2019 Scottish Challenge Cup final

Last updated
2019 Scottish Challenge Cup final
Event 2018–19 Scottish Challenge Cup
Date23 March 2019
Venue Caledonian Stadium, Inverness [1]
Referee Alan Muir [2]
2018
2020

The 2019 Scottish Challenge Cup final, also known as the IRN-BRU Cup final for sponsorship reasons, was a football match that took place on 23 March 2019, between Ross County and Connah's Quay Nomads. [3] It was the 28th final of the Scottish Challenge Cup since it was first organised in 1990 to celebrate the centenary of the now defunct Scottish Football League, and the sixth since the SPFL was formed. Connah's Quay became the first club from outside Scotland to reach the final since the competition was first expanded to include guest teams from other countries in 201617. [3]

Contents

Route to the final

The competition is a knock-out tournament and was contested by 58 teams from Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in 2018–19. [4] Two teams from the English National League (fifth tier) were added to the competition in 2018–19, [5] following the addition of teams from Wales and Northern Ireland in 201617 [6] and the Republic of Ireland in 201718.

Ross County

Round Opposition Score
First round Heart of Midlothian U21s (a) 2–1
Second round Raith Rovers (h) 5–0
Third round Montrose (h) 3–1
Quarter-final Motherwell U21s (a) 2–1
Semi-final East Fife (h) 2–1

Connah's Quay Nomads

As one of the guest teams from Wales, Connah's Quay Nomads received a bye to the second round.

Round Opposition Score
Second round Falkirk (a) 1–0
Third round Ulster Banner.svg Coleraine (h) 2–0
Quarter-final Queen's Park (a) 2–1
Semi-final Edinburgh City (h) 1–1 ( a.e.t. )
54 ( p ) [3]

The choice of Inverness as the venue for the final [1] caused some controversy, with the Highland city being only 15 miles (24 km) from Ross County's home in Dingwall but a distance of 400 miles (640 km) for Connah's Quay Nomads; [7] previous finals had typically been held further south in Scotland's Central Belt.

Match details

Connah's Quay Nomads Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg 1–3 Ross County
  • Bakare Soccerball shade.svg22'
Report
Caledonian Stadium , Inverness
Attendance: 3,057
Referee: Alan Muir
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Connah's Quay Nomads
Kit left arm rosscounty1819h.png
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Ross County
GK1 Flag of England.svg John Danby
RB15 Flag of England.svg Danny Holmes Yellow card.svg
CB18 Flag of England.svg Priestly Farquharson (c) Sub off.svg 80'
CB5 Flag of England.svg George Horan
LB14 Flag of Ireland.svg Adam Barton
CM8 Flag of England.svg Callum Morris Yellow card.svgSub off.svg 81'
CM6 Flag of England.svg Danny Harrison Sub off.svg 81'
LM17 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Michael Parker
RM22 Flag of England.svg Michael Bakare
FW9 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Michael Wilde
FW10 Flag of England.svg Andy Owens
Substitutes:
GK20 Flag of England.svg Lewis Brass
DF2 Flag of England.svg John Disney
MF7 Flag of England.svg Ryan Wignall Sub on.svg 80'
MF12 Flag of England.svg Declan Poole Sub on.svg 66'
MF16 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg James Owen
MF19 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Jake Phillips Sub on.svg 88'
MF21 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Robert Hughes
Manager:
Flag of Scotland.svg Andy Morrison
GK21 Flag of Scotland.svg Ross Munro
RB2 Flag of Scotland.svg Marcus Fraser (c)
CB15 Flag of Scotland.svg Keith Watson
CB12 Flag of Ireland.svg Andy Boyle
LB28 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Kenny van der Weg
RM10 Flag of Scotland.svg Declan McManus Sub off.svg 66'
CM8 Flag of Scotland.svg Jamie Lindsay
CM26 Flag of Scotland.svg Don Cowie Sub off.svg 90+2'
LM7 Flag of Scotland.svg Michael Gardyne Sub off.svg 88'
FW27 Flag of Scotland.svg Ross Stewart
FW19 Flag of Scotland.svg Brian Graham
Substitutes:
GK1 Flag of Scotland.svg Scott Fox
DF3 Flag of Scotland.svg Sean Kelly
MF14 Flag of Scotland.svg Josh Mullin Sub on.svg 66'
MF16 Flag of Scotland.svg Lewis Spence Sub on.svg 90+2'
MF24 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Harry Paton
MF31 Flag of Scotland.svg Daniel Armstrong Sub on.svg 88'
DF44 Flag of England.svg Tom Grivosti
Manager:
Flag of Scotland.svg Stuart Kettlewell and Flag of Scotland.svg Steve Ferguson

Match rules

  • 90 minutes.
  • 30 minutes of extra-time if necessary.
  • Penalty shoot-out if scores still level.
  • Seven named substitutes.
  • Maximum of three substitutions.

References

  1. 1 2 "Scottish Challenge Cup: Inverness to host final between Ross County and Connah's Quay". BBC Sport. 22 February 2019. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  2. "Alan Muir appointed IRN-BRU Cup final referee". Scottish Football Association. 13 March 2019. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 "Connah's Quay Nomads 1–1 Edinburgh City". BBC Sport. 16 February 2019. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  4. "IRN-BRU Cup expanded for 2017/18". www.spfl.co.uk. Scottish Professional Football League. 7 June 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  5. "Sutton United & Boreham Wood to enter Irn Bru Scottish Challenge Cup". BBC Sport. 8 June 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  6. "Northern Irish and Welsh sides to join top flight U20s in Challenge Cup". www.stv.tv/sport. STV. 8 June 2016. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  7. "Connah's Quay Nomads will play Scottish Challenge Cup final with Ross County in Inverness". The Leader . 24 February 2018. Retrieved 25 February 2019.