1988–89 Gold Cup

1988–89 Gold Cup
Tournament details
Country Northern Ireland
Teams14
Defending championsLinfield
Final positions
ChampionsLinfield (31st win)
Runner-upPortadown
Tournament statistics
Matches played52
Goals scored150 (2.88 per match)

The 1988–89 Gold Cup was the 70th edition of the Gold Cup, a cup competition in Northern Irish football.[1]

The tournament was won by Linfield for the 31st time and 2nd consecutive season, defeating Portadown 1–0 in the final at The Oval.[2][3]

The format was the same as the previous season, with each team playing the other teams in their section once plus one match against a team from the other section. The top two from each section progressed to the semi-finals.[4]

Group standings

Section A

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Result
1 Linfield 7 7 0 0 16 5 +11 21 Advance to semi-final
2 Portadown 7 3 3 1 10 9 +1 12
3 Coleraine 7 3 1 3 12 10 +2 10
4 Ballymena United 7 2 2 3 9 8 +1 8
5 Crusaders 7 2 1 4 5 8 −3 7
6 Larne 7 1 2 4 6 10 −4 5
7 Carrick Rangers 7 1 0 6 6 14 −8 3
Source: Irish League Archive

Section B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Result
1 Glentoran 7 5 2 0 16 4 +12 17 Advance to semi-final
2 Newry Town 7 5 1 1 19 8 +11 16
3 Glenavon 7 3 3 1 12 9 +3 12
4 Bangor 7 3 0 4 8 14 −6 9
5 Distillery 7 2 0 5 7 10 −3 6
6 Cliftonville 7 1 3 3 7 10 −3 6
7 Ards 7 1 1 5 8 15 −7 4
Source: Irish League Archive

Semi-finals

Team 1  Score  Team 2
Linfield 2–0 Newry Town
Portadown 2–2 (a.e.t.)
(3–0 p) 		Glentoran

Final

Linfield1–0Portadown
L. McKeown 50' (pen.) Curliss Red card 89'
Attendance: 8,000
Referee: Leslie Irvine (Limavady)

References

  1. ^ "Irish League Archive, Gold Cup". Irish League Archive. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  2. ^ "TNT but no dynamite in Oval decider". Belfast Telegraph. 2 November 1988. p. 21.
  3. ^ "'Captain Cool' Linfield Hero". Belfast News Letter. 2 November 1988. p. 28.
  4. ^ "Good As Gold For £1,000". Belfast Telegraph. 21 August 1987. p. 22.