Irish Cup Final 2022

CRUSADERS: ROAD TO THE 2022 FINAL

Crusaders came up against three fellow NIFL Danske Bank Premiership sides during what was a tough journey to the final. Ballinamallard United were the only Championship side faced, although they proved to be tricky opponents.

Stephen Baxter’s side navigated their first two rounds - against Glenavon and Ballinamallard - without conceding a goal and putting a total of five past their opponents. The quarter-final proved to be quite a challenge as Dungannon Swifts came back after going 1-0 down to lead 2-1 after half-time. Crusaders found an equaliser quickly afterwards, and the Crues progressed to the penultimate round thanks to a brace from Jordan Owens in the final minutes. Crusaders initially trailed Cliftonville in the semi-final before Ross Clarke pounced to level the scores. The game was won before the break when captain Billy Joe Burns nudged the ball home from close range.

behind the ball when it was played, keeping him onside. The Crues then had another let-off with another disallowed Glenavon goal. This time Andy Waterworth was offside when he tapped in a rebound. Crusaders kept pushing, however, and Paul Heatley grabbed their second goal of the game by controlling a long ball from defence and skipping past the Glenavon keeper before sliding the ball into the net. Ben Kennedy produced a neat curler to make it three before Heatley grabbed his second of the tie to seal the victory. ROUND TWO In a repeat of the 2019 Irish Cup Final, Crusaders went on the road again to face Championship side Ballinamallard United. And they secured their spot in the quarter-finals with the only goal of the game. Inclement weather at Ferney Park meant both sides found it difficult to move the ball around. Ballinamallard put the ball in the Crusaders net 20 minutes in, but the effort was disallowed as the referee said the Crues keeper had been fouled in the build-up. The home side then hit the bar from a corner, however there was very little other goalmouth action in the first half. Philip Lowry scored the only goal of the game with a close range finish on 52 minutes. Kennedy delivered a corner which was nodded down by Daniel Larmour. A simple tap-in from a yard out by Lowry was enough to put Crusaders in the lead. Ballinamallard were by no means out of the tie as chances kept coming and they hit the crossbar for a second time. Down the other end Forsythe almost took advantage of an error from the Mallards keeper. Despite further attempts from Ballinamallard, Crusaders had done enough and saw off late threats from the home side to proceed to the quarter-finals.

ROUND ONE Crusaders cruised past Glenavon, registering a comfortable 4-0 win at Mourneview Park. The Crues were one up after just four minutes. Jordan Forsythe produced a strong solo run before netting with a powerful shot from 20 yards. They continued to create the better chances in the first half with Clarke hitting the woodwork. Two minutes into the second half the assistant referee judged Matthew Snoddy’s potential equaliser as being offside, although the player was

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