The 1978–79 Irish Cup was the 99th edition of the premier knock‑out football competition organised by the Irish Football Association (IFA) for senior clubs in Northern Ireland. The tournament began in the autumn of 1978 and concluded with the final held on 12 May 1979 at Windsor Park in Belfast.
Format
The competition followed a single‑elimination format. Clubs entered at various stages, with replays scheduled if matches were level after 90 minutes, in accordance with the rules in force at the time. The winner of the final earned qualification for the following season’s European Cup Winners’ Cup.
Participants
A total of 16 senior clubs from the Irish League and select intermediate teams took part in the competition. Notable entrants included Linage, Glentoran, Portadown, Coleraine, and Cliftonville.
Progression
- First round: Sixteen teams competed in eight matches, with winners advancing to the quarter‑finals.
- Quarter‑finals: The eight remaining clubs contested four ties; all were decided in regular time.
- Semi‑finals: Linfield defeated Glentoran, while Portadown overcame Coleraine to set up the final.
Final
The final was contested between Linfield and Portadown at Windsor Park. Linfield secured a 2–0 victory, with goals scored by John McAliskey (30′) and Martin McGaughey (68′). The win marked Linfield’s 34th Irish Cup triumph and completed a domestic double, as the club also captured the Irish League title that season.
Aftermath
As Irish Cup champions, Linfield qualified for the 1979–80 European Cup Winners’ Cup. The competition remained a focal point of the Northern Irish football calendar, maintaining its status as the nation’s most prestigious cup tournament.
References
- Irish Football Association archives, competition records (1978–79 season).
- Contemporary newspaper reports, Belfast Telegraph and Irish News, May 1979.
