2017–18 Northern Ireland Football League Cup

The 2017–18 Northern Ireland Football League Cup (known as the BetMcLean League Cup for sponsorship purposes) was the 32nd edition of Northern Ireland's football knock-out cup competition for national league clubs, and the fourth edition of the competition as the Northern Ireland Football League Cup. This season's League Cup was contested by all 36 clubs of the three divisions of the Northern Ireland Football League. The competition began on 5 August 2017 with the first round, and concluded on 17 February 2018 with the final. The competition was sponsored for the first time by McLean Bookmakers.[1]

2017–18 Northern Ireland Football League Cup
BetMcLean League Cup
Country Northern Ireland
Teams36
ChampionsDungannon Swifts (1st win)
Runners-upBallymena United
Matches played35
Goals scored114 (3.26 per match)

Ballymena United were the defending champions, defeating Carrick Rangers 2–0 in the 2017 final to win the competition for the first time.[2] This season they reached the final once again, but were defeated 3–1 by Dungannon Swifts, who won the competition to record the first ever senior trophy win in their 69-year history.[3]

Format and Schedule

The competition was played in a straight knock-out format and was open to the 36 members of the Northern Ireland Football League. Replays were not used in the competition, with all matches using extra time and penalties to determine the winner if necessary.

Round First match date Fixtures Clubs
First Round 5 August 2017 4 36 → 32
Second Round 29 August 2017 16 32 → 16
Third Round 3 October 2017 8 16 → 8
Quarter-Finals 15 November 2017 4 8 → 4
Semi-Finals 30 January 2018 2 4 → 2
Final 17 February 2018 1 2 → 1

Results

The league tier of each club at the time of entering the competition is listed in parentheses.

First Round

The matches took place on 5 August 2017.[4]

Team 1  Score  Team 2
Dergview (2) 4–0 Annagh United (3)
Harland & Wolff Welders (2) 3–0 Armagh City (3)
Portstewart (3) 2–3 Limavady United (2)
Sport & Leisure Swifts (3) 0–1 Lurgan Celtic (2)

Second Round

The matches took place on 29 August 2017.[4] The top 16 league clubs from the previous season were seeded in this round in order to avoid drawing each other.

Third Round

The matches took place from 3–17 October 2017.[4]

Team 1  Score  Team 2
3 October 2017
Ballinamallard United (1) 0–3 Linfield (1)
Ballyclare Comrades (2) 1–0 Institute (2)
Cliftonville (1) 7–0 PSNI (2)
10 October 2017
Ballymena United (1) 2–0 Portadown (2)
Glentoran (1) 0–1 Carrick Rangers (1)
Warrenpoint Town (1) 0–1 Dungannon Swifts (1)
17 October 2017
Ards (1) 4–0 Glenavon (1)
Crusaders (1) 3–2 Coleraine (1)

Quarter-finals

The matches took place on 15 November 2017.[4]

Team 1  Score  Team 2
Ballymena United (1) 3–2 (aet) Ards (1)
Carrick Rangers (1) 0–1 Cliftonville (1)
Crusaders (1) 2–0 Linfield (1)
Dungannon Swifts (1) 2–1 Ballyclare Comrades (2)

Semi-finals

Both matches were scheduled to take place on 12 December 2017, however due to weather postponements they were played on 30 January 2018 and 10 February 2018.[4]

Team 1  Score  Team 2
30 January 2018
Dungannon Swifts (1) 2–1 Crusaders (1)
10 February 2018
Ballymena United (1) 3–1 Cliftonville (1)

Final

The final was played on 17 February 2018 at Windsor Park.[3]

Ballymena United (1)1 – 3Dungannon Swifts (1)
  • Owens  17'
 NIFL
  • Mayse  11',  37'
  • Burke  55'
Referee: Tim Marshall

References
  1. NI Football League
  2. "NI League Cup final: Ballymena Utd 2-0 Carrick Rangers". BBC Sport. 18 February 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  3. "League Cup final: Dungannon Swifts 3-1 Ballymena Utd". Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  4. "Northern Ireland 2017/18". RSSSF. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
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