Newington Youth Club | 4–3 | Sirocco Works |
| Rathfriland Rangers | 1–1 (4–3p) | Islandmagee |
| Wellington Recreation | 1–2 | Iveagh United |
Source: irishfa.com

### Fourth round

All 30 clubs from IFA Championship 1 and 2 entered the competition at this stage, as well as the 10 lower league clubs that had progressed through the previous rounds. The games were played on 10 and 17 December 2011.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Ards | 3−0 | Annagh United |
| Ards Rangers | 2–2 (3–5p) | Dunmurry Recreation |
| Armagh City | 0–3 | Newbuildings United |
| Banbridge Town | 4−1 | Immaculata |
| Coagh United | 1−0 | Bangridge Rangers |
| Dergview | 5–1 | Knockbreda |
| Dundela | 2−0 | Wakehurst |
| Glebe Rangers | 0−3 | Newington Youth Club |
| Harland & Wolff Welders | 0−1 | Warrenpoint Town |
| Institute | 2−0 | Limavady United |
| Iveagh United | 1−4 | Ballymoney United |
| Killymoon Rangers | 3−1 | Moyola Park |
| Larne Tech Old Boys | 6–1 | Rathfriland Rangers |
| Loughgall | 5−0 | Chimney Corner |
| Lurgan Celtic | 1−2 | Ballyclare Comrades |
| Newry City | 6–1 | Sport & Leisure Swifts |
| Portstewart | 0−3 | Bangor |
| PSNI | 0−3 | Larne |
| Queen's University | 0–2 | Derriaghy Cricket Club |
| Tobermore United | 1−3 | Ballinamallard United |
Source: irishfa.com

### Fifth round

The draw for the Fifth Round was made on 14 December 2011. All 12 clubs from the IFA Premiership entered at this stage, along with the 20 winners from the fourth round matches. The games were played on 14 January 2012. Replays were played on 24 January 2012.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Banbridge Town | 0−1 | Newry City |
| Bangor | 2−4 | Ballymoney United |
| Cliftonville | 2−0 | Ards |
| Coagh United | 2−2 | Loughgall |
| Coleraine | 3−2 | Larne Tech Old Boys |
| Crusaders | 3−0 | Warrenpoint Town |
| Dergview | 0−1 | Derriaghy Cricket Club |
| Dundela | 0−3 | Ballinamallard United |
| Dungannon Swifts | 3−1 | Larne |
| Glenavon | 2−1 | Portadown |
| Glentoran | 0−1 | Newington Youth Club |
| Institute | 1−1 | Donegal Celtic |
| Killymoon Rangers | 1−3 | Carrick Rangers |
| Linfield | 7−1 | Ballyclare Comrades |
| Lisburn Distillery | 1−2 | Ballymena United |
| Newbuildings United | 4−1 | Dunmurry Recreation |
| Replays |||
| Donegal Celtic | 1–0 | Institute |
| Loughgall | 1–2 | Coagh United |
Source: irishfa.com

### Sixth round

The games were played on 11 February 2012.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Ballymena United | 3–1 | Derriaghy Cricket Club |
| Ballymoney United | 1–6 | Newry City |
| Coagh United | 1–1 | Newbuildings United |
| Coleraine | 3–0 | Ballinamallard United |
| Donegal Celtic | 1–0 | Cliftonville |
| Dungannon Swifts | 3–0 | Newington Youth Club |
| Glenavon | 0–4 | Crusaders |
| Linfield | 5–1 | Carrick Rangers |
| Replays |||
| Coagh United | 4–1 | Newbuildings United |
Source: irishfa.com

### Quarter-finals

The quarter-finals were played on 3 March 2012, with the replay played on 12 March 2012.
$^†$Ballymena United were later ejected from the competition for fielding an ineligible player in this match. Newry City were consequently reinstated. Ballymena United appealed the decision, but the appeal was rejected.

#### Replay
### Semi-finals

The semi-final draw was made on 3 March 2012. Both ties were due to be played on 31 March 2012. However, Ballymena United's appeal over their disqualification delayed Linfield's semi-final match until 14 April 2012. Newry City were confirmed as their opponents when Ballymena's appeal was rejected.

### Final

The final took place on 5 May 2012 at Windsor Park.