2023–24 Irish Cup Explained

Irish Cup
Year:	2023–24
Country:	Northern Ireland
Defending Champions:	Crusaders
Winners:	Cliftonville
Count:	9
Second:	Linfield
Prev Season:	2022–23
Next Season:	2024–25

The 2023–24 Irish Cup (known as the Clearer Water Irish Cup for sponsorship purposes) was the 144th edition of the Irish Cup, the premier knock-out cup competition in Northern Irish football since its inauguration in 1881.^[1] The winners qualified for the 2024–25 Conference League second qualifying round.

Cliftonville won the cup (their ninth Irish Cup win) on 4 May 2024, defeating Linfield 3–1 in the final.

First round

105 clubs in Tier 3 and below entered the first round. The draw was held on 5 July 2023.^[2]

The following teams received byes:

• NIFL Premier Intermediate League (3): Ballymacash Rangers and Tobermore United
• Ballymena & Provincial Football League Intermediate Division (4): Chimney Corner, Donegal Celtic, Glebe Rangers, and Rathcoole
• Mid-Ulster Football League Intermediate A (4): Valley Rangers
• Northern Amateur League Premier Division (4): 1st Bangor Old Boys, Ballynahinch Olympic, Crumlin Star, Derriaghy Cricket Club, Dromara Village, Immaculata, and Rosario Youth Club
• Mid-Ulster Football League Intermediate B (5): Craigavon City, Dromore Amateurs, Lower Maze, and Seapatrick
• Northern Amateur League Division 1A (5): Dunmurry Recreation
• Northern Amateur League Division 1B (6): Mossley
• Northern Amateur League Division 1C (7): Shamrock, Short Brothers, and Wellington Recreation

!colspan="3" align="center"|12 August 2023|}

Notes

Second round

The second round draw was held on 14 August 2023.^[3]

!colspan="3" align="center"|16 September 2023|}

Third round

The third round draw was held on 18 September 2023.^[4]

!colspan="3" align="center"|28 October 2023|-!colspan="3" align="center"|4 November 2023|-!colspan="3" align="center"|11 November 2023|}

Fourth round

The fourth round draw was held on 30 October 2023.^[5]

!colspan="3" align="center"|25 November 2023|}

Fifth round

The eight fourth round winners were joined by the twelve teams from the 2023–24 NIFL Premiership and the twelve teams from the 2023–24 NIFL Championship in the fifth round. The draw was held on 6 December 2023. Five teams from the fourth tier were the lowest ranked surviving teams in this round.^[6]

!colspan="3" align="center"|5 January 2024|-!colspan="3" align="center"|6 January 2024|}

Sixth round

The 16 fifth round winners entered the sixth round. The draw was held on 6 January 2024. Ballymacash Rangers from the Intermediate Division (Tier 3) were the lowest ranked survivor in this round, and the only non-senior team in the last 16.

!colspan="3" align="center"|2 February 2024|-!colspan="3" align="center"|3 February 2024|}

Quarter-finals

The eight sixth round winners entered the quarter-finals. The draw was held on 3 February 2024.

!colspan="3" align="center"|1 March 2024|-!colspan="3" align="center"|2 March 2024|-!colspan="3" align="center"|3 March 2024|}

Semi-finals

The four quarter-final winners entered the semi-finals. The draw was held on 2 March 2024.

!colspan="3" align="center"|29 March 2024|-!colspan="3" align="center"|30 March 2024|}

Final

The final was held between the two semi-final winners.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Tennent's Irish Cup. Irish Football Association. 16 July 2019.
2. Web site: Irish Cup First Round draw. Irish Football Association. 5 July 2023.
3. Web site: Draw made for Irish Cup second round. Irish Football Association. 14 August 2023.
4. Web site: Irish Cup: Draw made for round three. Irish Football Association. 18 September 2023.
5. Web site: Clearer Water Irish Cup Fourth Round draw. Irish Football Association. 30 October 2023.
6. Web site: Draw made for Clearer Water Irish Cup fifth round. Irish Football Association. 6 December 2023.