Irish League Football

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Cliftonville manager Jim Magilton praised his side's attitude and spirit during their 2-1 victory over Glenavon which booked their spot in the Irish Cup quarter-finals.

The Lurgan Blues led at the break but, on 65 minutes, Joe Gormley cancelled out Luke McGerrigan's effort.

It became a more challenging task for the Reds shortly after when Sean Robertson was shown a second yellow card, but Jonny Addis' strike in the final seconds secured their place in the last eight.

"Well, listen, it's an unbelievable strike from Jonny. We know he possesses that and he has that in his locker," Magilton told BBC Sport NI.

"Scoring a goal at that time was obviously devastating for Glenavon, who played very well. But for us, it was just fantastic.

"You're down to 10 men, and the spirit the players showed and that 'never-say-die' attitude. When you put that shirt on, that's what people want, that's what they expect and the players showed that today."

Magilton's side will try and use this match to build momentum in the league with the side currently seventh and without a win in their last six Premiership matches.

However, the Reds are just one point off Carrick Rangers in sixth and have three games in hand.

"We're playing catch-up. Our league position isn't where we want it to be. I know we've got games in hand, but it starts again on Monday [in training]," he continued.

"We get the group in, we'll take stock and see who's ready to go. We've got players ready and chomping at the bit.

"Everybody has to play their part now, from now until the end of the season."

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Glenavon manager Michael O'Connor says his side "were too sloppy" during their 2-1 defeat by Cliftonville in the sixth round of the Irish Cup.

The Lurgan Blues opened the scoring through Luke McGerrigan's shot from the edge of the box before Joe Gormley levelled the game just after the hour mark.

Despite the home side being reduced to 10 men when Sean Robertson was shown a second yellow, the Reds booked their spot in the quarter-finals through the last kick of the game thanks to a superb strike from Jonny Addis.

"I thought we started brightly, played the ball quick and created some decent chances," O'Connor told BBC Sport NI.

"I think them going down to 10 men changed the game. We were too sloppy and we had an arrogance about us that we could go pass the ball with no end product. We didn't move the ball quickly enough and gave away silly free-kicks.

"It was a great strike from Addis, but we shouldn't be putting ourselves in that situation. It was hard to watch, it was too slow and it wasn't good enough, unacceptable."

The Lurgan Blues' attention now returns to the league with the side sitting nine points adrift at the bottom of the table.

O'Connor's side won their last Premiership match but face Carrick Rangers next, who are on an impressive run and have won their last five league games.

"They have been brilliant," O'Connor said when asked about Tuesday's opponents.

"They have a real threat going forward, experience in the team and every time you go to Carrick you know you have to roll the sleeves up.

"We have to treat every game going forward as cup finals and a six pointer."

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Dungannon Swifts manager Rodney McAree says his side "won't give up the Irish Cup without a fight" as they came from behind to book a place in the last eight.

The holders trailed early against Portadown at Shamrock Park when Shay McCartan fired home, but Sean McAllister's strike from an angle levelled it before the break, while the turnaround was complete in the second period as substitute Andy Mitchell flicked home the winner.

McAree hailed his team's "fight" to get back into the game and then repel a late charge from the hosts.

"I thought when we conceded early on, we showed a fantastic response and got back into the game with a great trike from Sean," McAree told BBC Sport NI.

"The word we have spoken about all week is 'fight' and I thought we showed that in abundance - fight in the right manner.

"We showed togetherness we wanted to dig in for each other. We knew there would be a lot of balls coming into our box, so we had to be big and strong to come out on top, and thankfully we did that.

"If we're going to give it [Irish Cup] up, we won't do it without a fight."

McAree was delighted to see Mitchell net the winner after coming off the bench and explained his reason for not starting the attacker.

"'Mitch' missed training on Thursday night thorough his work and unfortunately for him and how we try to do things, it puts him out of the team because he was excellent last week.

"It was an opportunist goal, a back-heel flick that has looped over Alex Moore's head, and I'm delighted for him as he's a Dungannon Swifts man who loves the club.

"You could see the emotion from everyone, so we're glad he's done it for the changing room."

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Irish Premiership leaders Larne will play either Glentoran or Drumaness Mills in the quarter-finals of the Irish Cup next month.

The Inver Reds have been runners-up six times in the competition without ever lifting the trophy, but advanced to the last eight thanks to a 2-0 win away to Warrenpoint Town on Saturday.

Glentoran were due to take on Drumaness Mills at the Oval in the sixth round but the game was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.

The game will now take place on 17 February with the winners hosting Larne on either Friday, 6 March or Saturday, 7 March.

Holders Dungannon Swifts, who came from behind to beat Portadown in the sixth round, will host Harland and Wolff Welders in the last eight with the east Belfast side having eased past Gary Hamilton's Ballymacash Rangers on Saturday.

Limavady United's reward for beating Premiership champions Linfield on Friday night will be a home quarter-final against Coleraine who required extra time to advance past Carrick on Saturday.

Cliftonville, Irish Cup winners in 2024, will travel to Loughgall in the last eight after Jonny Addis' sweetly struck free-kick deep into injury time saw them knock out Glenavon in the sixth round.

Loughgall came through the only all-Championship tie of the sixth round when they beat Institute 2-1.

Irish Cup quarter-final draw

Dungannon Swifts v Harland and Wolff Welders

Glentoran or Drumaness Mills v Larne

Limavady United v Coleraine

Loughgall v Cliftonville

Ties to be played Friday, 6 March or Saturday, 7 March

More on this story

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Limavady United manager Paul Owens says Friday night's Irish Cup sixth round tie against Linfield at the Coleraine Showgrounds represents "a welcome distraction" for his side.

The game between the Championship pacesetters and the Premiership champions will be broadcast live on BBC iPlayer and on the BBC Sport website and app.

Owens' side sit five points clear at the top of the second tier of Northern Ireland domestic football as they chase promotion to the top division.

The Roesiders claimed a major scalp in last year's competition by defeating Larne in the fifth round.

"We can go into the game with no pressure and just enjoy the occasion," the Limavady boss told BBC Sport NI.

"I've watched them [Linfield] a couple of games and I've told the players that it's a welcome distraction. We can forget about the league for a week, park it."

Blues manager David Healy is wary of being on the wrong end of an upset at the last-16 stage and says there will be no complacency from his team.

"Paul has an experienced team and they are going well in the league," he reflected.

"They'll make it difficult for us but we've had them watched and will prepare as best we can and hopefully try and progress to the next round of the Irish Cup."

The most recent of Linfield's record 44 Irish Cup successes came in 2021 when they defeated Larne 2-1 in the final.

Joel Bell
BBC Sport NI

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Glentoran assistant manager Tim McCann said his players were "playing for the jersey" in Tuesday's 2-1 BetMcLean Cup semi-final win.

Pat Hoban opened the scoring for the Glens but his goal was cancelled out by Joel Cooper's second-half equaliser.

Jordan Jenkins then scored the winner during extra time to help his side progress to the final, where they will face Linfield on Sunday, 15 March.

''It was two fantastic teams battling it out. Coleraine are a top top team, we knew it was going to be very difficult. It was a heavy pitch and the crowd got really behind us,'' McCann told BBC Sport NI.

''If you're looking for grit and determination and players playing for the jersey, our players gave everything they had in their body and I thought we deserved to win.''

Hoban has found the back of the net 20 times in all competitions this season for the Glens and McCann was pleased that he and fellow forward Jenkins could make such telling contributions as the east Belfast side reached a second successive BetMcLean Cup final.

''Pat's [Hoban] been doing that every week. He's very dangerous, fox in the box. It's great to see JJ [Jordan Jenkins] on the scoresheet," McCann added.

''JJ always pops up with important goals and has done for this club for many years. I hope he keeps a couple for the final.''

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Women's Premiership quartet Cliftonville, Glentoran, Linfield and Lisburn Rangers have discovered their All-Island Cup group stage opponents.

The annual cross-border competition, which is in it's fourth year, brings together 12 teams from the Women's Premier Division and four teams from the Women's Premiership.

The draw for the group stage, where the 16 teams are split into four groups, was made at the Northern Ireland Football League headquarters on Wednesday.

Linfield have been drawn in Group One alongside Shamrock Rovers, Sligo Rovers and holders Wexford.

Lisburn Rangers are in Group Two with two-time winners Galway United, DLR Waves and Peamount United.

Cliftonville, who won the Challenge Cup and League Cup last season, will take on Athlone Town, Cork City and Treaty United in Group Three.

Women's Premiership champions Glentoran are in Group Four with Bohemians, Shelbourne and Waterford.

Fixtures are still to be confirmed, but the first round of group games will take place on Saturday, 4 April.

The four group winners and four second place sides will progress to the quarter-finals which will be held on the weekend of 13-14 June.

The semi-finals will take place on the weekend of 27-28 June with the final scheduled for Saturday, 18 July.

All-Island Cup groups:

Group One: Linfield, Shamrock Rovers, Sligo Rovers, Wexford

Group Two: Lisburn Rangers, Galway United, DLR Waves, Peamount United

Group Three: Cliftonville, Athlone Town, Cork City, Treaty United

Group Four: Glentoran, Bohemians, Shelbourne, Waterford

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Larne boss Gary Haveron says his team showed "class and quality" in defeating Ballymena United 2-1 in the Irish Cup.

Paul O'Neill fired home a Larne opener and Success Edogun's stunning strike brought United level before Leroy Millar hit the winner at the Showgrounds.

"Our boys showed real resilience, especially when they pegged us back at 1-1," said Haveron.

"Ballymena came out of the traps quickly at the start of the second half and got their goal.

"But we showed our class and quality with the second goal that we scored.

"The breakaway, a great ball in from Tomas [Cosgrove] and Leroy does what he's been doing for the last three to four years.

"It was a great finish from him and I'm delighted to see him get on the end of it."

Larne's reward is an away tie against Warrenpoint Town in the sixth round.