Saturday 01 Feb 2025

Clearer Water Irish Cup | Sixth Round recap

Eight teams remain standing in the Clearer Water Irish Cup following a sixth round afternoon of pure box office entertainment and drama.

Holders Cliftonville took another step towards defending the trophy and will be joined in the quarter-finals by Dungannon Swifts, Crusaders, Glentoran, Carrick Rangers, Loughgall, Bangor and Ards.

Jim Magilton’s Reds edged past Glenavon after extra-time at Solitude.

The woodwork was rattled three times in the first half, with Peter Campbell coming close for the visitors while Joe Gormley and Jack Keaney were frustrated for the home side.

But the deadlock was broken in stoppage time when Arran Pettifer fired beyond Mark Byrne after receiving the ball from Destiny Ojo.

Glenavon levelled just before the hour after Michael O’Connor nodded home Peter Campbell’s free-kick at the back post but a stunning strike three minutes from the end of normal time from Rory Hale seemed to have secured Cliftonville’s place in the next round.

However there was still time for further drama when, five minutes into added time, Barney McKeown pounced to turn home the equaliser after keeper David Odumosu had spilled an O’Connor cross.

The tie was eventually settled early into the second period of extra-time through Jonny Addis’ sweet strike from the left side of the area into the roof of the net.

Cliftonville will make the short journey across north Belfast to face Crusaders in the quarter-finals.

The Crues came within a whisker of needing extra-time themselves to get past Limavady United after the sides couldn’t be separated going into stoppage time only for Harry Jewitt-White to grab the 92nd minute winner after Jordan Owens had knocked on a Jonny Tuffey long ball forward.

Extra-time was also required at the only other all-Premiership clash as Dungannon Swifts eventually got past Coleraine at Stangmore Park.

Gael Bigirimana had fired the Swifts into the lead as early as the seventh minute with a 25-yard right-foot rocket, and that was how it stayed until eight minutes from time when new Coleraine signing Declan McManus levelled for the Bannsiders after getting the final touch to Jamie Glackin’s cross.

Dungannon made it through, however, courtesy of Tomas Galvin’s 113th minute left-foot finish.

Rodney McAree’s side are away to Carrick Rangers in the last eight.

Rangers eased past Ballinamallard United by three clear goals at Ferney Park, with Cian O’Malley handing them the advantage at the break with a 35th minute near post header from Reece Webb’s corner.

Paul Heatley doubled the lead just before the hour after lifting the ball over keeper Patrick McGarvey before turning provider on 71 minutes for Luke McCullough to head home his free-kick.

Two Championship sides remain in the competition.

Bangor progressed after a 3-0 defeat of Annagh United at Clandeboye Park. Matthew Ferguson broke the deadlock with around a quarter-of-an-hour on the clock when he tapped home Tiarnan Mulvenna’s corner.

Ben Arthurs added a second ten minutes after the interval with Michael Morgan completing the scoring with a calm finish on 76 minutes to set up a quarter-final tie at home to Glentoran.

Ards made it through at Moyola Park’s expense at Mill Meadow.

Aidan Steele broke the deadlock just after the half-hour mark into the left hand corner but Patrick McLaughlin hit the leveller moments from the break with a header past the visiting keeper.

Conor Maxwell restored Ards’ advantage midway through the second half after blasting home a free-kick from the edge of the area before Lee Newell made sure in the closing minutes.

John Bailie’s side have been drawn at home to Loughgall after the Villagers accounted for Dollingstown at Planters Park.

The Premiership side held the advantage at the break following an Owen McConville own goal, with Robbie Norton adding to their lead on the hour and Jay Boyd wrapping the scoring up with ten minutes remaining after being teed up by Conor McCloskey.