Tuesday night sees the return of domestic cup action with all 16 ties in the first round of the BetMclean League Cup taking place across the province.
In what is sure to be an action-packed evening of action, there are a number of matchups between Premier League sides and opposition from the lower divisions that catch the eye.
First up, reigning trophy holders and Premiership leaders, Linfield make the short trip to east Belfast to play Dundela, who themselves are having an impressive start in the Championship, currently occupying fourth position.
The Blues are seeking a third League Cup success in a row after defeating Coleraine in 2023, and earlier this year dispatching Portadown in the showpiece. Saturday’s 3-0 win away to Coleraine will have filled manager David Healy full of confidence heading into Tuesday’s game, but he is taking nothing for granted against the second division outfit.
“We have a big week starting with Dundela on Tuesday night,” he said.
“We won this competition a couple of years ago and during that scraped past Dundela 1-0 en-route to the final, so I have no doubt we are in for a challenge.
“I know they have started their own league campaign ok, they have got an experienced panel with the likes of Michael McClelland, a player that we know well.
“It’s not the most glamourous of settings, so we need to go down there fired up, big strong Linfield, and do our best to come through the round.”
Premiership title-holders Larne will also be hoping to avoid a potential banana skin when they also make the trip into east Belfast against current Championship leaders H&W Welders.
The Inver Reds enjoyed a 3-1 victory over Cliftonville on Friday night but may have one eye on their Europa Conference League opener against Molde this Thursday, so an experimental side may take the field on Tuesday giving hope to the Welders for an upset.
Larne will be buoyed by the news that manager Tiernan Lynch is also to remain in his position, having turned down the advances of Scottish side St.Johnstone.
Last season’s runners-up Portadown have been drawn at home to Ards – a former club of current manager Niall Currie.
Meanwhile, nothing but a win will do for Declan Devine’s Glentoran when they host Intermediate side Dergview at the Oval.
The Glens were turgid in a scoreless draw with Glenavon on Saturday and there will be a few players hoping to stake a claim for a starting berth in Friday nights big Belfast derby against Linfield.
“Look there are players sitting on the bench against Glenavon that should be thinking that they could do a job on Tuesday,” Devine said.
“Some players that have started the last couple of games for us have not really grasped the nettle, and we may look at mixing things up heading into Dergview.”
Elsewhere, high-flying Ballymena United make the trip to Rathfriland full of confidence having won their previous six games, whilst Cliftonville make the journey to the north-west to play Limavady United, a side that includes ex-Coleraine midfielder Stephen Lowry.
Stuart Kings Carrick Rangers would do anything for a morale-boosting win after some horrible form of late and will get the chance when they host Queens University at Taylors Avenue.
BetMcLean Cup First Round Draw, all games taking place will be played to a finish on the evening.
1. Loughgall v Armagh City
2. Dundela v Linfield
3. Ballinamallard United v Coleraine
4. H&W Welders v Larne
5. Limavady United v Cliftonville
6. Dungannon Swifts v Portstewart
7. Bangor v Warrenpoint Town
8. Ballymacash Rangers v Institute
9. Carrick Rangers v Queens University
10. Ballyclare Comrades v Crusaders
11. Glentoran v Dergview
12. Newington v Glenavon
13. Portadown v Ards
14. Moyola Park v Annagh United
15. Dollingstown v Newry City
16. Rathfriland Rangers v Ballymena United
