[1] Ballymena United were the defending champions, defeating Carrick Rangers 2–0 in the 2017 final to win the competition for the first time.
[2] This season they reached the final once again, but were defeated 3–1 by Dungannon Swifts, who won the competition to record the first ever senior trophy win in their 69-year history.
[3] The competition was played in a straight knockout format and was open to the 36 members of the Northern Ireland Football League.
[4] The top 16 league clubs from the previous season were seeded in this round in order to avoid drawing each other.
Warrenpoint Town Banbridge Town Dergview Donegal Celtic Dundela Harland & Wolff Welders Knockbreda Larne Limavady United Lisburn Distillery Loughgall Lurgan Celtic Moyola Park Newington YC Newry City Queens University Tobermore United