2019 Scottish Challenge Cup final

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 2016–17.[3]

2019 Scottish Challenge Cup final
Event2018–19 Scottish Challenge Cup
Date23 March 2019
VenueCaledonian Stadium, Inverness[1]
RefereeAlan Muir[2]
2018
2020

Route to the final

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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 2016–17[6] and the Republic of Ireland in 2017–18.

Ross County

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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

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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   Coleraine (h) 2–0
Quarter-final Queen's Park (a) 2–1
Semi-final Edinburgh City (h) 1–1 (a.e.t.)
5–4 (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

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Connah's Quay Nomads  1–3Ross County
  • Bakare   22'
Report
Attendance: 3,057
Referee: Alan Muir
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Connah's Quay Nomads
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ross County
GK 1   John Danby
RB 15   Danny Holmes  
CB 18   Priestly Farquharson (c)   80'
CB 5   George Horan
LB 14   Adam Barton
CM 8   Callum Morris     81'
CM 6   Danny Harrison   81'
LM 17   Michael Parker
RM 22   Michael Bakare
FW 9   Michael Wilde
FW 10   Andy Owens
Substitutes:
GK 20   Lewis Brass
DF 2   John Disney
MF 7   Ryan Wignall   80'
MF 12   Declan Poole   66'
MF 16   James Owen
MF 19   Jake Phillips   88'
MF 21   Robert Hughes
Manager:
  Andy Morrison
GK 21   Ross Munro
RB 2   Marcus Fraser (c)
CB 15   Keith Watson
CB 12   Andy Boyle
LB 28   Kenny van der Weg
RM 10   Declan McManus   66'
CM 8   Jamie Lindsay
CM 26   Don Cowie   90+2'
LM 7   Michael Gardyne   88'
FW 27   Ross Stewart
FW 19   Brian Graham
Substitutes:
GK 1   Scott Fox
DF 3   Sean Kelly
MF 14   Josh Mullin   66'
MF 16   Lewis Spence   90+2'
MF 24   Harry Paton
MF 31   Daniel Armstrong   88'
DF 44   Tom Grivosti
Manager:
  Stuart Kettlewell and   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

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  1. ^ a b "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. ^ a b c "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.