The First Round fixtures for the Setanta Sports Cup have been confirmed by the competition’s organising committee. 

Dundalk’s visit to Linfield on Monday, February 14, for their first leg clash will promise a Valentine’s night to remember for Irish football. Sporting Fingal will meet Lisburn Distillery in the other tie that evening.

 Reigning Champions Bohemians will face Portadown in their opening fixture at Dalymount Park a week later while St Patrick’s Athletic will travel to Cliftonville.

 “I’m looking forward to the competition starting again,” said Milo Corcoran, Setanta Sports Cup chairman.

  “With the changes to the format and the extension of the tournament to six clubs from each jurisdiction, it promises to produce some very exciting games.

 “There’ll be a lot of interest in the visit of Dundalk to Linfield on opening night. It’s a tie that should whet the appetite of all football fans from north and south of the island.”

 Monday, February 14 – First Leg

Linfield v Dundalk; Sporting Fingal v Lisburn Distillery

 Monday, February 21 – First Leg

Bohemians v Portadown; Cliftonville v St. Patrick’s Athletic

 Monday, February 28 – Second Leg

Dundalk v Linfield; Lisburn Distillery v Sporting Fingal

 Tuesday, March 1 – Second Leg

Portadown v Bohemians; St. Patrick’s Athletic v Cliftonville

 All matches kick-off at 7.45 pm. Kick-off time may change in the event of a fixture being televised live.