1978–79 Irish Cup

1978–79 Irish Cup

Country	Northern Ireland
Teams	16
Champions	Cliftonville (8th win)
Runners-up	Portadown
Matches played	17
Goals scored	68 (4 per match)
← 1977–78 1979–80 →

The 1978–79 Irish Cup was the 99th edition of Northern Ireland's premier football knock-out cup competition.

The defending champions were Linfield, who defeated Ballymena United 3–1 in the 1977–78 final.^[1] However, they were knocked out by eventual winners Cliftonville in the first round. Cliftonville went on to win the cup for the 8th time, defeating Portadown 3–2 in the final. The 1979 victory represented their first cup success in 70 years; this remains a record for the longest gap between Irish Cup wins.^[2] To date, this is Cliftonville's last Irish Cup success, though they have reached the final five times since this win; in 1997, 1999, 2009, 2013 and 2018. They lost the 1997, 2009, 2013 and 2018 finals, and were disqualified before the final was played in 1999 when it was discovered that they had fielded an ineligible player in the earlier rounds.

First round[]

Quarter-finals[]

¹This tie required a replay, after the first game ended as a 0–0 draw.^[2]

Semi-finals[]

²This tie required a replay, after the first game ended as a 2–2 draw.^[2]

Final[]

28 April 1979

Cliftonville	3 – 2	Portadown
Platt 32' Adair 46' Bell 89'	Report	Campbell 2' Alexander 77'

Windsor Park, Belfast

References[]