Ballymena v Dungannon: Northern Irish League Cup final live on Sky
Saturday 17 February 2018 17:51, UK
Defending champions Ballymena United will face Dungannon Swifts in the final of the Northern Irish League Cup on Saturday, live on Sky Sports Football from 5.15pm.
The Sky Blues eventually booked their place in the final with a 3-1 win over Cliftonville last Saturday, after the match had previously been postponed three times. The result was secured with a fantastic strike from within his own half by Cathair Friel.
Live Irish League Cup Final
"This promises to be a fantastic opportunity for Ballymena United but the players will be fully aware of the threat posed by Dungannon Swifts," said Ballymena boss David Jeffery.
"They have already defeated us at Stangmore Park this season and ran us extremely close at the Showgrounds.
"I'm so pleased for the chairman, board and our supporters that we've got to another final.
"Rodney McAree knows it's a game that each of us can win, we're very much in the mindset that we have to perform on the day against two easily matched teams, but it's great for local football."
Speaking of Friel's goal, Jeffery added: "People talk about Beckham and Rooney, goodness gracious me, what an absolutely fantastic strike by Cathair Friel!"
For the Swifts, it's a first cup final since their 2007 Irish Cup defeat to Linfield and the first time they have made it to the League Cup final.
Fulham fans will be familiar with Dungannon's boss Rodney McAree, whose name is still sung at Craven Cottage following a volley against Carlisle United in 1997 which saw the club promoted from the bottom division.
"It means a lot to me as a local lad [to reach the final] as I only live a mile down the road and going to many a B division game with my father, Joe McAree, and chasing about a lot of people who are still about the club, it means everything to me," said McAree.
"I'm most pleased for those people in the dressing room who have worked extremely hard for me and done extremely well and continue to keep improving on what we've done before and getting to a major final is another improvement."
Windsor Park will be the venue for the final, the first time the National Stadium has hosted the final since Ballymena's 2015 defeat to Cliftonville.
Form
The Sky Blues head into the game in good goalscoring form, having netted 15 times in their last eight league games, winning four and drawing two.
For Dungannon, goals have been harder to come by, with just two in their last 10 league games and only two victories and three draws in that run.
Head to head in the league, the two sides have shared a victory apiece with Dungannon winning 2-1 at Stangmore Park in October, with Ballymena picking up a 2-1 victory at the Showgrounds in November.
Ballymena's route to the final:
Round 2 - H - Knockbreda - W 3-0
Goals: Friel, McKinney, Faulkner
Round 3 - H - Portadown - W 2-0
Owens, Braniff
Quarter Final - H - Ards - W 3-2
Goals: Friel, Thompson, Kane
Semi Final - H - Cliftonville - W 3-1
Goals: Millar, Kane, Friel
Dungannon's route to the final:
Round 2 - A - Newry City - W 4-0
Goals: Burke, McMahon, McElroy x2
Round 3 - A - Warrenpoint Town - W 1-0
Goals: McElroy
Quarter Final - H - Ballyclare Comrades - W 2-1
Goals: Lafferty, Mayse
Semi Final - H - Crusaders - W 2-1
Goals: McMahon, Harpur
