The weather might have done its best to wipe out Clearer Water Irish Cup fifth round day but eight games did go ahead on what is always one of the most eagerly anticipated weekends of the season.
Holders Dungannon Swifts kicked off their defence with a three-goal defeat of Ards at Stangmore Park.
Sean McAllister opened the scoring with just over a quarter-of-an-hour on the clock with a powerful header before, on 25 minutes, Junior Uzokwe doubled up with a glancing header past Marc Matthews.
The scoring was completed eight minutes from the break through Tiernan Kelly’s lifted finish over the visiting keeper.
Cliftonville, runners-up last season, also progressed after hitting three goals without reply past Dundela at Solitude.
Conor Falls broke the deadlock after just seven minutes after getting on the end of Shaun Leppard’s ball over the top but that was how it stayed until the 70th minute when Brian Healy marked his debut with a curling finish into the top corner.
Sean Robertson then added a third with less than ten minutes remaining with a superbly executed free-kick from the edge of the area.
Cliftonville 3-0 Dundela
In the only all top flight clash to get the go-ahead it took a solitary goal from Isaac Baird to give Linfield the edge over Bangor.
The 21-year-old struck for the home side just a couple of minutes from the break with a precise header into the bottom left after connecting with Dane McCullough’s cross from the right.
Carrick Rangers were top scorers on the day with a commanding 5-1 defeat of Queen’s University at Taylors Avenue.
Stephen Baxter’s side led at the break thanks to efforts from Adam Lecky and Aidan Steele, although the Students did respond through Ronan Young’s inswinging free-kick on 37 minutes.
Joe Crowe found the net with a powerful volley to restore Carrick’s two-goal advantage just before the hour, with Matthew Snoddy adding a fourth not long after that before Danny Gibson wrapped the scoring up on 78 minutes from close range.
Dungannon Swifts 3-0 Ards
It was a day to remember for NAFL Premier Division side Drumaness Mills after they travelled to Holm Park to knock out Championship opponents Armagh City.
Adam Garland kicked the scoring off on 13 minutes when he got a touch to a free-kick sent in from the far side.
Reece Doyle doubled the visitors lead early in the second half with an easy finish into an unguarded night before Jack Sharvin converted from the spot later in the half.
Ethan Doogan-Ballantine also knocked home a penalty as a consolation for the Eagles but Declan Looney restored Mills’ three-goal cushion in stoppage time.
Limavady United also hit four as they swept past Lisburn Rangers at the Coleraine Showgrounds.
Mikhail Kennedy bagged the opener for the Roesiders on ten minutes before Rodney Brown doubled up in the closing moments of the first half.
Philip Lowry added a third not long after the interval, with Lewis Tosh hitting another just short of the hour. Rangers grabbed a consolation with just over a quarter-of-an-hour remaining through Anthony Burns.
Ballymacash Rangers knocked three unanswered goals past Comber Rec. at the Bluebell Stadium thanks to a Harry O’Neill brace coupled with a late strike from Robert Robinson.
Only one game required extra-time as HW Welders got past Moyola Park at Mill Meadow.
Michael McLellan hit the first goal of the afternoon as early as the fourth minute but this was cancelled out shortly after by David Parkhouse.
Cead McGrath edged Moyola in front a couple of minutes after the break before Ethan Devine levelled midway through the second half.
That was how it stayed until Ronan Wilson found the net either side of half-time in extra-time to see Paul Kee’s side safely through.
The draw for the Sixth Round was made shortly after the conclusion of today’s games:-
Carrick Rangers v Coleraine
Cliftonville v Glenavon or Newington
Knockbreda or Loughgall v Ballinamallard United or Institute
Limavady United v Linfield
Lisburn Distillery or Warrenpoint Town v Ballymena United or Larne
Moyola Park or HW Welders v Ballymacash Rangers
Portadown or Annagh United v Dungannon Swifts
Strabane Athletic or Glentoran v Drumaness Mills
Ties to be played on the weekend of Friday 6th/Saturday 7th February 2026
AET
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