Irish Cup Final 2022

B I L L Y J O E B U R N S C A P T A I N

Crusaders captain Billy Joe Burns has described Declan Caddell as the “perfect team-mate” ahead of the midfielder’s retirement after today’s final.

Burns has a 100 per cent record in Irish Cup finals, winning all four of his previous appearances in the showpiece. His last winner’s medal came in 2019 against Ballinamallard United and he insists he will never take the occasion for granted. “This will be my fifth Irish Cup final, and I’ve been lucky enough to win all four of my previous ones,” said Burns. “I don’t know if that’s a good or a bad omen but I’m yet to lose one and hopefully that continues. “I’ve been fortunate to win league titles but the Irish Cup is different. It’s one big day and it’s a special day for everyone involved - if you win it. Lifting trophies is always the same but the Irish Cup is a bit different as a spectacle.” Earlier in his career, at Linfield, Burns won lots of league and cup doubles and thought he was going to end up with lots of Irish Cupmedals. But he pointed out: “Obviously it never works out like that, and that’s why you always have to enjoy these moments. “There’ll be more people here because it’s a big final, but it is important to go out and try to win the game, just as you would any other game. “Anything can happen in cup finals. I’m sure Ballymena are buzzing to play us because they’ve already beaten us twice this season and they’ll think they’ve a good chance to win as well.” The Crues would qualify for Europe automatically with a victory over Ballymena United today and Burns is determined to finish the job. He said: “We’re so lucky in our league that we get the chance to play in Europe. There are people playing at a high level in England who never get the chance to kick a ball in Europe. “We are very privileged and it’s something I’ve never taken for granted. Playing against different styles of teams/players throughout Europe is something you’ll tell your grandchildren about, such as when we playedWolves a few years ago.”

One-clubman Caddell will bring the curtain down on an illustrious playing career at Seaview before focusing his attention on his role as Head of the Academy at the club. Ex-Linfield ace Burns went head-to-head with Caddell many times before moving across the city to north Belfast in 2014 - and he was relieved to have himon his side. “There are a few players who were at the Crues when I moved there that optimised everything that’s great about the club, like Declan, Jordan Owens, Colin Coates, Sean O’Neill and Chris Morrow and they played a major part in building Crusaders into the club we are now,” said Burns. “I can only speak about him as a team-mate and you genuinely could not ask for a better team-mate. “He’s not one of those people who goes about thinking he’s great and doesn’t want to work hard. He’d run through a brick wall for you and as a team mate all you want is someone to have your back.” He pointed out Caddell’s energy, tackling and heading is “incredible”. And he added: “He’s always been underrated as a footballer if you look at the goals he’s scored in his career. “I can’t speak highly enough of him. I obviously played against him a few times when I was at Linfield and I never looked forward to it because I knew he’d kick you and run through you and those types of players deserve every bit as much credit as the players like Ben Kennedy who have skill to burn.”

Words Mark McIntosh, The Sun

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