Cup holders Crusaders, 2012 FAI Cup winners Derry City, 2011–12 IFA Premiership champions Linfield and 2012 League of Ireland champions Sligo Rovers entered the competition in the quarter-finals, with the remaining eight clubs entering in the first round.
Ireland | Major League Baseball | National Football League | Northern Ireland | Republic of Ireland | National Hockey League | 2012 | 2012 Summer Olympics | 2012 ATP Challenger Tour | UEFA Champions League | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland | Premier League | Australian Football League | rugby league | Major League Soccer | National League | League of Nations | UEFA Europa League | American League | Canadian Football League | Arena Football League | the Football League | American Hockey League | Bulgarian Hockey League | Football League First Division | Football League Second Division | minor league baseball | Champions League | Super League | New Zealand Māori rugby league team |