2019 Scottish Challenge Cup final
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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. 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.
Route to the final
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. Two teams from the English National League (fifth tier) were added to the competition in 2018–19, following the addition of teams from Wales and Northern Ireland in 2016–17 and the Republic of Ireland in 2017–18.
Ross County
| 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
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 | Northern Ireland 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) |
The choice of Inverness as the venue for the final 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; previous finals had typically been held further south in Scotland's Central Belt.
Match details
| Connah's Quay Nomads Wales | 1–3 | Ross County |
|---|---|---|
| Bakare 22' | Mullin 75', 78' Lindsay 86' |
| Connah's Quay Nomads | Ross County |