The Irish Cup final 90 years in the making

Cliftonville against Linfield is a fixture as familiar as they come, but the Irish Cup final between the sides has been 90 years in the making.

That is when the Belfast sides last met in the famous decider, way back in 1934 when Linfield ran out 5-0 winners at the Oval.

Windsor Park is the sold-out venue for the decider on Saturday - and it's going to be some spectacle as red meets blue.

Cliftonville are looking to end their long wait to lift the Irish Cup, which stretches back to 1979.

Linfield, on the other hand, last tasted success in the famous decider back in 2021 and the sides have been the two best in the league behind Irish Premiership champions Larne.

Despite a 1-1 draw in the final game of the season, one Reds boss Jim Magilton compared to a "testimonial" given all eyes were on Saturday, Linfield have had the edge this season in the head-to-head.

David Healy's men won 2-1 in August and 1-0 in October before a 3-0 win at Solitude in February. However, that goes out the window on Saturday once the teams cross the white line.

Cliftonville's Irish Cup agony is a well-told story by now. It's a tale that contains heartbreak after heartbreak for the Solitude side.

Even in the glory days of the late, great Tommy Breslin, the Reds could not get over the line in the biggest cup competition in Northern Ireland.

Since 1979, when they defeated Portadown 3-2 in the final, Cliftonville have fallen short in the 1997, 2009, 2013 and 2018 deciders, while an ineligible player prevented them from facing Portadown in the 1999 showpiece.

That's a lot of pain and will no doubt add fuel to the fire as the current generation of Reds stars look to end their long wait.

"There is a lot of history around the club for the Irish Cup but it is one that should inspire them," said Magilton, who has guided the Reds to the final in his first season as manager.

“You don’t forget about it [the history], you recognise the achievements of the past and what a fantastic achievement that was, but this group of players have an opportunity to write their own history and that is what we’ll aim to do."

It's been a difficult run to the final for Cliftonville, who needed extra-time to defeat Coleraine in the fifth round before Loughgall, impressive on their top-flight return, were swatted aside at Solitude.

Portadown, who would go on to win the Championship, put in a strong performance in the quarter-final but the Reds carved out a 2-0 win.

Magilton's side saved their most impressive showing for the semi-finals when they dominated Irish Premiership champions Larne.

“Our passage through the final has been a real difficult one playing three Premiership clubs and a Championship club," Magilton added.

"The semi-final was a huge tie and to beat Larne in the manner we did was really special, but getting to a semi-final it is about winning and getting to the final and when you’re in the final you want to win it.”

If you believe in fate - who did Cliftonville face when they last won the Irish Cup in 1979? Linfield, Coleraine, Larne and Portadown. A spooky coincidence, or destiny?

While Cliftonville have had Irish Cup pain, the same can't be said for David Healy and Linfield.

The Blues have triumphed on an unmatched 44 occasions, with Healy masterminding two of those in 2017 and 2021.

After the disappointment of missing out on the Irish Premiership title, the Blues' focus has turned to the Windsor Park decider.

And given their 2021 success was in front of a Covid-restricted crowd, they will be wanting to make sure the entire Blues' support can enjoy their day in the sun.

Linfield already won the League Cup in March and will be looking to do the double, which wouldn't be a bad consolation for missing out on the Gibson Cup.

“We’ve experienced players in the dressing room and players who have been in this situation before, so you don’t want to build it up too much and it gets to the end of the week and everyone is freaking out," Healy said.

"There will be suits and the pre-match and whatever else, but the thing for me is we’ve been to numerous cup finals so we will prepare like any other game and the experienced players will make sure the younger players are cool and calm.

“Cliftonville haven’t won since 1979, they have been disappointed with two or three finals somewhere along the line they’ll win one but we need to make sure it’s not 2024. “

As they did the year before, Linfield faced Warrenpoint Town in their opening Irish Cup match but, unlike 2022, the Premier Intermediate side produced a scare at Windsor Park before Healy's side eventually prevailed.

A comfortable win over Ballymena United followed, before Championship side Institute were brushed aside at the Brandywell.

That set up a derby match with Glentoran in the last four, but Healy's side came out on top against their rivals to book a place in the decider.

"It's another trophy to win, and it would end the season on a high," said captain Jamie Mulgrew.

"I think it would gently soften the blow of what happened in the league. To finish the season off with two of the cups would be satisfactory."

It's a fierce rivalry we've seen plenty of times before, but, on the biggest stage in local football, this one has been almost a century in the making.

Two teams with lots to gain - if the game lives up to its billing, it should be an occasion to remember.