2018–19 Scottish Challenge Cup

The 2018–19 Scottish Challenge Cup, known as the IRN-BRU Cup[1] due to sponsorship reasons, was the 28th season of the competition. The tournament took on a similar format from the previous season with the addition of two teams from England's National League entering the competition for the first time. This took the total number of participating clubs to 58.

2018–19 Scottish Challenge Cup
CountryScotland
England
Northern Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Wales
Teams58
Defending championsInverness Caledonian Thistle
ChampionsRoss County
Runners-upConnah's Quay Nomads
Matches played56
Goals scored172 (3.07 per match)
Attendance37,300 (666 per match)
Top goal scorer(s)Blair Henderson
(6 goals)

Thirty teams from the Scottish Championship, Scottish League One and Scottish League Two competed, along with four teams from the Highland Football League (one eliminated in preliminary round) and four from the Lowland Football League (one eliminated in preliminary round). In addition to this, Under-21 teams of the clubs competing in the Scottish Premiership were represented. This was the third edition with two clubs from both Northern Ireland's NIFL Premiership and the Welsh Premier League and was the second time that two teams from the League of Ireland entered. A new change was the addition of two entrants from the English National League (fifth tier).[2]

Inverness Caledonian Thistle were the defending champions after they beat Dumbarton 1–0 in the 2018 final,[3] but they were eliminated in the first round by Dunfermline Athletic.

Ross County won the competition for the third time, defeating Connah's Quay Nomads 3–1 in the final.

Format
Round Date[4] Fixtures Clubs New entries
Preliminary round31 July–1 August 2018258 → 56Teams placed 3rd and 4th in 2017–18 Lowland Football League & teams placed 3rd and 4th in 2017–18 Highland Football League
First round14–15 August 20182456 → 32Teams from 2018–19 Scottish Championship
Teams from 2018–19 Scottish League One
Teams from 2018–19 Scottish League Two
3 teams from 2018–19 Highland Football League (1st, 2nd and preliminary round winner)
3 teams from 2018–19 Lowland Football League (1st, 2nd and preliminary round winner)
12 U21 teams from 2018–19 Scottish Premiership
Second round8–9 September 20181632 → 162 teams from 2017–18 NIFL Premiership (1st and 2nd)
2 teams from 2017–18 Welsh Premier League (1st and 3rd)
2 teams from 2018 League of Ireland Premier Division (6th and 7th)
2 teams from 2017–18 National League (3rd and 4th)
Third round13–14 October 2018816 → 8
Quarter-finals17–18 November 201848 → 4
Semi-finals16–17 February 201924 → 2
Final24 March 201912 → 1

Preliminary round

Matches
29 July 2018 BSC Glasgow0–1East StirlingshireAlloa
15:00 Report Tennant  50' (o.g.) Stadium: Indodrill Stadium
Attendance: 147
Referee: Chris Graham
1 August 2018 Inverurie Loco Works2–2
(5–4 p)		FraserburghInverurie
20:00
  • McCabe  37'
  • Smith  68'
 Report
  • Beagrie  8'
  • Campbell  84'
 Stadium: Harlaw Park
Attendance: 399
Referee: Mat Northcroft
Penalties
  • Gauld
  • Butcher
  • Layden
  • Smith
  • Duff
  • McCabe
  • Campbell
  • Angus
  • Christie
  • Hay
  • Buchan
  • Rae

First round

The draw for the first round was made on 26 June 2018 at 1pm live on the SPFL Facebook page.

North Section

Draw

Teams in Bold advanced to the second round.

North section

Matches
14 August 2018 Livingston U21s1–0
(Abandoned)[A]		Forfar AthleticLivingston, Scotland
19:45 Watson  30' Report Stadium: Almondvale Stadium
Referee: David Dickinson
14 August 2018 Dundee U21s2–2
(4–3 p)		Hibernian U21sDundee, Scotland
19:45
Report
Stadium: Dens Park
Attendance: 191
Referee: Chris Fordyce
Penalties
  • Gullan
  • Stirling
  • Waugh
  • I. Murray
  • Allan
14 August 2018 Peterhead2–1Brechin CityPeterhead, Scotland
19:45
Report Shields  12' Stadium: Balmoor Stadium
Attendance: 496
Referee: Steven Kirkland
14 August 2018 Inverness Caledonian Thistle1–2Dunfermline AthleticInverness, Scotland
19:45 White  61' Report
Stadium: Caledonian Stadium
Attendance: 1,046
Referee: Alan Muir
14 August 2018 Heart of Midlothian U21s1–2Ross CountyEdinburgh, Scotland
19:45 Keena  44' Report McKay  4', 30' Stadium: Tynecastle Park
Attendance: 344
Referee: Gavin Duncan
14 August 2018 Cowdenbeath1–3East FifeCowdenbeath, Scotland
19:45 Sheerin  30' Report
Stadium: Central Park
Attendance: 261
Referee: David Munro
14 August 2018 Raith Rovers3–1Aberdeen U21sKirkcaldy, Scotland
19:45
Report Anderson  72' Stadium: Stark's Park
Attendance: 479
Referee: Grant Irvine
14 August 2018 Alloa Athletic3–1Stirling AlbionAlloa, Scotland
19:45
Report Hamilton  55' Stadium: Recreation Park
Attendance: 332
Referee: David Lowe
14 August 2018 Inverurie Loco Works0–1Formartine UnitedInverurie, Scotland
20:00 Report Gethins  61' Stadium: Harlaw Park
Attendance: 399
Referee: Mike Roncone
15 August 2018 Cove Rangers2–2
(3–4 p)		MontroseCove Bay, Scotland
19:45 McManus  44', 49' Report
Stadium: Balmoral Stadium
Attendance: 420
Referee: Graham Beaton
Penalties
15 August 2018 Elgin City1–1
(6–7 p)		ArbroathElgin, Scotland
19:45 O'Brien  57' Report McHardy  83' Stadium: Borough Briggs
Attendance: 401
Referee: Scott Lambie
Penalties
15 August 2018 Dundee United3–2St Johnstone U21sDundee, Scotland
19:45
Report Hendry  21', 58' Stadium: Tannadice Park
Attendance: 700
Referee: Colin Steven
Notes
  1. ^
    A-The Livingston U21s-Forfar Athletic match was abandoned with Livingston U21s leading 1–0 after 71 minutes due poor lighting caused by a power outage. The match was replayed on 21 August 2018.

Replay
21 August 2018 Livingston U21s0–0
(5–4 p)		Forfar AthleticLivingston, Scotland
19:45 Report Stadium: Almondvale Stadium
Attendance: 460
Referee: David Dickinson
Penalties

South Section

Draw

Teams in Bold advanced to the second round.

South section

Matches
14 August 2018 Kilmarnock U21s1–2St Mirren U21sKilmarnock, Scotland
19:00
Report
Stadium: Rugby Park
Attendance: 208
Referee: Stephen Brown
14 August 2018 Stenhousemuir0–3Queen of the SouthStenhousemuir, Scotland
19:30 Report
Stadium: Ochilview Park
Attendance: 387
Referee: Kevin Graham
14 August 2018 Rangers U21s1–2FalkirkStirling, Scotland
19:30
  • Rudden  90'
 Report
Stadium: Forthbank Stadium
Attendance: 636
Referee: Euan Anderson
14 August 2018 Queen's Park0–0
(4–2 p)		Ayr UnitedGlasgow, Scotland
19:45 Report Stadium: Hampden Park
Attendance: 834
Referee: Greg Aitken
Penalties
  • McKernon
  • Gibson
  • Mortimer
  • Roberts
  • Osadolor
14 August 2018 Hamilton Academical U21s4–1ClydeHamilton, Scotland
19:45
Report McStay  9' Stadium: New Douglas Park
Attendance: 297
Referee: Chris Graham
14 August 2018 East Stirlingshire0–3Motherwell U21sFalkirk, Scotland
19:45 Report
  • Turnbull  16'
  • Watson  20'
  • Hastie  22'
 Stadium: Falkirk Stadium
Attendance: 150
Referee: Duncan Smith
14 August 2018 Annan Athletic4–0Celtic U21sAnnan, Scotland
19:45
Report Stadium: Galabank
Attendance: 266
Referee: Lloyd Wilson
14 August 2018 Edinburgh City3–1Albion RoversEdinburgh, Scotland
19:45
Report Cunningham  15' Stadium: Ainslie Park
Attendance: 182
Referee: Steven Reid
14 August 2018 Stranraer0–5Partick ThistleStranraer, Scotland
19:45 Report
Stadium: Stair Park
Attendance: 480
Referee: Alan Newlands
14 August 2018 Dumbarton2–1Greenock MortonDumbarton, Scotland
19:45
Report Oliver  39' Stadium: Dumbarton Football Stadium
Attendance: 680
Referee: Gavin Ross
14 August 2018 Berwick Rangers0–3AirdrieoniansBerwick-upon-Tweed, England
19:45 Report
Stadium: Shielfield Park
Attendance: 317
Referee: John McKendrick
15 August 2018 East Kilbride1–1
(5–4 p)		SpartansEast Kilbride, Scotland
19:45 McNeil  61' Report Cennarazo  3' Stadium: K-Park Training Academy
Attendance: 207
Referee: Duncan Williams
Penalties
  • Winter
  • Malcolm
  • Longworth
  • Reid
  • Coll
  • Corbett
  • Stevenson
  • Smith
  • Herd
  • Maxwell

Second round

Teams from Wales (The New Saints and Connah's Quay Nomads), Northern Ireland (Crusaders and Coleraine), England (Sutton United and Boreham Wood) and the Republic of Ireland (Bohemians and Sligo Rovers) entered in the second round.[5] Originally, Bray Wanderers were to be the second side to represent the League of Ireland however, they were subsequently thrown out by the FAI on 16 July 2018 for failing to pay their players and replaced by Limerick.[6] A similar statement was released by the FAI hours later about Limerick who were also in financial difficulties.[7] St Patrick's Athletic were then invited to compete as the next ranked team in line but declined. Sligo Rovers accepted the position in their place so they would represent the League of Ireland instead.[8]

Draw

The draw for the second round was made on 16 August 2018 at 1pm live on the SPFL Facebook page.

Teams in Bold advanced to the third round.

Teams in Italics were not known at the time of the draw.

SPFL Other Scottish Teams from other countries

Championship

League One

League Two

Highland League

Lowland League

Premiership U21s

National League

NIFL Premiership

Welsh Premier League

Premier Division

Matches
6 September 2018 Dundee U21s1–2Motherwell U21sDundee, Scotland
19:00 Armstrong  43' (o.g.) Report
  • MacDonald  25'
  • Watson  86'
 Stadium: Dens Park
Attendance: 208
Referee: Mike Roncone
8 September 2018 Boreham Wood0–0
(5–6 p)		Dunfermline AthleticBorehamwood, England
13:00 Report Stadium: Meadow Park
Attendance: 1,001
Referee: Evan Boyce
Penalties
8 September 2018 Queen of the South4–3CrusadersDumfries, Scotland
14:30
Report
Stadium: Palmerston Park
Attendance: 1,204
Referee: Damian McGrath
8 September 2018 Falkirk0–1Connah's Quay NomadsFalkirk, Scotland
15:00 Report Wilde  46' Stadium: Falkirk Stadium
Attendance: 1,637
Referee: Daniel Middleton
8 September 2018 Airdrieonians0–1Sutton UnitedAirdrie, Scotland
15:00 Report Wright  21' Stadium: Excelsior Stadium
Attendance: 831
Referee: Mark Petch
8 September 2018 Peterhead0–1BohemiansPeterhead, Scotland
15:00 Report Devaney  63' Stadium: Balmoor Stadium
Attendance: 713
Referee: Sam Purkiss
8 September 2018 East Fife2–1Partick ThistleMethil, Scotland
15:00
Report Mbuyi-Mutombo  22' Stadium: Bayview Stadium
Attendance: 932
Referee: Alan Muir
8 September 2018 Arbroath3–0Annan AthleticArbroath, Scotland
15:00
Report Stadium: Gayfield Park
Attendance: 524
Referee: Colin Steven
8 September 2018 Dumbarton0–1MontroseDumbarton, Scotland
15:00 Report Johnston  19' Stadium: Dumbarton Football Stadium
Attendance: 456
Referee: David Munro
8 September 2018 Dundee United1–1
(4–5 p)		Alloa AthleticDundee, Scotland
15:00 Smith  15' Report Trouten  78' (pen.) Stadium: Tannadice Park
Attendance: 1,040
Referee: Greg Aitken
Penalties
8 September 2018 East Kilbride2–3Edinburgh CityEast Kilbride, Scotland
15:00
Report
  • Henderson  36'
  • Smith  84', 86'
 Stadium: K-Park Training Academy
Attendance: 287
Referee: Steven Kirkland
8 September 2018 St Mirren U21s3–2Hamilton Academical U21sPaisley, Scotland
15:00
Report
  • A. Smith  27'
  • L. Smith  87'
 Stadium: St Mirren Park
Attendance: 316
Referee: Graham Beaton
8 September 2018 Ross County5–0Raith RoversDingwall, Scotland
15:00
Report Stadium: Victoria Park
Attendance: 1,232[9]
Referee: John Beaton
8 September 2018 The New Saints2–2
(2–4 p)		Queen's ParkOswestry, England
19:35
  • Hart  30' (o.g.)
  • Nembhard  90+5'
 Report
  • Osadolor  89'
  • Hawke  90+1'
 Stadium: Park Hall
Attendance: 278
Referee: Bernard Connolly
Penalties
  • McLean
  • Gibson
  • Foy
  • Roberts
  • Peters
8 September 2018 Coleraine1–1
(2–1 p)		Formartine UnitedColeraine, Northern Ireland
19:45 Carson  31' Report MacPhee  20' Stadium: The Showgrounds
Attendance: 973
Referee: David Morgan
Penalties
8 September 2018 Sligo Rovers4–1Livingston U21sSligo, Ireland
19:45
  • Drennan  15', 52', 86'
  • Cawley  60'
 Report Knox  3' Stadium: The Showgrounds
Attendance: 408[10]
Referee: Lee Tavinder

Third round

Draw

The draw for the third round was made on 11 September 2018 at 1pm live on the SPFL Facebook page.

Teams in Bold advanced to the quarter-finals.

SPFL Teams from other countries

Championship

League One

League Two

Premiership U21s

National League

NIFL Premiership

Welsh Premier League

Premier Division

Matches
12 October 2018 Arbroath1–4Edinburgh CityArbroath, Scotland
19:35 McKenna  11' Report
Stadium: Gayfield Park
Attendance: 506
Referee: Alan Muir
13 October 2018 East Fife2–0Queen of the SouthMethil, Scotland
15:00
Report Stadium: Bayview Stadium
Attendance: 579
Referee: Barry Cook
13 October 2018 Bohemians0–0
(4–3 p)		Sutton UnitedDublin, Ireland
15:00 Report Stadium: Dalymount Park
Attendance: 1,130
Referee: Mike Roncone
Penalties
13 October 2018 Dunfermline Athletic2–2
(4–5 p)		Alloa AthleticDunfermline, Scotland
15:00 L. Longridge  28', 47' (pen.) Report Trouten  8', 70' Stadium: East End Park
Attendance: 1,469
Referee: Nick Walsh
Penalties
13 October 2018 Ross County3–1MontroseDingwall, Scotland
15:00
Report Johnston  44' Stadium: Victoria Park
Attendance: 1,122
Referee: Craig Napier
13 October 2018 St Mirren U21s2–4Queen's ParkPaisley, Scotland
15:00
  • Jamieson  2'
  • Breadner  63'
 Report
Stadium: St Mirren Park
Attendance: 507
Referee: Grant Irvine
13 October 2018 Motherwell U21s2–0Sligo RoversMotherwell, Scotland
15:00
  • McClean  12' (o.g.)
  • Mbulu  71'
 Report Stadium: Fir Park
Attendance: 950
Referee: Richard Hulme
13 October 2018 Connah's Quay Nomads2–0ColeraineConnah's Quay, Wales
19:30
Report Stadium: Deeside Stadium
Attendance: 624
Referee: Colin Steven

Quarter-finals

Draw

The draw for the quarter-finals was made on 16 October 2018 at 1pm at The Hub in Edinburgh live on the SPFL Facebook page.[11]

Teams in Bold advanced to the semi-finals.

Teams from other countries

Championship

League One

League Two

Premiership U21s

Welsh Premier League

Premier Division

Matches
16 November 2018 Queen's Park1–2Connah's Quay NomadsGlasgow, Scotland
19:45 Hawke  64' Report
  • Horan  81'
  • Wilde  84'
 Stadium: Hampden Park
Attendance: 559
Referee: David Rock
17 November 2018 Edinburgh City2–2
(4–3 p)		Alloa AthleticEdinburgh, Scotland
15:00
Stadium: Ainslie Park
Attendance: 478
Referee: Don Robertson
Penalties
17 November 2018 Motherwell U21s1–2Ross CountyMotherwell, Scotland
15:00 Livingstone  53' Report Stewart  51', 56' Stadium: Fir Park
Attendance: 1,209
Referee: David Munro
2 February 2019 Bohemiansw/o[B]East FifeDublin, Ireland
15:00 Report Stadium: Dalymount Park
Notes
  1. ^
    B-The Bohemians-East Fife match was originally due to take place on 17 November 2018 but was rearranged as the Irish football season had finished. It was rearranged to be played on 2 February 2019 but was called off due to a frozen pitch at 14:53, seven minutes before kick-off.[12] Following discussions with the SPFL in an attempt to rearrange the fixture again, Bohemians withdrew from the competition and East Fife advanced to the semi-finals.[13]

Semi-finals

Draw

The draw for the semi-finals was made on 21 November 2018 at 1pm at Hampden Park live on the SPFL Facebook page.[14]

15 February 2019 Ross County2–1East FifeDingwall, Scotland
19:45 Armstrong  18'
McManus  37'		 Report
  • Dowds  39'
 Stadium: Victoria Park
Attendance: 1,283
Referee: Alan Newlands
16 February 2019 Connah's Quay Nomads1–1 (a.e.t.)
(5–4 p)		Edinburgh CityConnah's Quay, Wales
19:25 Wilde  18' Report Walker  2' Stadium: Deeside Stadium
Attendance: 1,068
Referee: James Oldham
Penalties

Final
Main article: 2019 Scottish Challenge Cup Final
23 March 2019 Ross County3–1Connah's Quay NomadsInverness, Scotland
16:30 Mullin  75',  78'
Lindsay  86'		 Report Bakare  22' Stadium: Caledonian Stadium
Attendance: 3,057
Referee: Alan Muir

Player of the Round

The Golden Ball Award is a 'Player of the Round' award given to the player who is adjudged to have had the best performance of that round out of all the players in teams left competing in that round of the competition. The winner is voted for by supporters from a chosen short-list of players, which is posted on the Irn-Bru Football Twitter page.

Round Player Club Match Ref
First Round Aidan Fitzpatrick Partick Thistle 5–0 v Stranraer (A) [15]
Second Round Mikey Drennan Sligo Rovers 4–1 v Livingston U21s (H) [16]
Third Round Christian Mbulu Motherwell U21s 2–0 v Sligo Rovers (H) [17]
Quarter-finals Scott Shepherd Edinburgh City 2–2 v Alloa Athletic (H) [18]
Semi-finals Ross Stewart Ross County 2–1 v East Fife (H) [19]

Broadcasting rights

The domestic broadcasting rights for the competition are held jointly by BBC Alba, S4C (for matches involving Welsh teams) and subscription channel Premier Sports. Prior to the re-format in the 2016–17 season, BBC Alba had exclusive rights.[20]

One of the semi-final matches was also confirmed as being broadcast live on BT Sport despite no apparent previous announcement of rights.

The following matches were broadcast live on UK television:

Round BBC Alba S4C Premier Sports BT Sport
Second Round The New Saints v Queen's Park[21]
Third Round Arbroath v Edinburgh City[22] Connah's Quay Nomads v Coleraine[22]
Quarter-Finals Queen's Park v Connah's Quay Nomads[23]
Semi-Finals Ross County v East Fife[24] Connah's Quay Nomads v Edinburgh City[24] Ross County v East Fife[24]
Final Ross County v Connah's Quay Nomads[25] Ross County v Connah's Quay Nomads[25] Ross County v Connah's Quay Nomads[25]
gollark: I'm trying to figure out if I should bother to implement compression.
gollark: How many messages do we get per day, would you say?
gollark: I'm not Lyricly, apioentity.
gollark: I'd obviously add an opt out.
gollark: Orbital soul harvesters are standing by.

References
  1. "Explained: Here is how the new Challenge Cup will work". pressandjournal.co.uk. Press & Journal. 9 June 2016. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  2. "Sutton United & Boreham Wood to enter Irn Bru Scottish Challenge Cup". BBC Sport. 8 June 2018. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  3. Crawford, Kenny (24 March 2018). "Dumbarton 0–1 Inverness Caledonian Thistle". bbc.co.uk/sport. BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  4. "IRN-BRU CUP - SEASON 2018/19" (PDF). Scottish Professional Football League. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  5. "National League sides join IRN-BRU Cup". spfl.co.uk. SPFL. 8 June 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  6. "Bray Wanderers thrown out of IRN BRU Cup and banned from signing players". leagueofireland.ie. League of Ireland. 16 July 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  7. "Deja Vu? FAI release statement on Limerick FC". leagueofireland.ie. League of Ireland. 16 July 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  8. "Sligo Rovers to play in this season's Scottish Challenge Cup". irishmirror.ie. Irish Mirror. 1 August 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  9. "Season 2018-2019". Raith Rovers FC. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  10. @sligorovers (8 September 2018). "Sligo Rovers v Livingston Colts attendance" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  11. "IRN-BRU CUP DRAW LIVE ON TUESDAY". spfl.co.uk. Scottish Professional Football League. 15 October 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  12. "Challenge Cup: Bohemians v East Fife called off seven minutes before kick-off". bbc.co.uk/sport. BBC Sport. 2 February 2019. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  13. "Bohemians withdraw from Challenge Cupfollowing late call-off of East Fife tie". bbc.co.uk/sport. BBC Sport. 4 February 2019. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  14. "IRN-BRU CUP SEMI-FINAL DRAW". spfl.co.uk. Scottish Professional Football League. 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  15. @irnbrufootball (29 August 2018). "Round 1 "Golden Balls" winner" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  16. @irnbrufootball (20 September 2018). "Round 2 "Golden Balls" winner" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  17. @irnbrufootball (26 October 2018). "Round 3 "Golden Balls" winner" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  18. @irnbrufootball (4 December 2018). "Quarter Final "Golden Balls" winner" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  19. @irnbrufootball (22 February 2019). "Semi Final "Golden Balls" winner" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  20. "Challenge Cup expansion announced". Scottish Professional Football League. 8 June 2016.
  21. "IRN-BRU CUP TV SELECTION". Scottish Professional Football League. 20 August 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  22. "IRN-BRU CUP R3 TV SELECTIONS". Scottish Professional Football League. 12 September 2018. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  23. "IRN-BRU CUP QUARTER-FINAL DETAILS". Scottish Professional Football League. 18 October 2018. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  24. "IRN-BRU CUP SEMI-FINAL DETAILS". Scottish Professional Football League. 6 November 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  25. "IRN-BRU CUP FINAL DETAILS CONFIRMED". Scottish Professional Football League. 22 February 2019. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
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