Whether it’s a back-to-back success or a first ever triumph, tomorrow’s Clearer Water Irish Cup Final will create history.
Holders Cliftonville have won the famous trophy on nine occasions since it was inaugurated by the Irish Football Association in 1881, and they last won it back to back in 1900 and 1901.
And their opponents in tomorrow’s decider, Dungannon Swifts, have never managed to win the Irish Cup in their 76-year history.
Jim Magilton led the Reds to Clearer Water Irish Cup glory in 2024, ending a 45-year wait for the North Belfast club, and he would dearly love to be the first Cliftonville boss of the modern era to win the trophy in consecutive seasons.
Having had the experience of last season’s heroics, when the Reds defeated Linfield 3-1 in the final after extra time, as well as winning the NIFL League Cup less than two months ago, Magilton is relishing the occasion as well as the challenge at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park tomorrow (2.30pm kick-off).
In the matchday programme for the showpiece game in Belfast he says: “I’m not a big advocate for not playing the occasion, how can you not? It’s a big occasion but the players will be well prepared and then it’s over to them.
“I don’t change. I love being involved in cup finals and getting the suit on. The whole build-up is a great experience and the unbelievable send-off we get from our fans at Solitude sets the tone for the rest of the day.
“You are nervous but you can’t help but be up for it and embrace the challenge.”
Swifts boss Rodney McAree played and scored in what was the Swifts’ first and - before tomorrow - only appearance in an Irish Cup final when the team managed by his father Joe lost on penalties to Linfield in the 2007 showpiece.
Eleven years later McAree was the manager of his hometown club when Dungannon won their first major trophy as they lifted the League Cup with a victory over Ballymena United in the decider at the National Stadium.
Having returned for a second spell in charge at Stangmore Park in the summer of 2023, McAree this season led Dungannon to their joint highest ever top flight finish as they ended their NIFL Premiership campaign in fourth place.
And now he is on the precipice of another history-making achievement with the Co Tyrone club as the Swifts look to secure an inaugural Irish Cup success on their first return to the final in almost 20 years.
In the matchday programme he says: “As a player I wanted to play in an Irish Cup final for Dungannon Swifts and when you start doing your badges and cross over to coaching and management you really want to experience it as a manager.
“It is a fantastic feeling so far and something I am really looking forward to. We just feel that since we have done all the hard work to get here we may as well go and try to win it.”
Both teams possess players who are highly rated among both their peers and pundits.
Four of the players expected to feature tomorrow have been included in the Team of the Year chosen by the Northern Ireland Football Writers’ Association. They are Swifts defender Adam Glenny and midfielder Gael Bigirimana as well as Reds captain Rory Hale and striker Joe Gormley.
On top of that McAree, who has already been named NIFL Manager of the Year, is up for the NIFWA Manager of the Year gong along with Magilton and David Healy (Linfield).
And in the Player of the Year category Bigirimana and Gormley, who is a previous winner of the accolade, are in the running along with Linfield attacker Joel Cooper.
In addition the NIFWA Young Player of the Year category features Cliftonville right back Shea Kearney and Swifts striker John McGovern as well as Linfield defender Matthew Orr.
The 2024-25 award winners will be revealed at a ceremony being staged the day after what will be an historic Clearer Water Irish Cup Final one way or another.
