Ballymena United v Crusaders

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

As chair of the Irish Football Association Challenge Cup Committee, may I welcome the players, officials and supporters of Ballymena United and Crusaders to the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park.

Ballymena United last added their name to the Irish Cup in 1989 when they defeated Distillery in the final. Six Irish Cup finals have taken place on 7 May down the years: 1938 (replay) Belfast Celtic 2-0 Bangor; 1983 (replay) Glentoran 2-1 Linfield, 1994 Linfield 2-0 Bangor; 2005 Portadown 5-1 Larne; 2011 Linfield 2-1 Crusaders and 2016 Glenavon 2-0 Linfield. Both managers have huge experience in Irish Cup finals but neither has a medal as a player despite playing in several finals. As a manager David Jeffrey has led teams to Irish Cup triumphs on seven occasions with Stephen Baxter leading the Crues to Irish Cup victories on three occasions. Pride is at stake for the two friends today but there is so much more to play for with the prize being European competition. I should like to thank the Irish Challenge Cup Committee and the Irish FA staff, led by Andrew Johnston, for their endeavours which bring us to this special occasion today. My thanks also goes to our sponsors - Samuel Gelston’s Irish Whiskey - for their sponsorship. Irish whiskey has enjoyed something of a renaissance in recent years and it is fitting that the historically significant Samuel Gelston name has been resurrected. I wish both teams well today. I hope that the best team wins - and that we are treated to a spectacle as good as last year’s final. Conrad Kirkwood President Irish Football Association

Today’s meeting is a repeat of last year’s final and pits two of Northern Ireland football’s most experienced managers - both former teammates with great mutual respect - against each other. The Irish Cup Final means so much to the supporters of both teams but it is also of interest to the neutrals. Last year those neutrals were treated to a great spectacle which displayed the drama that makes us love the beautiful game. Extra time broke Sky Blues hearts and they will be keen to reverse the outcome this time around. It has been a long road since the clash of the Celtics - Donegal and Belfast - in round one on 13 August last year (Donegal Celtic won 3-2). St Mary’s YC, Tandragee Rovers and Crumlin United joined the big guns in the fifth round but none progressed to round six. The magic of the cup excites everyone and when I attended the Knockbreda v St Mary’s YC tie in the fifth round it was the enthusiasm of the travelling support which added most to the occasion. The St Mary’s fans embraced the opportunity to cheer their team on and they were a credit to the Mid-Ulster Football League. Along the way I watched Crusaders at Bangor and Wilgar Park and I took in Ballymena United’s strong semi-final performance which saw them overcome Larne 2-0 at Seaview. It was a late, late show for Crusaders in the other semi-final. Declan Caddell scored a delightful lob three minutes into injury time against Dungannon Swifts. His goal made for a marvellous story given that he had retired after appearing in the final in 2022 and was coaxed into playing again.

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