Irish Cup Final: Can Crues retain the trophy or will Ballymena exact revenge?

Ballymena United and Crusaders go head-to-head for the second season in succession to see who will lift the coveted Samuel Gelston's Whiskey Irish Cup later today.

While the trophy is the main prize, there is also the added carrot of guaranteed European football for the winners of the Windsor Park showdown.

The Crues will be out to retain the trophy they won in such dramatic fashion last season, with Jonny McMurray's late winner seeing Stephen Baxter's North Belfast side win the competition for the fifth time in their history.

For David Jeffrey's Ballymena, they're also looking to win their sixth Irish Cup. Having lost last season and in the 2019-2020 season, this represents their third appearance in four seasons.

However, they did see off newly-crowned Danske Bank Premiership champions Larne 2-0 in the semi-final with a super performance, ironically at Crusaders' Seaview home.

The Crues will go into the tie as favourites following their fifth-placed league finish, with the Braidmen ending up ninth in the table in what was a disappointing campaign.

After seeing off Championship Dergview and Premiers Intermediate League winners Bangor in the earlier rounds, Crusaders saw off top-flight opposition in Glentoran and then saw Declan Caddell's last-gasp winner enable them to beat another Premiership outfit in the Dungannon Swifts to book their spot in the decider.

ROAD TO THE FINAL

Ballymena United

Semi-Final

Larne 0 Ballymena United 2

Quarter-Final

Ballyclare Comrades 1 Ballymena United 3 (AET)

Sixth Round

Ballymena United 4 Newington 1

Fifth Round

Carrick Rangers 1 Ballymena United 1 (AET) - Ballymena won 3-0 on penalties

Crusaders

Semi-Final

Dungannon Swifts 0 Crusaders 1

Quarter-Final

Crusaders 1 Glentoran 0

Sixth Round

Bangor 1 Crusaders

Fifth Round

Crusaders 6 Dergview 0