Games don’t come any bigger like this as Crusaders and their North Belfast rivals Cliftonville go “head to head” in the Clearer Water Irish Cup Quarter Final at Seaview on Saturday (3pm) for the right to go into the hat for the Semi Final and one game from the prestigious final in May. Crusaders are no strangers to winning the Irish Cup having won it three times in the last six years while Cliftonville are the current holders having beaten Linfield in the final last year. It all adds up to what will be another North Belfast classic and one not to be missed.
The hard work has been done in the training sessions and Declan Caddell will instil into his players what is expected and required to win this game. Passion and pride will be two things that will not be needed to be spoken about as the players who will be picked will give everything and more given the opposition and the games importance. A super win last week in the Premiership away to Glenavon will set the team up and we could see a few changes in the starting XI as players are coming back in. Johnny Tuffey ahs been in great form the last few weeks with some important stops while the settled back four have formed a good shield in front of him. Ross Clarke could return to the wing for this one and Jordan Stewarts performance last week could mean a start for him. Harry Jewitt-White just gets better and better while Philip Lowry continues to run midfield with terrific results. A strong bench to call on will also be important to Declan Caddell should he need to mix it up for whatever reason. As the team leave the dressing room at 2.55pm they will leave with the positives ringing their ears and it will be up to them to get the most important result of all.
Cliftonville are the current holders and Jim Magiltons side will be be wanting to get their hands on the trophy again after a wait of forty five years but they know Crusaders have other ideas. They to had a big win last week in the Premiership when they defeated Glentoran 2-0 at Solitude and they head into this one ready to go again. Captain and ex Crusaders player Rory Hale has been a major threat all season and Crusaders cannot go without keeping a check on their record goal scorer Joe Gormley who will certainly look to add to his tally if given a chance. Johnny Addis is a big figure in Cliftonville defence and will be the man to beat to have a chance on goal. Jim Magilton will use the defence of the trophy as the desire to win and it will be up to Crusaders to change that by the final whistle.
So all set for a cracking game and we need you to be there with us at Seaview getting behind Declan and the team. Your response already has been out of this world and the Main Stand and Rite Price Stands are sold out leaving only the Fonacab Stand and North Terracing tickets available and they are selling fast. Priced at £13 & £9 you can buy at www.crusadersfc.com anytime or from Harry D’s up to 1pm on Saturday. Any tickets left will be available from the ticket office in the McDonald Centre from 1.30pm but that could change if all tickets are sold beforehand. Bring the scarves, hats, flags and voices and make Seaview a blanket of Red & Black and noise on Saturday. Be the 12th man. C’mon the Crues.