IRISH CUP FINAL: Crues and Sky Blues set for a Saturday showdown
The 2022 Samuel Gelston's Whiskey Irish Cup Final is almost here.
Crusaders and Ballymena United will face each other in the National Stadium at Windsor Park this Saturday, May 7th at 2.30pm.
For the Crues, they've had the tougher run to the final than that of Ballymena - of that there can be little doubt.
Three fellow Premiership sides have been dispatched, including League Cup winners and North Belfast rivals Cliftonville with a deserved victory at Windsor Park at the beginning of April.
After hitting Glenavon for four in Lurgan, Stephen Baxter's men edged past Championship outfit Ballinamallard United in Fermanagh. Another four goals arrived in the quarters as Dungannon were seen off at Seaview, before Cliftonville's hope of a treble at the time were dashed in the last four.
HOW THEY GOT THERE
Round 1 - Saturday January 8th: Glenavon 0 Crusaders 4
Scorers: Jordan Forsythe (4), Paul Heatley (58, 79), Ben Kennedy 67)
Round 2 - Saturday February 5th: Ballinamallard United 0 Crusaders 1
Scorer: Philip Lowry (52)
Quarter-Final - Saturday March 5th: Crusaders 4 Dungannon Swifts 2
Scorers:Josh Robinson (31), Ben Kennedy (57), Jordan Owens (84, 87)
Semi-Final - Friday April 1st: Cliftonville 1 Crusaders 2
Scorers: Ross Clarke (35), Billy Joe Burns (45+1)
From Ballymena's perspective, they had to wait over four weeks to find out who they would be facing in the semi-final following Glentoran's appeal against their expulsion from the competition.
Eventually, Steven McCullough's superb free-kick saw them edge past Championship winners Newry City AFC in a scrappy affair at Mourneview Park.
Prior to that, they had already knocked out another Championship side in Loughgall, before seeing off Portstewart to set up a last eight meeting at home to Larne.
Despite going 2-0 down, David Jeffrey's men showed plenty of resolve to take the tie to extra-time before winning on penalties.
HOW THEY GOT THERE
Round 1 - Saturday January 8th: Ballymena United 2 Loughgall 0
Scorers: Christopher Rodgers (26), Andrew McGrory (54)
Round 2 - Tuesday February 15th: Ballymena United 3 Portstewart 0
Scorers: Ryan Waide (17), Paul McElroy (46), Mikey Place (55)
Quarter-Final - Saturday March 5th: Ballymena United 3 Larne 3 (Ballymena won 4-3 on penalties
Scorers: Paul McElroy (Pen 25), David Parkhouse (45), Mikey Place (79)
Semi-Final - Tuesday April 26th: Newry City AFC 0 Ballymena United 1
Scorer: Steven McCullough (53)