| ROUND ONE - Saturday, 31st January, 1981 - Coleraine Showgrounds |
| COLERAINE 1 |
| (Brammeld '76) |
| BALLYMENA UNITED 2 |
| (Neill '13; Elliott '64) |
| Team: Matthews, Beattie, Fox, Worthington, Elliott, P. Mullan, Neill, Sloan, McQuiston, Malone, McCusker. Sub (not used): McCall. |
| Match Description: A large crowd at the Ballycastle Road Showgrounds for this Irish Cup derby. The visitors took the lead after just 13 minutes when Sammy McQuiston's cross from the right was challenged in the air by Peter McCusker, this allowed Davy Neill to attack the loose ball and rifle home from the edge of the box. The Sky Blues doubled their lead in the second half when Lexie Elliott rose highest to head home Pat Mullan's corner. The Bannsiders set up a grandstand finish when Gerry Brammeld pulled a goal back, but it wasn't enough as Ballymena progressed. |
| QUARTER-FINAL - Saturday, 21st February, 1981 - Solitude |
| CLIFTONVILLE 1 |
| (Mills '25) |
| BALLYMENA UNITED 4 |
| (Sloan '27; Malone '75, '81, '83) |
| Team: Matthews, Beattie, Worthington, Fox, McCullough, P. Mullan, Neill, Sloan, McQuiston, Malone, McCusker. Sub (not used): Huston. |
| Match Description: The home side took the lead in this Irish Cup quarter-final when Holden laid off a dipped free-kick for Walter Mills to fire home on 25 minutes. Ballymena equalised only two minutes later when Davy Neill found John Sloan, who cut inside before hammering home. With 15 minutes remaining, United turned up the heat - Nigel Worthington broke down the left and played Paul Malone through and he placed an unstoppable shot into the Reds' goal. The home side went to pieces as Malone poked home a rebound from a George Beattie effort and then completed his eight minute hat-trick after capitalising on a defensive mistake. |
| SEMI-FINAL - Saturday, 21st March, 1981 - Windsor Park |
| BALLYMENA UNITED 2 |
| (Neill '75; Worthington '78) |
| GLENTORAN 2 |
| (Dickey '9; Manley '54) |
| Team: Matthews, Beattie, Worthington, Fox, McCullough, McCall, Neill, Sloan, McQuiston, Malone, McCusker. Sub (not used): Scott. |
| Match Description: Favourites, Glentoran, raced into the lead after only nine minutes when a clever flick from Jim Cleary left Dickey clear through to fire past Matthews. Glentoran doubled their lead in the second half when Fox and Matthews in the United defence allowed Ron Manley through to capitalise on their mistake. The score was reduced on 75 minutes when McCusker cross and Neill bundled the ball home to setup a grandstand finish. Then just three minutes later Nigel Worthington converted the equaliser from the penalty spot after his inital effort had been handled by Kingon - therefore sending the game to a replay. |
| SEMI-FINAL REPLAY - Tuesday, 24th March, 1981 - Windsor Park |
| GLENTORAN 0 |
| - |
| BALLYMENA UNITED 2 |
| (Malone '18, '88) |
| Team: Matthews, Beattie, Worthington, Fox, McCullough, McCall, Neill, Sloan, McQuiston, Malone, McCusker. Sub (not used): Scott. |
| Match Description: Ballymena took little time in taking the game to the league leaders in this semi-final replay. On 18 minutes Sloan headed the ball onto McQuiston who brushed off a challenge to float in a perfect centre for Malone who headed home from close range. Despite Glentoran's best efforts, the Sky Blues doubled their lead two minutes from time when Malone stabbed home the rebound from his own header which had been blocked, and sent the Braidmen into the showpiece final. |
| FINAL - Saturday, 2nd May, 1989 - Windsor Park - Attendance: 6,000 |
| BALLYMENA UNITED 1 |
| (McQuiston '88) |
| GLENAVON 0 |
| - |
| Ballymena United: Matthews, Beattie, Worthington, Fox, R. McCullough, Smyth, Neill, Sloan, McQuiston, Malone, McCusker. Sub (not used): Scott. |
| Glenavon: T. McCullough, | Referee: A. Ritchie (Carrickfergus) |
| Match Description: ... |
|
