2002–03 Irish Cup Explained

Irish Cup
Year:2002–03
Num Teams:31
Defending Champions:Linfield
Champions:Coleraine (5th win)
Runner-Up:Glentoran
Matches:33
Goals:102
Prevseason:2001–02
Nextseason:2003–04

The 2002–03 Irish Cup was the 123rd edition of the Irish Cup, Northern Ireland's premier football knock-out cup competition. It concluded on 3 May 2003 with the final.

Linfield were the defending champions, winning their 36th Irish Cup last season after a 2–1 win over Portadown in the 2002 final. This season Linfield reached the quarter-finals, but went out to Omagh Town. Coleraine were the eventual winners, in what was their first appearance in the final in 17 years. The last time they had done so was in 1986, when they were defeated 2–1 by Glentoran. It was the same opposition but a different outcome this time. A 1–0 victory over the Glens, who were appearing in the final for the fifth time in eight years, was enough to seal Coleraine's first Irish Cup win in 26 years. The last time they had won the competition was in 1977.[1] [2]

Fifth round

Larne received a bye into the sixth round.

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Replays

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Sixth round

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Replay

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Quarter-finals

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Semi-finals

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: Northern Ireland Cup Finals. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. RSSSF. 8 December 2012.
  2. Web site: Northern Ireland 2002/03. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. RSSSF. 8 December 2012.