2021–22 Irish Cup
| Country |  Northern Ireland |
|---|---|
| Dates | 7 Aug 2021 – 7 May 2022 |
| Teams | 128 (incl. qualifying) 32 (main competition) |
| Defending champions | Linfield |
| Matches played | 94 |
| Goals scored | 392 (4.17 per match) |
← 2020–21 2022–23 → | |
The 2021–22 Irish Cup (known as the Sadler's Peaky Blinder Irish Cup for sponsorship purposes)[1] is the 142nd edition of the premier knock-out cup competition in Northern Irish football since its inauguration in 1881.[1] The competition began on 7 August 2021 with the first qualifying round, and will conclude with the final at Windsor Park, Belfast on 7 May 2022.[2]
Linfield are the defending champions, having defeated Larne 2–1 in the previous season's final; the first ever Irish Cup final meeting between the two teams. This extended Linfield's record of Irish Cup wins to 44; their first win since 2017. It also meant a sixth Irish Cup final appearance for Larne without ever winning the competition, extending that unwanted record.[3]
The winners will enter the 2022–23 UEFA Europa Conference League first qualifying round.
Format and schedule[]
128 clubs entered this season's competition. This was a large increase on the 26 entrants for the previous season's competition, which was played in a condensed format as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Ireland. This season, the stages of the cup were renamed. The first four rounds will now be known as qualifying rounds, with what was historically known as the fifth round now becoming the first round of the main competition. 104 clubs entered the draw for the first qualifying round. 80 of them were drawn to face each other in 40 ties, with the remaining 24 given byes into the second qualifying round. After two further knockout rounds, the eight winners from the fourth qualifying round will join the 24 clubs from the NIFL Premiership and NIFL Championship in the first round of the main competition.[2]
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Qualifying rounds[]
The league tier of each club at the time of entering the competition is listed in parentheses.
- (1) = NIFL Premiership
- (2) = NIFL Championship
- (3) = NIFL Premier Intermediate League
- (NL) = Non-league (clubs outside the Northern Ireland Football League – levels 4–7)
First qualifying round[]
The draw for the first qualifying round took place on 20 July 2021, with the matches played on 7 and 14 August 2021. 104 clubs from level 3 and below entered the draw for the first qualifying round. 80 of them were randomly drawn to face each other in 40 ties.[2]
The remaining 24 clubs, namely: 18th Newtownabbey Old Boys (NL), Ballynahinch Olympic (NL), Bangor (3), Bloomfield (NL), Colin Valley (NL), Comber Recreation (NL), Crewe United (NL), Downshire Young Men (NL), Drumaness Mills (NL), Dunmurry Young Men (NL), Glebe Rangers (NL), Immaculata (NL), Kilmore Recreation (NL), Laurelvale (NL), Lisburn Rangers (NL), Markethill Swifts (NL), Mossley (NL), Newington (3), Oxford Sunnyside (NL), Rathfriland Rangers (NL), St James' Swifts (NL), St Mary's (NL), Strabane Athletic (NL) and Tandragee Rovers (NL) all received byes into the second qualifying round.
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Second qualifying round[]
64 clubs entered the second qualifying round; the 40 winners from the first qualifying round, along with the 24 clubs that received byes. The matches were played on 24 and 25 September 2021. Mossley, originally drawn to face Wellington Recreation or Donegal Celtic, were given a bye into the third qualifying round after both clubs were dismissed from the competition.[2]
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Third qualifying round[]
32 clubs entered the third qualifying round; the 30 winners from the second qualifying round matches, along with Sirocco Works who received a walkover after their opponents withdrew, and Mossley who received a bye. The matches were played on 30 October 2021.[2]
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Ards Rangers (NL) | 3–2 (a.e.t.) | Banbridge Rangers (NL) |
| Armagh City (3) | 0–1 | Windmill Stars (NL) |
| Ballymacash Rangers (NL) | 0–3 | Portstewart (3) |
| Ballynahinch Olympic (NL) | 0–2 | Newington (3) |
| Bangor (3) | 2–0 | St James' Swifts (NL) |
| Colin Valley (NL) | 4–1 | Crewe United (NL) |
| Dromara Village (NL) | 2–3 | Rathfriland Rangers (NL) |
| Dunloy (NL) | 2–2 (a.e.t.) (3–4 p) |
Derriaghy Cricket Club (NL) |
| Greenisland (NL) | 2–1 | Lisburn Distillery (3) |
| Holywood (NL) | 3–5 | Limavady United (3) |
| Islandmagee (NL) | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (3–0 p) |
Drumaness Mills (NL) |
| Kilmore Recreation (NL) | 3–2 | Lower Maze (NL) |
| Mossley (NL) | 4–4 (a.e.t.) (3–0 p) |
Shankill United (NL) |
| Oxford Sunnyside (NL) | 3–0 | Rosario Youth (NL) |
| Sirocco Works (NL) | 2–4 | Tobermore United (3) |
| Tandragee Rovers (NL) | 2–1 | St Mary's (NL) |
Fourth qualifying round[]
The 16 third qualifying round winners entered the fourth qualifying round. The matches were played on 27 November 2021. The eight winners from this round qualified for the first round of the main competition.[2]
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Ards Rangers (NL) | 2–2 (a.e.t.) (6–5 p) |
Greenisland (NL) |
| Colin Valley (NL) | 0–2 | Bangor (3) |
| Kilmore Recreation (NL) | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (4–5 p) |
Islandmagee (NL) |
| Limavady United (3) | 4–1 | Rathfriland Rangers (NL) |
| Mossley (NL) | 1–3 | Portstewart (3) |
| Newington (3) | 3–1 | Derriaghy Cricket Club (NL) |
| Oxford Sunnyside (NL) | 2–1 | Tandragee Rovers (NL) |
| Windmill Stars (NL) | 2–1 | Tobermore United (3) |
Main competition[]
First round[]
32 clubs entered the first round of the main competition; the 24 clubs from levels 1 and 2 (the NIFL Premiership and NIFL Championship), along with the eight clubs that progressed through the four qualifying rounds. The matches are due to be played on 8 January 2022.[2]
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Ards (2) | v | Dundela (2) |
| Ballinamallard United (2) | v | Ards Rangers (NL) |
| Ballyclare Comrades (2) | v | Carrick Rangers (1) |
| Ballymena United (1) | v | Loughgall (2) |
| Bangor (3) | v | Larne (1) |
| Cliftonville (1) | v | Islandmagee (NL) |
| Coleraine (1) | v | Windmill Stars (NL) |
| Dergview (2) | v | Glentoran (1) |
| Glenavon (1) | v | Crusaders (1) |
| Harland & Wolff Welders (2) | v | Annagh United (2) |
| Institute (2) | v | Portstewart (3) |
| Knockbreda (2) | v | Dungannon Swifts (1) |
| Linfield (1) | v | Oxford Sunnyside (NL) |
| Portadown (1) | v | Limavady United (3) |
| Queen's University (2) | v | Newington (3) |
| Warrenpoint Town (1) | v | Newry City (2) |
Second round[]
The 16 first round winners will enter the second round. The matches are due to be played on 5 February 2022.[2]
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| v | ||
| v | ||
| v | ||
| v | ||
| v | ||
| v | ||
| v | ||
| v |
Quarter-finals[]
The 8 second round winners will enter the quarter-finals. The matches are due to be played on 4 March 2022.[2]
| 4 March 2022 | v |
| 4 March 2022 | v |
| 4 March 2022 | v |
| 4 March 2022 | v |
Semi-finals[]
The 4 quarter-final winners will enter the semi-finals. The matches are due to be played on 1 April 2022.[2]
| 1 April 2022 | v |
| 1 April 2022 | v |
Final[]
The two semi-final winners will meet in the final. The final will be played on 7 May 2022 at Windsor Park, Belfast.[2]
| Semi-final winner #1 | v | Semi-final winner #2 |
|---|---|---|
References[]
- ^ a b "Tennent's Irish Cup". Irish Football Association. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Sadler's Peaky Blinder Irish Cup is set to kick off next month". Irish Football Association. 20 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ "Irish Cup final: Healy savours 'raw emotion' of win as Linfield beat Larne 2-1 in decider". BBC Sport. 22 May 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
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