1997–98 Irish League Cup Explained

Irish League Cup
Other Titles:Wilkinson Sword League Cup
Year:1997–98
Num Teams:32
Defending Champions:Crusaders
Winners:Linfield (4th win)
Second:Glentoran
Matches:31
Goals:120
Prev Season:1996–97
Next Season:1998–99

The 1997–98 Irish League Cup (known as the Wilkinson Sword League Cup for sponsorship reasons) was the 12th edition of the Irish League Cup, Northern Ireland's secondary football knock-out cup competition. It concluded on 9 September 1997 with the final.

Crusaders were the defending champions after their first League Cup win last season; a 1–0 victory over Glentoran in the previous final. This season they went out in the quarter-finals to eventual winners Linfield, who lifted their fourth League Cup with a 1–0 victory over arch-rivals Glentoran in the final, condemning the Glens to their second successive League Cup final defeat.[1] [2]

This was the last competition to feature clubs from the Irish League B Division. From the following season onwards, the competition would only be open to senior clubs in the top two divisions.

First round

|}1 Larne were disqualified for fielding an ineligible player. Cookstown United were reinstated.

Second round

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Quarter-finals

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Semi-finals

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: Northern Ireland - List of League Cup Finals. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. RSSSF. 24 December 2012.
  2. Web site: Northern Ireland 1997/98. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. RSSSF. 24 December 2012.