A couple of derbies with the potential to provide upsets will have top billing in the fifth round of this season’s Clearer Water Irish Cup.
The draw for round five of Northern Ireland’s premier cup competition was made today and remarkably there was not a single all-Premiership tie among the 16 fixtures.
NIFL Championship side Annagh United are set to take on near neighbours Portadown, who currently sit fourth in the NIFL Premiership, in the last 32.
The other derby of note in the fifth round is Harland and Wolff Welders of the Championship against Glentoran, currently fifth in the top flight.
The fifth round is the stage where NIFL Premiership and Championship sides are joined byteams from the intermediate ranks who have already battled their way through four rounds of the competition.
Holders Cliftonville have been drawn to face Mid Ulster League Intermediate A outfit Banbridge Rangers, who are in the fifth round for the first time in their 20-year history.
Like all the other R5 matches, that game will be played during the weekend of 4 January.
Banbridge were initially drawn as the home side, however under Irish FA Irish Challenge Cup rules the tie must be played at a senior level ground, so the game will be staged at Solitude instead.
Linfield, who lost out to the Reds in last season’s decider, will be playing at home in the fifth round, too. They are set to face Ballymena League Intermediate Division 1 team Wellington Rec
Another Ballymena League Intermediate Div 1 side, Belfast Celtic, will be taking on NIFL Premier Intermediate League team Moyola Park, the first winners of the Irish Cup in 1880-81.
PIL leaders Dollingstown are due to come up against Ballyclare Comrades from the Championship, while PIL outfit Rathfriland Rangers will be travelling to Stangmore Park to take on Premiership side Dungannon Swifts.
Two fourth round ties were cancelled due to the weather at the weekend and have been rescheduled for this Saturday.
PIL teams Knockbreda and Banbridge Town will battle it out to face Crusaders in round five, and that game will be played at Seaview.
The other remaining R4 tie is Amateur League Premier Division outfit Islandmagee v Ballymacash Rangers from the PIL. The winners of that game will be up against Championship team Ballinamallard United in the fifth round, and the tie will be played at the Fermanagh side’s Ferney Park home.
There’s just one all-Championship fixture in the fifth round. League leaders Bangor are due to host Newington, who are currently propping up the table.
The draw was conducted by BBC Northern Ireland’s Joel Taggart and was broadcast live on the BBC Sport NI website.
The ties in the fifth round of the Clearer Water Irish Cup 2024-25 are:
Annagh United v Portadown
Bangor v Newington
Carrick Rangers v Newry City
Linfield v Wellington Rec
Dollingstown v Ballyclare Comrades
Coleraine v Armagh City
Limavady United v Larne
Dungannon Swifts v Rathfriland Rangers
Knockbreda/Banbridge Town v Crusaders
Institute v Loughgall
Islandmagee/Ballymacash Rangers v Ballinamallard United
Ballymena United v Ards
Cliftonville v Banbridge Rangers
Belfast Celtic v Moyola Park
Glenavon v Dundela
H&W Welders v Glentoran
Image: Players from Annagh United and Portadown at today’s Clearer Water Irish Cup fifth round draw. They will meet again on the pitch in January.
Clearer Water Irish Cup R5 Draw
