[1] Glentoran were the defending champions, following their 3–1 win over Cliftonville after extra time in the 2012–13 final.

However, they were eliminated in the quarter-finals by eventual winners Glenavon who defeated Ballymena United 2–1 in the final to lift the cup for the sixth time.

If a tie in any of these three rounds was still level after 90 minutes of the replay, extra time was used to determine the winner, with a penalty shoot-out to follow if necessary.

Ards Rangers, Albert Foundry, Ballywalter Recreation, Barn United, Dungiven Celtic, Oxford Sunnyside, Shorts and Strabane Athletic all received byes into the second round.

[5] Bangor Rangers, Holywood and Raceview were included in the original draw, but all three clubs withdrew before the first round matches were played.

Albert Foundry were replaced with Shankill United, the team they had defeated 1–0 in the second round, after they were found to have fielded an ineligible player in that game.

[7] Source: irishfa.com The fourth round draw was made on 11 November 2013, with the games played on 7 December 2013.

Championship 1 side Donegal Celtic did not enter, which meant that there had to be eleven lower league clubs in this round to make up the requisite numbers, one more than the usual amount of ten.

Championship 2 club Queen's University were the lowest ranked team left in the competition - the only representatives from the third tier.

[8] For the first time since the 1996–97 competition, neither of the Big Two clubs – Glentoran or Linfield – reached the semi-final stage.