Release Date: 01/03/2007

Author: by Spike Hill

Lisburn Distillery v Crusaders

HARD to believe that we are already down to the last eight in this year’s competition, but that fact certainly was not lost on the two managers of the irishfa.com featured quarter final, when we caught up with them earlier in the week.

Crusaders have been quietly going about their business, since they returned to the premier division at the start of the season, although they did suffer a heavy home defeat last weekend at the hands of Coleraine, the North Belfast outfit still sit in sixth place and boss Stephen Baxter believes that Cup football is different.  

“It’s a long season in the league and if you have the odd setback, then you have time to recover, but in the cup it’s a must win game, or its over,” he said.

The Shore Road Boss continued: “We are looking forward to the tie; our cup form has been very good, with a win against Lurgan Celtic at home and a great win, away at Limavady.  One win away from an Irish Cup semi final is a tremendous carrot for the club and the players. ”

Two Saturdays ago, in the league rehearsal at Seaview the points were shared in a 1-1 draw, Andrew Waterworth put the Whites ahead in the first half, only for Davy Larmour to head the equaliser in the second, so does Whites supremo Paul Kirk think this will have any bearing on the cup game?

“None whatsoever, I watched that encounter from the stands as it gave me a different perspective, and allowed me to be more objective, but the cup game will be totally different.”

Kirk continued: “Both clubs will have been happy with the draw, to have avoided the so called ‘big guns’ as it’s a tremendous opportunity to reach the last four.”  

The Lisburn men’s path to JJB Sports Irish Cup glory has seen them take the scalps of Coleraine in the North West, and a comfortable 4-1 home defeat of Glenavon in the sixth round, and last weekend they came from 1-0 down to beat Armagh City 2-1 with a late late strike, again from Waterworth.

The striker has been ‘on fire’ at the moment scoring freely and will be a man to watch, and another player in a rich vein of form is keeper Philip Matthews.  Kirk said: “Philip is probably the best keeper in the league at the minute and has a great habit of making saves at the right time, he is in top form at the moment and long may it continue”

For the ‘Hatchetmen’ the frontline duo of Anto Crawford and David Larmour should provide the firepower, with the Dundonald man slightly ahead in the goal scoring stakes between the two.  Anto is trying to catch Davy and boss Baxter is happy to keep the competition going.  “As an ex striker myself, goals are what make you tick and our guys have 15 between them at the moment, I’m looking for them to add to that total.”

A couple of suspensions have hit both clubs Andrew Kilmartin of the Whites, and David Rainey from the Crues will both be sidelined and maybe it’s a question of which manager utilises their strength in depth to greater effect, that will see them into the pot for the next round.

The referee for the big game is Adrian McCourt, he will be assisted by John McDowell and Tom Fairfield.  Kick-off at Ballyskeagh is3.00pm and admission is £7.00 for adults and £5.00 for children.

If a replay is required it will take place at Seaview on Tuesday 6 March with a 7.45pm kick off.

The Ian McDonald Crusaders Supporters Club will be walking to Ballyskeagh on Saturday to raise money for the Northern Ireland Hospice, they will be leaving the Somerton Road Hospice at10am and all support and donations would be most welcome, for more information visit www.crusadersfc.com

Watch out for the match report and pictures, as well as the draw for the Semi Finals and a round up of all the other Quarter Final games on www.irishfa.com

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