| # | Group 1 | MP | W | D | L | G | GD | Pts | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Sligo Rovers | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 11:4 | 7 | 10 | |
| 2. | Cork City | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3:8 | -5 | 4 | |
| 3. | Cliftonville | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5:7 | -2 | 3 | |
| # | Group 2 | MP | W | D | L | G | GD | Pts | Form |
| 1. | Bohemians | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6:3 | 3 | 8 | |
| 2. | Glentoran | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5:5 | 0 | 5 | |
| 3. | Coleraine | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3:6 | -3 | 2 | |
| # | Group 3 | MP | W | D | L | G | GD | Pts | Form |
| 1. | Linfield | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6:2 | 4 | 8 | |
| 2. | St. Patricks | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5:3 | 2 | 5 | |
| 3. | Derry City | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2:8 | -6 | 2 | |
| # | Ranking of second-placed teams | MP | W | D | L | G | GD | Pts | Form |
| 1. | St. Patricks | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5:3 | 5 | ||
| 2. | Glentoran | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5:5 | 5 | ||
| 3. | Cork City | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3:8 | 4 |