Irish Cup - Semi-Final | Ballymena V Coleraine

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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Welcome to the 2019-20 season’s Sadler’s Peaky Blinder Irish Cup semi-final between Ballymena United and Coleraine.

Congratulations to both teams on reaching this stage of the competition. We are living in unprecedented times, with restrictions on our movements still very much in place due to the Covid-19 pandemic, so I am delighted that we are able to stage this match today. May I also take this opportunity to thank Sadler’s Peaky Blinder, the title sponsors of the Challenge Cup, for their support and BBC Northern Ireland for showing the match live on television. This afternoon’s tie involving Ballymena and Coleraine looks set to be an intriguing game. We have Coleraine, who were challenging hard for the Danske Bank Premiership title prior to lockdown, up against derby rivals Ballymena United, who have been decimated by injuries this term but are now almost back to full strength.

Coleraine, who won the trophy in 2018 and already have this season’s League Cup in their trophy cabinet, will no doubt be aiming to get their hands on the Irish Cup once again, while Ballymena have a squad capable of giving any opposition a tough game. I wish both teams good luck in the semi- final. I thank the management, boards and staff of both clubs for their co-operation in the organisation of the game as well as our own staff at the Irish Football Association. May the better team from today’s game get to the Sadler’s Peaky Blinder Irish Cup Final on

Friday (31 July). Enjoy the game. David J Martin President Irish Football Association

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