An east Belfast derby will kick-start the fifth round of this season’s Clearer Water Irish Cup later today.
The R5 tie between Harland and Wolff Welders of the NIFL Championship and Glentoran, currently second in the NIFL Premiership, is due to kick off at the Blanchflower Stadium at 7.45pm.
The Welders, who are fourth in their league just now, will be hoping home advantage will give them the edge over a Glens team who have been in fine form lately.
Welders boss Paul Kee said it is going to be “a tough, tough game” for his youthful team.
He told the BBC: “They've got a good squad of players, they're experienced and they've got some good results recently.”
Kee added that if the Welders are going to progress to the next round they will have to be at their “very, very best” and hope that Glentoran, who are unbeaten in their past seven games in all competitions, have an off day.
The game, which is being broadcast live on BBC iPlayer, will be the second meeting of the sides this season. Glentoran came out on top in a penalty shootout to progress in a County Antrim Shield first round tie at the Blanchflower in September.
Each season the fifth round is the stage where NIFL Premiership and Championship sides are joined by teams from the intermediate ranks who have already battled their way through four rounds of the competition.
Remarkably this time around there’s not a single all-Premiership tie among the 16 fixtures in round five of Northern Ireland’s premier cup competition; the remaining 15 ties are taking place tomorrow (4 January).
However, there’s set to be another tasty derby in the Clearer Water Irish Cup tomorrow when NIFL Championship side Annagh United face near neighbours Portadown in the last 32.
Annagh, currently fifth in the second tier, will also be hoping home advantage can give them the edge over the Ports, who currently sit fourth in the NIFL Premiership.
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.
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.
Knockbreda from the PIL are also set to face Premiership opposition - Crusaders - at home in round five, while PIL side Ballymacash Rangers will be taking on Championship team Ballinamallard United.
There’s just one all-Championship fixture in the fifth round. High-flying league leaders Bangor are due to host Newington, who are currently propping up the table.
The ties in the fifth round of the Clearer Water Irish Cup 2024-25 are:
H&W Welders v Glentoran
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 v Crusaders
Institute v Loughgall
Ballymacash Rangers v Ballinamallard United
Ballymena United v Ards
Cliftonville v Banbridge Rangers
Belfast Celtic v Moyola Park
Glenavon v Dundela
Image: Glentoran’s Jay Donnelly and Harland and Wolff Welders’ Lewis Patterson battle for possession when the Glens and the Welders met in the Co Antrim Shield earlier this season. The two east Belfast sides are due to meet in the Clearer Water Irish Cup later today.
