Crues control as Irish Cup returns to north Belfast for first time in 10 years
Stephen Baxter's side beat Mallards to lift trophy at Windsor Park
ALEX Keery reports from Windsor Park.
Crusaders have won the Irish Cup after beating Championship side, Ballinamallard, 3-0 at Windsor Park.
It was the first time the Crues have picked up the trophy in a decade.
The opening goal took just six minutes to come through the most familiar of routes for the Shore Road club.
BJ Burns whipped in a cross and Jordan Owens rose highest to loop a powerful header, with John Connolly's flailing touch not enough to stop it dropping into the net.
Setting the tone for a dominant afternoon, Philip Lowry then flicked a header over the bar from David Cushley's corner, with Jordan Forsythe lashing a 20-yard-free kick inches wide of the bottom corner shortly after.
Just before the half hour, Lowry latched on to a ball forward, but at a stretch he could only steer his effort right into the arms of Connolly.
The midfielder had an even better chance a minute later when Paul Heatley's shot landed at his feet in the six-yard box, but he was swamped by Mallards defenders before he could shoot.
The north Belfast club continued to pile on the pressure, and Deccy Caddell perhaps should have done better when teed up by Burns, only to scoop his effort over the bar on 35.
Whatever Stephen Baxter said to his side at half time did the trick, as it took just two minutes for Crusaders to score a second.
Ballinamallard failed to clear a corner and the ball dropped for Lowry to power a header through the hands of Connolly after a slight touch from Nathan Cashal.
By the 53rd minute, Crusaders killed any remote chance of a Mallards comeback when Ross Clarke smashed high into the net with his first touch after replacing David Cushley.
The winger was in acres of space when he collected Heatley's cutback to fully kick off the Crusaders celebrations.
Final score Crusaders 3 Ballinamallard 0.