Irish Cup Final 2022

R O S S R E D M A N

Ballymena United defender Ross Redman hopes to replace the sour taste of regret with champagne in today’s Samuel Gelston’s Whiskey Irish Cup Final with Crusaders.

“I said to some of our younger players to enjoy the build-up and take it all in, but when it comes to the match be ready and give your best.” Due to Glentoran’s appeal over the Joe Crowe eligibility affair, Ballymena had to wait for their semi-final with Newry City, beating the Championship club 1-0 in Lurgan 11 days ago. “It’s been a quick turnaround for the final and we haven’t had too much time to dwell on it, unlike Crusaders who have maybe had more time to prepare,” said Redman. “We can expect a tough game against the Crues because they finished in the top six in the league and they are also a full-time team. “They have put in some outstanding performances and you could argue they have been one of the in form teams in the latter stages of the season. “They’ll be favourites, but if we produce what we’re capable of and maybe get that little bit of luck you need along the way then hopefully it goes our way.” While the Crues are fancied by the bookies, the two clubs boast two wins apiece in four meetings in all competitions this season. “We’ve had some great battles with them and it could be an interesting and entertaining final, but we know we’ll have to be at our best,” said Redman. “It’ll take a big team effort to get the result we want.”

Redman experienced two Irish Cup finals with former club Portadown and on both occasions he digested the unpalatable pain of defeat on local football’s grandest stage. In the 2010 final, when he was aged just 20, the versatile left back was part of a Ports side that lost 2-1 to a Linfield teammanaged by current Sky Blues boss David Jeffrey. “Peter Thompson scored inside two minutes and I remember Philip Lowry making it 2-0 to Linfield with a header,” recalled Redman. “Kevin Braniff scored a good free-kick to get us back into it but, typical Linfield, they frustrated us for long parts and held on to lift the cup.” Five years later Redman was on the end of a controversial 1-0 defeat to Glentoran at the Oval, a game partially overshadowed by a contentious refereeing decision. Glentoran’s winner came a minute after Ports midfielder Michael Gault appeared to be tripped as he raced through on goal only for the officials to wave play on. “The less said about that final, the better,” sighed Redman, who is hoping it’s third time lucky with Ballymena United this afternoon. “You can have a long career, but you don’t always get the opportunity to play in a final or lift the Irish Cup. The older you get the more you appreciate these moments. “It’s a fantastic competition and one of the big two trophies you can win here. It’s also a route into Europe which is important for a club like Ballymena.

Words Darren Fullerton, Daily Mirror

13

www.irishfa.com