Cliftonville vs Linfield 04/05/24

PRESIDENT'S WELCOME

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

First contested in 1881, the Irish Cup is the fourth oldest national cup competition in the world. A special thank you goes to our sponsors – Clearer Water – for their support of this historic competition. Their product is described as “The Water That Helps People”. I am delighted that the company employs a diverse mixed ability workforce and seeks to close the gap on disability inclusion in the workplace. Our partnership with this premium and ethical brand complements our own sustainability strategy and corporate social responsibility work. This will be the biggest attendance at the Irish Cup Final this century and I am confident it will be a tremendous occasion. It is a classic Reds v Blues contest which has caught the imagination of everyone. Tickets sold out in record time. Linfield take the honour of having the most victories in the final (44) and the most appearances (64). Cliftonville have appeared in 23 final games (including replays), winning the cup on eight occasions. They were runners up in the first ever staging of the showpiece game on 9 April 1881, losing out by a slender 1-0 margin to Moyola Park. The Reds also endured the longest gap between wins in a final - 70 years from 1909 to 1979. Indeed 1979 is the last time that Cliftonville won the Irish Cup. The two sides have only met in the final twice before. Linfield won 5-1 in 1893 and 5-0 in 1934. These will be statistics and scorelines which Jim Magilton will be keen to change in favour of his side, while David Healy will be determined to add to Linfield’s honours.

It has been a long road since Limavady United made the long journey to Co Down to beat Portavogie Rangers in round one last August. Later rounds saw new names play the ‘big guns’. NIFL Premier Intermediate side Ballymacash Rangers reached the sixth round for the first time in their history after defeating Oxford Sunnyside in round five, while Willowbank from Amateur League 1B made their fifth round bow. Although Glentoran swept Ballymacash aside, the televising of the game at The Bluebell Stadium in Lisburn was a historic moment which the club is unlikely to forget. And Willowbank will have enjoyed their trip to Stangmore Park to face Dungannon Swifts despite suffering a defeat. I would like to thank the Irish Challenge Cup Committee and Irish FA staff, led by Andrew Johnston, for their hard work through all the rounds of the competition which bring us to this special occasion today. I wish both sets of players, coaching staff and supporters well. It has been a long season for you, but I am sure you will agree that this should be a fitting climax. Conrad Kirkwood President Irish Football Association

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