Irish FA announces new cup format

Glenn Ferguson hit two goals for Linfield in last season's final

This season's revamped Co-Operative Insurance Cup will be played on a knockout basis as opposed to the group format used in recent years.

The midweek competition will start with three rounds involving IFA Championship clubs before the 12 Premiership teams enter the fray on 28/29 October.

All ties, bar the opening round, the semi-finals and the Saturday 28 February final, will be over two legs.

Linfield defeated Crusaders 3-2 in last year's final.

In recent years, the CIS Cup group stages has kicked off the Irish League season but the domestic campaign will start this term with games in the new Premiership league on Saturday 9 August.

After the opening qualifying round involving two Championship teams on Tuesday 26 August, 16 Championship clubs will be involved in round one games on Saturday 30 August and Wednesday 3 September.

The eight winning teams from round one will then be involved in two-legged second-round ties on Saturday 20 September and Wednesday 24 September.

The four winners from round two will then join the 12 Premiership clubs in round three on 28/29 October and 11/12 November.

606: DEBATE Give your thoughts on the competition revamp

Quarter-final ties will take place on 2/3 December and 16/17 December with the one-off semi-final matches scheduled for Tuesday 20 January and Wednesday 21 January.

The final will take place on Saturday 28 February.

Linfield first team coach Alfie Wylie and Coleraine goalkeeper David O'Hare both enthusiastically backed the competition revamp.

Wylie said that he was "excited" by the new knockout format while O'Hare added that the group stages had "gone a little stale".

"Maybe towards the end of the group matches, they often didn't really matter and weren't very entertaining for the public," said O'Hare.

Alfie Wylie that there had been no change to Conor Downey's situation at the club with the player still seeking a transfer but Linfield keen to retain his services.

"It's up to Conor whether he wants to stay at the club. We're hoping that he will stay."

Downey joined Linfield from Cliftonville in January 2007 but a long-term knee injury has limited his appearances for the league champions.