# 2008–09 Irish Cup

The 2008–09 Irish Cup was the 129th edition of the Irish Cup, Northern Ireland's premier football knock-out cup competition. The competition began on 25 October 2008 with the first round and ended on 9 May 2009 with the final.
Linfield were the defending champions, winning their third consecutive Irish Cup the previous season after a 2–1 win over Coleraine in the 2008 final. This season they reached the semi-finals, but were defeated by Cliftonville. Crusaders went on to lift the trophy, beating Cliftonville 1–0 in the final. In doing so, they earned a place in the second qualifying round of the 2009–10 UEFA Europa League.

## Results
### First round

The matches were played on 25 October and 1 November 2008.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| 1st Bangor Old Boys | 1–4 | Dunmurry Young Men |
| Ballymacash Rangers | 1–3 | Annagh United |
| Bloomfield | 1–4 | Grove United |
| Bryansburn Rangers | 3–2 | Sirocco Works |
| Chimney Corner | 0–5 | Rosario Youth Club |
| Crewe United | 2–3 | Crumlin United |
| Desertmartin | 0–3 | Queen's University |
| Donard Hospital | 1–2 | Raceview |
| Downpatrick | 4–0 | Barn United |
| Draperstown Celtic | 2–0 | Magherafelt Sky Blues |
| Dromara Village | 3–0 | Sport & Leisure Swifts |
| Dunmurry Rec. | 2–1 | Ballynure Old Boys |
| Holywood | 1–2 | Drumaness Mills |
| Harland & Wolff Welders | 1–2 | Warrenpoint Town |
| Kilmore Recreation | 3–1 | East Belfast |
| Laurelvale | 2–3 | Moyola Park |
| Lisburn Rangers | 0–1 | Rathfriland Rangers |
| Lurgan Town Boys | 2–4 | Islandmagee |
| Markethill Swifts | 2–4 | UUC |
| Newcastle | 3–1 | Seagoe |
| Oxford United Stars | 1–2 | Dungiven Celtic |
| Portstewart | 3–2 | Comber Recreation |
| Roe Valley | 1–6 | Newbuildings United |
| Tandragee Rovers | 7–0 | Portadown BBOB |
| Wakehurst | 0–2 | Dundela |
| Wellington Recreation | 2–2 (4–2 p) | Downshire Young Men |

### Second round

The games were played on 22 November 2008.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Annagh United | 5–0 | Rathfriland Rangers |
| Ards Rangers | 3–4 | Islandmagee |
| Brantwood | 1–2 | Queen's University |
| Churchill United | 3–6 | Newcastle |
| Crumlin United | 9–0 | Dunaghy |
| Dollingstown | 6–2 | Strabane |
| Draperstown Celtic | 3–5 | Nortel |
| Dromara Village | 4–3 | Raceview |
| Drumaness Mills | 4–1 | Bryansburn Rangers |
| Dundela | 5–0 | Saintfield United |
| Dungiven Celtic | 2–3 | Newbuildings United |
| Dunmurry Rec. | 1–0 | Abbey Villa |
| Fivemiletown United | 1–3 | Warrenpoint Town |
| Grove United | 0–1 | Portstewart |
| Hanover | 3–1 | Moyola Park |
| Killyleagh Youth | 2–0 | Lower Maze |
| Knockbreda Parish | 2–4 | Downpatrick |
| Lurgan Celtic | 1–0 | Oxford United Stars |
| Newington Youth Club | 4–2 | Rosario Youth Club |
| PSNI | 4–3 | Albert Foundry |
| Tandragee Rovers | 1–2 | Malachians |
| UUC | 1–3 | Kilmore Recreation |
| Wellington Recreation | 3–2 | Dunmurry Young Men |

### Third round

In this round entered winners from the Second Round as well as all 17 teams from IFA Championship. The games were played on 13 December 2008.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Annagh United | 0–1 | Warrenpoint Town |
| Armagh City | 0–2 | Banbridge Town |
| Ballyclare Comrades | 4–1 | Newbuildings United |
| Carrick Rangers | 5–0 | Drumaness Mills |
| Coagh United | 2–3 | Portstewart |
| Crumlin United | 0–2 | Ballymoney United |
| Dergview | 3–2 | Dunmurry Rec. |
| Donegal Celtic | 3–0 | Kilmore Recreation |
| Dromara Village | 1–3 | Ballinamallard United |
| Glebe Rangers | 0–2 | Newington Youth Club |
| Hanover | 1–5 | Downpatrick |
| Killymoon Rangers | 0–2 | Killyleagh Youth |
| Larne | 3–1 | Dollingstown |
| Limavady United | 5–1 | Lurgan Celtic |
| Loughgall | 5–0 | Nortel |
| Malachians | 1–2 | Ards |
| Portadown | 5–2 | Dundela |
| PSNI | 6–3 | Newcastle |
| Tobermore United | 3–2 | Queen's University |
| Wellington Recreation | 0–3 | Islandmagee |

### Fourth round

In this round entered winners from the Third Round as well as all 12 teams from IFA Premiership. The games were played on 17 January 2009.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Ballinamallard United | 0–1 | Donegal Celtic |
| Ballyclare Comrades | 0–2 | Ballymena United |
| Banbridge Town | 0–3 | Lisburn Distillery |
| Bangor | 1–1 | Carrick Rangers |
| Cliftonville | 3–1 | Warrenpoint Town |
| Coleraine | 3–0 | Ards |
| Crusaders | 1–0 | Ballymoney United |
| Dungannon Swifts | 7–2 | Downpatrick |
| Glenavon | 3–1 | Newington Youth Club |
| Glentoran | 3–0 | Limavady United |
| Islandmagee | 0–3 | Institute |
| Larne | 1–3 | Loughgall |
| Linfield | 0–0 | PSNI |
| Newry City | 8–0 | Portstewart |
| Portadown | 8–1 | Dergview |
| Tobermore United | 4–1 | Killyleagh Youth |

#### Replays

| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Carrick Rangers | 1–5 | Bangor |
| Linfield | 3–0 | PSNI |

### Fifth round

In this round entered the sixteen winners from the Fourth Round. The matches were played on 14 February 2009.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Ballymena United | 0–1 | Crusaders |
| Cliftonville | 2–0 | Donegal Celtic |
| Glenavon | 1–3 | Linfield |
| Glentoran | 2–1 | Coleraine |
| Institute | 1–0 | Dungannon Swifts |
| Lisburn Distillery | 1–0 | Tobermore United |
| Newry City | 1–0 | Bangor |
| Portadown | 5–0 | Loughgall |