An all-Premiership tie will kick off the fifth round of this season’s Clearer Water Irish Cup later today.
Coleraine, currently second in the NIFL Premiership standings, are set to welcome Crusaders to their Showgrounds home (7.45pm kick-off).
The tie will kickstart a weekend of Clearer Water Irish Cup fifth round action. It is set to be streamed live by BBC Sport NI on the BBC iPlayer and on the BBC Sport NI website.
Crusaders are currently 10th in Northern Ireland’s 12-team top flight, however they are edging away from the drop zone. They enjoyed some notable results over the festive period, including a 2-0 home win against Irish Cup holders Dungannon Swifts and a 2-1 away victory over north Belfast rivals Cliftonville.
The Coleraine v Crues encounter is one of three all-Irish Premiership ties in the fifth round.
Tomorrow current Premiership leaders Larne, looking to win the competition for the first time, will travel to Ballymena United for a derby encounter.
And record 44-time winners Linfield are set to host Bangor, upon whom they inflicted a heavy defeat in the league last weekend.
Dungannon Swifts, who won the trophy for the first time when they defeated Cliftonville in last year’s final, will begin their defence of the Irish Cup with a home game against NIFL Championship side Ards.
And Cliftonville, winners in 2024, will begin their latest Irish Cup odyssey with a home game against Championship side Dundela.
Other tasty ties tomorrow include a derby clash between Portadown of the Premiership and near neighbours Annagh United, current leaders of the Championship, plus a battle west of the Bann between Championship sides Ballinamallard United and Institute.
And there’s a real David v Goliath affair in Strabane where Strabane Athletic from the NIFL Premier Intermediate League will be hosting Premiership opposition in the form of Glentoran.
The Clearer Water Irish Cup fifth round fixtures are as follows:
Friday 9 January 2026 (7.45pm)
Coleraine v Crusaders
Saturday 10 January (1.30pm)
Comber Rec v Ballymacash Rangers
Knockbreda v Loughgall
Lisburn Distillery v Warrenpoint Town
Strabane Athletic v Glentoran
Saturday 10 January (3pm)
Armagh City v Drumaness Mills
Ballinamallard United v Institute
Ballymena United v Larne
Carrick Rangers v Queen’s University
Cliftonville v Dundela
Dungannon Swifts v Ards
Glenavon v Newington
Limavady United v Lisburn Rangers
Linfield v Bangor
Moyola Park v Harland and Wolff Welders
Portadown v Annagh United
Image: Crusaders’ Kurtis Forsythe and Coleraine’s Dylan Boyle in a full-blooded challenge during a NIFL Premiership game at Seaview at the end of November. The teams will cross swords again in a Clearer Water Irish Cup fifth round tie at Coleraine Showgrounds this evening.
