The first round ties in the BetMcLean Cup will be played on Tuesday 7th and Wednesday 8th October
The draw for the first round of the BetMcLean Cup has thrown up some intriguing battles as the 12 Premiership clubs entered the competition.
The top flight teams were all seeded for Friday’s draw along with the top four ranked Championship clubs from last season.
They were joined in the hat by the 16 unseeded teams – eight Championship clubs, six Preliminary Round winners and two Premier Intermediate League clubs that received a bye.
Last season’s winners, Cliftonville, will kick off their defence at home against Coagh United with the beaten finalists, Glentoran on the road to Institute.
Linfield will be hoping to avoid another cup upset at the hands of Queen’s, who come to Windsor Park.
Coleraine are on the road as they head to Dollingstown as are Portadown and Glenavon who travel to Newry City and Warrenpoint Town respectively.
Ballymena United entertain Ballinamallard United with Lisburn Distillery heading to Bangor.
Gary Hamilton takes his Ballymacash Rangers side to Crusaders, while Carrick Rangers head to Armagh City.
Dungannon Swifts are also on the road with a trip to Ards, as are Larne as they head to Degview, and there’s a mouthwatering all-east Belfast tie as H&W Welders host Dundela.
There’s an added incentive for teams to succeed in this year’s BetMcLean Cup thanks to the most lucrative sponsorship agreement in the competition’s history, which ensures that the victor of next season’s BetMcLean Cup will proceed directly to the newly rebranded BetMcLean European Play-off Final from the 2025/26 season – making a sought-after European spot just one match away.
BetMcLean Cup First round draw
Tuesday 7 October: Armagh City vs Carrick Rangers; Ballymena United vs Ballinamallard United; Bangor vs Lisburn Distillery; Cliftonville vs Coagh United; Crusaders vs Ballymacash Rangers; Dergview vs Larne; Dollingstown vs Coleraine; H&W Welders vs Dundela; Institute vs Glentoran; Linfield vs Queen’s University; Loughgall vs Strabane Athletic; Moyola Park vs Annagh United; Newington vs Limavady United; Newry City vs Portadown; Warrenpoint Town vs Glenavon.
Wednesday 8 October: Ards vs Dungannon Swifts.
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