# 2013–14 Irish Cup

The 2013–14 Irish Cup was the 134th edition of the Irish Cup, the premier knockout cup competition in Northern Irish football since its introduction in 1881. The competition began on 7 September 2013 with the first round and ended on 3 May 2014 with the final. The competition ran without a principal sponsor, but for the second successive season the final was known as the Marie Curie Irish Cup final, after the IFA once again awarded the naming rights for the final to the charity Marie Curie Cancer Care.
Glentoran were the defending champions, following their 3–1 win over Cliftonville after extra time in the 2012–13 final. However, they were eliminated in the quarter-finals by eventual winners Glenavon who defeated Ballymena United 2–1 in the final to lift the cup for the sixth time. As a result, Glenavon qualified for the 2014–15 UEFA Europa League first qualifying round.

## Format and schedule

119 clubs entered this season's competition, the same number that had taken part the previous season. Originally there had been 122 entrants, but three clubs later withdrew from the competition before the first round matches had been played.
Regional league clubs from level 4 and below on the Northern Ireland football league system entered in the first round and played against other regional league clubs in the first three rounds. Nine clubs were given a bye into the second round this season, necessitated by the number of participants. One of the clubs to receive a bye later withdrew. 29 of the 30 NIFL Championship clubs entered the competition, with Donegal Celtic being the only absentee. The 29 Championship clubs entered in the fourth round, along with the 11 lower league clubs that made it through the first three rounds.
The 12 NIFL Premiership clubs entered in the fifth round, along with the 20 winners from the fourth round matches. Replays were only used if a tie was level after 90 minutes in the fifth round, sixth round and quarter-finals. If a tie in any of these three rounds was still level after 90 minutes of the replay, extra time was used to determine the winner, with a penalty shoot-out to follow if necessary.
| Round | Draw date | First match date | Fixtures | Fixtures | Clubs |
| Round | Draw date | First match date | Original | Replays | Clubs |
| First round | 12 August 2013 | 7 September 2013 | 35 | | 119 → 84 |
| Second round | 9 September 2013 | 12 October 2013 | 20† | | 84 → 63 |
| Third round | 22 October 2013 | 9 November 2013 | 11 | | 63 → 52 |
| Fourth round | 11 November 2013 | 7 December 2013 | 20 | | 52 → 32 |
| Fifth round | 16 December 2013 | 11 January 2014 | 16 | 5 | 32 → 16 |
| Sixth round | 11 January 2014 | 8 February 2014 | 8 | 2 | 16 → 8 |
| Quarter-finals | 8 February 2014 | 1 March 2014 | 4 | 0 | 8 → 4 |
| Semi-finals | 1 March 2014 | 5 April 2014 | 2 | | 4 → 2 |
| Final | | 3 May 2014 | 1 | | 2 → 1 |
† One match was not played (walkover)

## Results
### First round

The draw for the first round was made on 12 August 2013 with the matches played on 7 September 2013.
Ards Rangers, Albert Foundry, Ballywalter Recreation, Barn United, Dungiven Celtic, Oxford Sunnyside, Shorts and Strabane Athletic all received byes into the second round. Bangor Rangers, Holywood and Raceview were included in the original draw, but all three clubs withdrew before the first round matches were played. Bangor Rangers had received a bye, Holywood were drawn against Strabane Athletic, and Raceview were drawn against Ards Rangers. As a consequence, Ards Rangers and Strabane Athletic received byes, but Bangor Rangers' withdrawal meant that there would be an odd number of teams proceeding to the second round, necessitating a further bye at that stage.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| 7 September 2013 |||
| 18th Newtownabbey Old Boys | 4–2 | Lurgan Town |
| 1st Bangor Old Boys | 2–3 | Newtowne |
| Ardstraw | 0–1 | Richhill |
| Bangor Amateurs | 2–3 | Ballynahinch United |
| Bangor Swifts | 6–1 | Groomsport |
| Bloomfield | 0–1 | Shankill United |
| Brantwood | 2–3 | Ardglass |
| Carniny Amateurs | 2–0 | Wellington Recreation |
| Comber Recreation | 1–3 | Kilmore Recreation |
| Crewe United | 2–5 | Dollingstown |
| Crumlin Star | 3–0 | Newcastle |
| Crumlin United | 8–1 | Draperstown Celtic |
| Derriaghy Cricket Club | 6–2 | Lower Maze |
| Donard Hospital | 0–5 | UUJ |
| Downpatrick | 5–2 | Saintfield United |
| Dromara Village | 2–1 | FC Ballynure |
| Dromore Amateurs | 0–7 | Banbridge Rangers |
| Drumaness Mills | 6–0 | Valley Rangers |
| Dunmurry Recreation | 0–1 | Newry City |
| Immaculata | 3–1 | Ballynure Old Boys |
| Islandmagee | 3–2 | St. Mary's |
| Iveagh United | 2–4 | Mountjoy United |
| Killyleagh Youth | 1–0 | Ballymacash Rangers |
| Lisanally Rangers | 0–6 | Newbuildings United |
| Lisburn Rangers | 3–1 | Dunmurry Young Men |
| Magherafelt Sky Blues | 2–3 | Camlough Rovers |
| Moneyslane | 6–2 | Kilroot Recreation |
| Mossley Young Men | 1–4 | Downshire Young Men |
| Nortel | 5–3 | Malachians |
| Rathfern Rangers | 3–0 | Broomhill |
| Rathfriland Rangers | 2–1 | Abbey Villa |
| Roe Rovers | 1–2 | Bryansburn Rangers |
| Seagoe | 3–0 | Tandragee Rovers |
| Sirocco Works | 3–1 | Larne Tech Old Boys |
| St Patrick's Young Men | 2–2 (a.e.t.) (3–5 p) | Oxford United Stars |
Source: irishfa.com

### Second round

The draw for the second round was made on 9 September 2013, with the matches played on 12 October 2013. The 35 winners from the first round matches entered this round, along with the 8 clubs that received a bye. As there was an odd number of clubs in this round, one club, 18th Newtownabbey Old Boys, received a bye into the third round.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| 12 October 2013 |||
| Albert Foundry | 1–0$^1$ | Shankill United |
| Ardglass | 4–3 | Banbridge Rangers |
| Ballynahinch United | 0–1 | Sirocco Works |
| Ballywalter Recreation | 2–3 | Rathfriland Rangers |
| Carniny Amateurs | 1–0 | Oxford United Stars |
| Crumlin Star | 2–1 | Dollingstown |
| Crumlin United | 4–4 (a.e.t.) (3–2 p) | Islandmagee |
| Derriaghy Cricket Club | 7–5 | Ards Rangers |
| Downpatrick | 5–0 | UUJ |
| Downshire Young Men | 1–0 | Mountjoy United |
| Dromara Village | 1–4 | Kilmore Recreation |
| Dungiven Celtic | 0–1 | Newbuildings United |
| Immaculata | walkover† | Camlough Rovers |
| Lisburn Rangers | 2–2 (a.e.t.) (3–2 p) | Barn United |
| Nortel | 2–0 | Moneyslane |
| Oxford Sunnyside | 1–5 | Drumaness Mills |
| Rathfern Rangers | 3–1 | Killyleagh Youth |
| Richhill | 1–3 | Newry City |
| Seagoe | 0–2 | Bryansburn Rangers |
| Shorts | 0–3 | Bangor Swifts |
| Strabane Athletic | 6–2 | Newtowne |
Source: irishfa.com
†Immaculata won the tie by walkover. Camlough Rovers forfeited the match as they were unable to field a team to fulfil the fixture.
$^1$Albert Foundry were ejected from the competition for fielding an ineligible player during this match.

### Third round

The third round draw was made on 22 October 2013, with the games played on 9 November 2013. The 21 winners from the second round matches entered this round, along with 18th Newtownabbey Old Boys who had received a bye in the second round. Albert Foundry were replaced with Shankill United, the team they had defeated 1–0 in the second round, after they were found to have fielded an ineligible player in that game.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| 9 November 2013 |||
| Carniny Amateurs | 3–5 (a.e.t.) | Ardglass |
| Derriaghy Cricket Club | 3–0 | 18th Newtownabbey Old Boys |
| Downshire Young Men | 2–2 (a.e.t.) (4–2 p) | Shankill United |
| Kilmore Recreation | 0–0 (a.e.t.) (4–2 p) | Immaculata |
| Lisburn Rangers | 3–1 | Bryansburn Rangers |
| Newbuildings United | 1–2 | Crumlin Star |
| Newry City | 0–0 (a.e.t.) (4–3 p) | Downpatrick |
| Nortel | 0–2 | Drumaness Mills |
| Rathfern Rangers | 1–2 | Sirocco Works |
| Rathfriland Rangers | 4–1 | Bangor Swifts |
| Strabane Athletic | 2–0 | Crumlin United |
Source: irishfa.com

### Fourth round

The fourth round draw was made on 11 November 2013, with the games played on 7 December 2013. The 11 winners from the third round matches entered this round, along with 29 of the 30 NIFL Championship clubs. Championship 1 side Donegal Celtic did not enter, which meant that there had to be eleven lower league clubs in this round to make up the requisite numbers, one more than the usual amount of ten.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| 7 December 2013 |||
| Armagh City | 2–0 | Loughgall |
| Ballyclare Comrades | 4–1 | Larne |
| Banbridge Town | 4–2 | Rathfriland Rangers |
| Bangor | 5–2 | Knockbreda |
| Chimney Corner | 3–0 | Wakehurst |
| Coagh United | 0–2 (a.e.t.) | Carrick Rangers |
| Crumlin Star | 4–1 | Newry City |
| Dergview | 2–0 | Drumaness Mills |
| Downshire Young Men | 1–3 | Kilmore Recreation |
| Glebe Rangers | 3–2 (a.e.t.) | Ardglass |
| Harland & Wolff Welders | 8–1 | Killymoon Rangers |
| Institute | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (4–5 p) | Lisburn Distillery |
| Limavady United | 2–1 | Derriaghy Cricket Club |
| Moyola Park | 2–0 | Annagh United |
| Newington | 1–3 | Ballymoney United |
| Portstewart | 2–5 | Dundela |
| PSNI | 2–1 | Tobermore United |
| Queen's University | 5–0 | Lurgan Celtic |
| Sport & Leisure Swifts | 2–1 | Sirocco Works |
| Strabane Athletic | 2–0 | Lisburn Rangers |
Source: irishfa.com

### Fifth round

The fifth round draw took place on 16 December 2013. The matches were played on 11 January 2014, and the replays were played on 21 January 2014. The 20 winners from the fourth round matches entered this round, along with the 12 NIFL Premiership clubs. Three regional league clubs made it through the first four rounds. This was the first round of the competition in which replays were used if a match ended level after 90 minutes.

#### Replays
### Sixth round

The sixth round draw took place on 11 January 2014 after the fifth round matches were played, with the matches played on 8 February and 1 March 2014 and the replays played on 17 February and 1 March 2014. The 16 winners from the fifth round matches entered this round. Three clubs from tier three (Championship 2) made it into this round - the lowest ranked clubs that were left in the competition.

#### Replays
### Quarter-finals

The quarter-final draw took place on 8 February 2014 after the sixth round matches had been played, with the matches scheduled for 1 and 10 March 2014. Championship 2 club Queen's University were the lowest ranked team left in the competition - the only representatives from the third tier.

### Semi-finals

The semi-final draw took place on 1 March 2014 after the quarter-final matches had been played, with the matches played on 5 April 2014. Championship 2 club Queen's University reached the semi-finals for the first time in the club's history. They were the only semi-finalist from outside the top flight, and became the first club from outside the top two divisions to reach the semi-final stage since Killyleagh YC did so in 2001–02. For the first time since the 1996–97 competition, neither of the Big Two clubs – Glentoran or Linfield – reached the semi-final stage.

### Final

Both finalists were making their first Irish Cup final appearance of the 21st century, Ballymena United having last played in the showpiece when they lifted the cup in 1989. Glenavon reached the final for the first time since finishing as runners-up in 1998. It was the fourth meeting between the two clubs in the final, and the first since 1981, when Ballymena United won 1–0. The final was played on 3 May 2014 at Windsor Park, Belfast.