Northern Ireland Football League Cup

This article is about the tournament in Northern Ireland. For the equivalent tournament in the Republic of Ireland, see League of Ireland Cup.
Northern Ireland Football League Cup
Organising bodyNorthern Ireland Football League
Founded1987
RegionNorthern Ireland Northern Ireland
Number of teams38
Current championsLinfield (2023–24)
Most successful club(s)Linfield (12 wins)
2024–25 season

The Northern Ireland Football League Cup (known as the BetMcLean Cup for sponsorship purposes, and commonly known as the Irish League Cup) is a national football knock-out cup competition in Northern Ireland open to all member clubs of the Northern Ireland Football League. It is the third-most prestigious competition in domestic Northern Irish football after the NIFL Premiership and Irish Cup. It should not be confused with the Irish League Floodlit Cup which ran from 1987–88 to 1997–98. Unlike the Irish Cup, the League Cup does not have a berth for UEFA Europa Conference League qualification. The cup has been operated by the Northern Ireland Football League since the 2013–14 season when it took over the administration from the Irish Football Association (IFA), after which the cup was renamed to the Northern Ireland Football League (NIFL) Cup.[1]

Since the 2017–18 season, the Cup has been sponsored by McLean Bookmakers.[2] The competition's previous sponsors are JBE (2015–16),[3] WASP Solutions (2013–14 and 2014–15),[4] Irn Bru (2011–12 and 2012–13),[5] Co-operative Insurance (2001–02 to 2010–11), Coca-Cola (1998–99 to 2000–01), Wilkinson Sword (1991–92 to 1997–98), and Roadferry Freight (1986–87 to 1990–91).

Linfield are the current holders, after they defeated Portadown 3–1 in the 2024 final to win the competition for the second successive season and a record-extending 12th time overall. Portadown finished as runners-up after their first appearance in the final since 2011.

  1. ^ "NORTHERN IRELAND FOOTBALL LEAGUE". NIFL Premiership.
  2. ^ NI Football League
  3. ^ "JBE TO SPONSOR LEAGUE CUP". nifootballleague.com. 6 August 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  4. ^ "NI FOOTBALL LEAGUE CUP SPONSORSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT". nifootballleague.com. 20 January 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  5. ^ Irn Bru unveiled as new League Cup sponsor