1888–89 Irish Cup

The 1888–89 Irish Cup was the 9th edition of the Irish Cup, the premier knock-out cup competition in Irish football.

1888–89 Irish Cup

Tournament details
Country	Ireland
Date	20 October 1888 – 16 March 1889
Teams	25
Defending champions	Cliftonville
Final positions
Champions	Distillery (4th win)
Runners-up	YMCA
Tournament statistics
Matches played	21
Goals scored	140 (6.67 per match)
← 1887–88 1889–90 →

Distillery won the tournament for the 4th time, defeating YMCA 5–4 in the final.^[1][2]

Results

First round

Team 1	Score	Team 2
Dublin Association	0–4	Glentoran
Ulster	w/o	Distillery
Linfield Athletic	3–0	Cliftonville
YMCA	w/o	Mossley
Whiteabbey	w/o	Dublin University
Belfast Athletics	16–0	United Steamship
Oldpark	5–0	Clarence
Rock	2–2	Kilrea
St Columb's Court	3–0	Magherafelt
Limavady	7–0	Portrush
Hilden	13–0	Seapatrick
Banbridge	w/o	Milford
Montalto	bye

Replay

Team 1	Score	Team 2
Kilrea	w/o	Rock

Second round

Team 1	Score	Team 2
Whiteabbey	1–6	Oldpark
Glentoran	2–01	Belfast Athletics
YMCA	8–0	Montalto
Distillery	3–1	Linfield Athletic
Kilrea	0–2	Limavady
Hilden	3–2	Milford
St Columb's Court	bye

¹ Belfast Athletics left the pitch due to the weather conditions. A replay was ordered.

Replay

Team 1	Score	Team 2
Belfast Athletics	0-2	Glentoran

Third round

Team 1	Score	Team 2
Distillery	10–0	Oldpark
Glentoran	8–0	Limavady
St Columb's Court	1–3	YMCA
Hilden	bye

Semi-finals

Team 1	Score	Team 2
YMCA	3–1	Glentoran
Distillery	13–0	Hilden

Final

16 March 1889

Distillery	5–4	YMCA
R. Stewart McClatchey Stanfield	Report	Lemon Millar Small

Ulster Cricket Ground, Belfast

Attendance: 3,500