1996–97 County Antrim Shield

1996–97 County Antrim Shield

Tournament details
Country	Northern Ireland
Teams	16
Defending champions	Glenavon
Final positions
Champions	Cliftonville (6th win)
Runner-up	Ballymena United
Tournament statistics
Matches played	15
Goals scored	36 (2.4 per match)

The 1996–97 County Antrim Shield was the 108th edition of the County Antrim Shield, a cup competition in Northern Irish football.^[1]

Cliftonville won the tournament for the 6th time, defeating Ballymena United 5–4 on penalties after the final finished 0-0. This was the second time the final had been played, after the original match was abandoned after 66 minutes due to crowd disorder.^[2] For the 11th year running three clubs from County Armagh competed (Glenavon, Newry Town and Portadown).^[3]

Results

First round

Team 1	Score	Team 2
Ballyclare Comrades	0–1	Chimney Corner
Ballymena United	2–0	Carrick Rangers
Bangor	0–3	Linfield
Cliftonville	1–0	Ards
Crusaders	8–0	Comber Recreation
Larne	0–1 (a.e.t.)	Distillery
Newry Town	0–5	Glentoran
Portadown	2–0	Glenavon

Quarter-finals

Team 1	Score	Team 2
Ballymena United	2–0	Chimney Corner
Crusaders	0–0 (a.e.t.) (7–6 p)	Distillery
Glentoran	0–0 (a.e.t.) (4–5 p)	Cliftonville
Portadown	3–2	Linfield

Semi-finals

Team 1	Score	Team 2
Ballymena United	2–1	Portadown
Cliftonville	2–1	Crusaders

Final

25 February 1997

Cliftonville	0–0 (a.e.t.)	Ballymena United
		McConnell  100'
Penalties
Stokes Small O'Connor Hill McCann	5–4	Allen Patton Smyth Bustard Murray

Windsor Park, Belfast

Referee: Alan Snoddy (Carryduff)

References

1. "Irish League Archive, County Antrim Shield". Irish League Archive. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
2. "Reds Rob Peter To Pay Paul". Belfast Telegraph. 26 February 1997. p. 26.
3. "County Antrim Shield Results". Irish League Archive. Retrieved 17 April 2023.

External links

• Northern Ireland - List of County Antrim Shield Winners