| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Country | Scotland |
| Teams | 58 |
| Defending champions | Inverness Caledonian Thistle |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Ross County |
| Runners-up | Connah's Quay Nomads |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 56 |
| Goals scored | 172 (3.07 per match) |
| Attendance | 37,300 (666 per match) |
| Top goal scorer(s) | Blair Henderson (6 goals) |
The2018–19Scottish Challenge Cup, known as theIRN-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'sNational League entering the competition for the first time. This took the total number of participating clubs to 58.
Thirty teams from theScottish Championship,Scottish League One andScottish League Two competed, along with four teams from theHighland Football League (one eliminated in preliminary round) and four from theLowland Football League (one eliminated in preliminary round). In addition to this, Under-21 teams of the clubs competing in theScottish Premiership were represented. This was the third edition with two clubs from both Northern Ireland'sNIFL Premiership and theWelsh Premier League and was the second time that two teams from theLeague of Ireland entered. A new change was the addition of two entrants from the EnglishNational League (fifth tier).[2]
Inverness Caledonian Thistle were the defending champions after they beatDumbarton 1–0 in the2018 final,[3] but they were eliminated in the first round byDunfermline Athletic.
Ross County won the competition for the third time, defeatingConnah's Quay Nomads 3–1 in the final.
| Round | Date[4] | Fixtures | Clubs | New entries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preliminary round | 31 July–1 August 2018 | 2 | 58 → 56 | Teams placed 3rd and 4th in2017–18 Lowland Football League & teams placed 3rd and 4th in2017–18 Highland Football League |
| First round | 14–15 August 2018 | 24 | 56 → 32 | Teams from2018–19 Scottish Championship Teams from2018–19 Scottish League One Teams from2018–19 Scottish League Two 3 teams from2018–19 Highland Football League (1st, 2nd and preliminary round winner) 3 teams from2018–19 Lowland Football League (1st, 2nd and preliminary round winner) 12 U21 teams from2018–19 Scottish Premiership |
| Second round | 8–9 September 2018 | 16 | 32 → 16 | 2 teams from2017–18 NIFL Premiership (1st and 2nd) 2 teams from2017–18 Welsh Premier League (1st and 3rd) 2 teams from2018 League of Ireland Premier Division (6th and 7th) 2 teams from2017–18 National League (3rd and 4th) |
| Third round | 13–14 October 2018 | 8 | 16 → 8 | |
| Quarter-finals | 17–18 November 2018 | 4 | 8 → 4 | |
| Semi-finals | 16–17 February 2019 | 2 | 4 → 2 | |
| Final | 24 March 2019 | 1 | 2 → 1 |
| 29 July 2018 | BSC Glasgow | 0–1 | East Stirlingshire | Alloa |
| 15:00 | Report | Tennant | Stadium:Indodrill Stadium Attendance: 147 Referee: Chris Graham |
| 1 August 2018 | Inverurie Loco Works | 2–2 (5–4p) | Fraserburgh | Inverurie |
| 20:00 |
| Report |
| Stadium:Harlaw Park Attendance: 399 Referee: Mat Northcroft |
| Penalties | ||||
|
| |||
The draw for the first round was made on 26 June 2018 at 1pm live on theSPFL Facebook page.
Teams inBold advanced to the second round.
| North section |
|---|
| 14 August 2018 | Livingston U21s | 1–0 (Abandoned)[A] | Forfar Athletic | Livingston, Scotland |
| 19:45 | Watson | Report | Stadium:Almondvale Stadium Referee: David Dickinson |
| 14 August 2018 | Dundee U21s | 2–2 (4–3p) | Hibernian U21s | Dundee, Scotland |
| 19:45 |
| Report | Stadium:Dens Park Attendance: 191 Referee: Chris Fordyce | |
| Penalties | ||||
| ||||
| 14 August 2018 | Peterhead | 2–1 | Brechin City | Peterhead, Scotland |
| 19:45 |
| Report | Shields | Stadium:Balmoor Stadium Attendance: 496 Referee: Steven Kirkland |
| 14 August 2018 | Inverness Caledonian Thistle | 1–2 | Dunfermline Athletic | Inverness, Scotland |
| 19:45 | White | Report |
| Stadium:Caledonian Stadium Attendance: 1,046 Referee:Alan Muir |
| 14 August 2018 | Heart of Midlothian U21s | 1–2 | Ross County | Edinburgh, Scotland |
| 19:45 | Keena | Report | McKay | Stadium:Tynecastle Park Attendance: 344 Referee: Gavin Duncan |
| 14 August 2018 | Cowdenbeath | 1–3 | East Fife | Cowdenbeath, Scotland |
| 19:45 | Sheerin | Report |
| Stadium:Central Park Attendance: 261 Referee: David Munro |
| 14 August 2018 | Raith Rovers | 3–1 | Aberdeen U21s | Kirkcaldy, Scotland |
| 19:45 |
| Report | Anderson | Stadium:Stark's Park Attendance: 479 Referee: Grant Irvine |
| 14 August 2018 | Alloa Athletic | 3–1 | Stirling Albion | Alloa, Scotland |
| 19:45 | Report | Hamilton | Stadium:Recreation Park Attendance: 332 Referee: David Lowe |
| 14 August 2018 | Inverurie Loco Works | 0–1 | Formartine United | Inverurie, Scotland |
| 20:00 | Report | Gethins | Stadium:Harlaw Park Attendance: 399 Referee: Mike Roncone |
| 15 August 2018 | Cove Rangers | 2–2 (3–4p) | Montrose | Cove Bay, Scotland |
| 19:45 | McManus | Report |
| Stadium:Balmoral Stadium Attendance: 420 Referee: Graham Beaton |
| Penalties | ||||
| ||||
| 15 August 2018 | Elgin City | 1–1 (6–7p) | Arbroath | Elgin, Scotland |
| 19:45 | O'Brien | Report | McHardy | Stadium:Borough Briggs Attendance: 401 Referee: Scott Lambie |
| Penalties | ||||
| ||||
| 15 August 2018 | Dundee United | 3–2 | St Johnstone U21s | Dundee, Scotland |
| 19:45 | Report | Hendry | Stadium:Tannadice Park Attendance: 700 Referee: Colin Steven |
| 21 August 2018 | Livingston U21s | 0–0 (5–4p) | Forfar Athletic | Livingston, Scotland |
| 19:45 | Report | Stadium:Almondvale Stadium Attendance: 460 Referee: David Dickinson | ||
| Penalties | ||||
Teams inBold advanced to the second round.
| South section |
|---|
| 14 August 2018 | Kilmarnock U21s | 1–2 | St Mirren U21s | Kilmarnock, Scotland |
| 19:00 |
| Report |
| Stadium:Rugby Park Attendance: 208 Referee: Stephen Brown |
| 14 August 2018 | Stenhousemuir | 0–3 | Queen of the South | Stenhousemuir, Scotland |
| 19:30 | Report | Stadium:Ochilview Park Attendance: 387 Referee: Kevin Graham |
| 14 August 2018 | Rangers U21s | 1–2 | Falkirk | Stirling, Scotland |
| 19:30 |
| Report | Stadium:Forthbank Stadium Attendance: 636 Referee: Euan Anderson |
| 14 August 2018 | Queen's Park | 0–0 (4–2p) | Ayr United | Glasgow, Scotland |
| 19:45 | Report | Stadium:Hampden Park Attendance: 834 Referee: Greg Aitken | ||
| Penalties | ||||
| ||||
| 14 August 2018 | Hamilton Academical U21s | 4–1 | Clyde | Hamilton, Scotland |
| 19:45 |
| Report | McStay | Stadium:New Douglas Park Attendance: 297 Referee: Chris Graham |
| 14 August 2018 | East Stirlingshire | 0–3 | Motherwell U21s | Falkirk, Scotland |
| 19:45 | Report |
| Stadium:Falkirk Stadium Attendance: 150 Referee: Duncan Smith |
| 14 August 2018 | Annan Athletic | 4–0 | Celtic U21s | Annan, Scotland |
| 19:45 | Report | Stadium:Galabank Attendance: 266 Referee: Lloyd Wilson |
| 14 August 2018 | Edinburgh City | 3–1 | Albion Rovers | Edinburgh, Scotland |
| 19:45 | Report | Cunningham | Stadium:Ainslie Park Attendance: 182 Referee: Steven Reid |
| 14 August 2018 | Stranraer | 0–5 | Partick Thistle | Stranraer, Scotland |
| 19:45 | Report |
| Stadium:Stair Park Attendance: 480 Referee: Alan Newlands |
| 14 August 2018 | Dumbarton | 2–1 | Greenock Morton | Dumbarton, Scotland |
| 19:45 | Report | Oliver | Stadium:Dumbarton Football Stadium Attendance: 680 Referee: Gavin Ross |
| 14 August 2018 | Berwick Rangers | 0–3 | Airdrieonians | Berwick-upon-Tweed, England |
| 19:45 | Report | Stadium:Shielfield Park Attendance: 317 Referee: John McKendrick |
| 15 August 2018 | East Kilbride | 1–1 (5–4p) | Spartans | East Kilbride, Scotland |
| 19:45 | McNeil | Report | Cennarazo | Stadium:K-Park Training Academy Attendance: 207 Referee: Duncan Williams |
| Penalties | ||||
|
| |||
Teams from Wales (The New Saints andConnah's Quay Nomads), Northern Ireland (Crusaders andColeraine), England (Sutton United andBoreham Wood) and the Republic of Ireland (Bohemians andSligo 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 theFAI on 16 July 2018 for failing to pay their players and replaced byLimerick.[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 theLeague of Ireland instead.[8]
The draw for the second round was made on 16 August 2018 at 1pm live on theSPFL Facebook page.
Teams inBold advanced to the third round.
Teams inItalics were not known at the time of the draw.
| Other Scottish | Teams from other countries | |
|---|---|---|
Championship League One League Two | Highland League Lowland League Premiership U21s |
| 6 September 2018 | Dundee U21s | 1–2 | Motherwell U21s | Dundee, Scotland |
| 19:00 | Armstrong | Report |
| Stadium:Dens Park Attendance: 208 Referee: Mike Roncone |
| 8 September 2018 | Boreham Wood | 0–0 (5–6p) | Dunfermline Athletic | Borehamwood, England |
| 13:00 | Report | Stadium:Meadow Park Attendance: 1,001 Referee: Evan Boyce | ||
| Penalties | ||||
| 8 September 2018 | Queen of the South | 4–3 | Crusaders | Dumfries, Scotland |
| 14:30 | Report | Stadium:Palmerston Park Attendance: 1,204 Referee: Damian McGrath |
| 8 September 2018 | Falkirk | 0–1 | Connah's Quay Nomads | Falkirk, Scotland |
| 15:00 | Report | Wilde | Stadium:Falkirk Stadium Attendance: 1,637 Referee: Daniel Middleton |
| 8 September 2018 | Airdrieonians | 0–1 | Sutton United | Airdrie, Scotland |
| 15:00 | Report | Wright | Stadium:Excelsior Stadium Attendance: 831 Referee: Mark Petch |
| 8 September 2018 | Peterhead | 0–1 | Bohemians | Peterhead, Scotland |
| 15:00 | Report | Devaney | Stadium:Balmoor Stadium Attendance: 713 Referee: Sam Purkiss |
| 8 September 2018 | East Fife | 2–1 | Partick Thistle | Methil, Scotland |
| 15:00 | Report | Mbuyi-Mutombo | Stadium:Bayview Stadium Attendance: 932 Referee:Alan Muir |
| 8 September 2018 | Arbroath | 3–0 | Annan Athletic | Arbroath, Scotland |
| 15:00 | Report | Stadium:Gayfield Park Attendance: 524 Referee: Colin Steven |
| 8 September 2018 | Dumbarton | 0–1 | Montrose | Dumbarton, Scotland |
| 15:00 | Report | Johnston | Stadium:Dumbarton Football Stadium Attendance: 456 Referee: David Munro |
| 8 September 2018 | Dundee United | 1–1 (4–5p) | Alloa Athletic | Dundee, Scotland |
| 15:00 | Smith | Report | Trouten | Stadium:Tannadice Park Attendance: 1,040 Referee: Greg Aitken |
| Penalties | ||||
| 8 September 2018 | East Kilbride | 2–3 | Edinburgh City | East Kilbride, Scotland |
| 15:00 |
| Report |
| Stadium:K-Park Training Academy Attendance: 287 Referee: Steven Kirkland |
| 8 September 2018 | St Mirren U21s | 3–2 | Hamilton Academical U21s | Paisley, Scotland |
| 15:00 |
| Report |
| Stadium:St Mirren Park Attendance: 316 Referee: Graham Beaton |
| 8 September 2018 | Ross County | 5–0 | Raith Rovers | Dingwall, Scotland |
| 15:00 | Report | Stadium:Victoria Park Attendance: 1,232[9] Referee: John Beaton |
| 8 September 2018 | The New Saints | 2–2 (2–4p) | Queen's Park | Oswestry, England |
| 19:35 |
| Report |
| Stadium:Park Hall Attendance: 278 Referee: Bernard Connolly |
| Penalties | ||||
| ||||
| 8 September 2018 | Coleraine | 1–1 (2–1p) | Formartine United | Coleraine, Northern Ireland |
| 19:45 | Carson | Report | MacPhee | Stadium:The Showgrounds Attendance: 973 Referee: David Morgan |
| Penalties | ||||
| ||||
| 8 September 2018 | Sligo Rovers | 4–1 | Livingston U21s | Sligo, Ireland |
| 19:45 | Report | Knox | Stadium:The Showgrounds Attendance: 408[10] Referee: Lee Tavinder |
The draw for the third round was made on 11 September 2018 at 1pm live on theSPFL Facebook page.
Teams inBold advanced to the quarter-finals.
| Teams from other countries | |
|---|---|
Championship League One League Two Premiership U21s |
| 12 October 2018 | Arbroath | 1–4 | Edinburgh City | Arbroath, Scotland |
| 19:35 | McKenna | Report | Stadium:Gayfield Park Attendance: 506 Referee:Alan Muir |
| 13 October 2018 | East Fife | 2–0 | Queen of the South | Methil, Scotland |
| 15:00 |
| Report | Stadium:Bayview Stadium Attendance: 579 Referee: Barry Cook |
| 13 October 2018 | Bohemians | 0–0 (4–3p) | Sutton United | Dublin, Ireland |
| 15:00 | Report | Stadium:Dalymount Park Attendance: 1,130 Referee: Mike Roncone | ||
| Penalties | ||||
| 13 October 2018 | Dunfermline Athletic | 2–2 (4–5p) | Alloa Athletic | Dunfermline, Scotland |
| 15:00 | L. Longridge | Report | Trouten | Stadium:East End Park Attendance: 1,469 Referee:Nick Walsh |
| Penalties | ||||
| 13 October 2018 | Ross County | 3–1 | Montrose | Dingwall, Scotland |
| 15:00 |
| Report | Johnston | Stadium:Victoria Park Attendance: 1,122 Referee: Craig Napier |
| 13 October 2018 | St Mirren U21s | 2–4 | Queen's Park | Paisley, Scotland |
| 15:00 |
| Report | Stadium:St Mirren Park Attendance: 507 Referee: Grant Irvine |
| 13 October 2018 | Motherwell U21s | 2–0 | Sligo Rovers | Motherwell, Scotland |
| 15:00 |
| Report | Stadium:Fir Park Attendance: 950 Referee: Richard Hulme |
| 13 October 2018 | Connah's Quay Nomads | 2–0 | Coleraine | Connah's Quay, Wales |
| 19:30 |
| Report | Stadium:Deeside Stadium Attendance: 624 Referee: Colin Steven |
The draw for the quarter-finals was made on 16 October 2018 at 1pm atThe Hub inEdinburgh live on theSPFL Facebook page.[11]
Teams inBold advanced to the semi-finals.
| Teams from other countries | |
|---|---|
Championship League One League Two Premiership U21s |
| 16 November 2018 | Queen's Park | 1–2 | Connah's Quay Nomads | Glasgow, Scotland |
| 19:45 | Hawke | Report |
| Stadium:Hampden Park Attendance: 559 Referee: David Rock |
| 17 November 2018 | Edinburgh City | 2–2 (4–3p) | Alloa Athletic | Edinburgh, Scotland |
| 15:00 |
| Stadium:Ainslie Park Attendance: 478 Referee: Don Robertson | ||
| Penalties | ||||
| 17 November 2018 | Motherwell U21s | 1–2 | Ross County | Motherwell, Scotland |
| 15:00 | Livingstone | Report | Stewart | Stadium:Fir Park Attendance: 1,209 Referee: David Munro |
| 2 February 2019 | Bohemians | w/o[B] | East Fife | Dublin, Ireland |
| 15:00 | Report | Stadium:Dalymount Park |
The draw for the semi-finals was made on 21 November 2018 at 1pm at Hampden Park live on theSPFL Facebook page.[14]
| 15 February 2019 | Ross County | 2–1 | East Fife | Dingwall, Scotland |
| 19:45 | Armstrong McManus | Report |
| Stadium:Victoria Park Attendance: 1,283 Referee: Alan Newlands |
| 16 February 2019 | Connah's Quay Nomads | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (5–4p) | Edinburgh City | Connah's Quay, Wales |
| 19:25 | Wilde | Report | Walker | Stadium:Deeside Stadium Attendance: 1,068 Referee: James Oldham |
| Penalties | ||||
| 23 March 2019 | Ross County | 3–1 | Connah's Quay Nomads | Inverness, Scotland |
| 16:30 | Mullin Lindsay | Report | Bakare | Stadium:Caledonian Stadium Attendance: 3,057 Referee:Alan Muir |
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 theIrn-Bru Football Twitter page.
| Round | Player | Club | Match | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Round | Partick Thistle | 5–0 vStranraer (A) | [15] | |
| Second Round | Sligo Rovers | 4–1 vLivingston U21s (H) | [16] | |
| Third Round | Motherwell U21s | 2–0 vSligo Rovers (H) | [17] | |
| Quarter-finals | Edinburgh City | 2–2 vAlloa Athletic (H) | [18] | |
| Semi-finals | Ross County | 2–1 vEast Fife (H) | [19] |
The domestic broadcasting rights for the competition are held jointly byBBC Alba,S4C (for matches involving Welsh teams) and subscription channelPremier 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 onBT 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 vQueen's Park[21] | |||
| Third Round | Arbroath vEdinburgh City[22] | Connah's Quay Nomads vColeraine[22] | ||
| Quarter-Finals | Queen's Park vConnah's Quay Nomads[23] | |||
| Semi-Finals | Ross County vEast Fife[24] | Connah's Quay Nomads vEdinburgh City[24] | Ross County vEast Fife[24] | |
| Final | Ross County vConnah's Quay Nomads[25] | Ross County vConnah's Quay Nomads[25] | Ross County vConnah's Quay Nomads[25] |