BetMcLean Cup final - all you need to know
BetMcLean Cup final: Cliftonville v Glentoran
Date: Sunday 9 March Venue: Windsor Park, Belfast Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
Coverage: Live text updates, match report and reaction on the BBC Sport website
This year's BetMcLean Cup final has delivered a blockbuster showdown between Cliftonville and Glentoran, with the Belfast clubs set to lock horns in front of an almost capacity crowd at Windsor Park on Sunday.
The decider has become an annual highlight of the domestic football calendar in Northern Ireland and is again set to be a colourful occasion, with hopefully an exciting game to live up to its pre-match billing.
Glentoran have already lifted the County Antrim Shield in January, thereby securing a first trophy success since the club won the 2020 Irish Cup and a first under the stewardship of manager Declan Devine.
Jim Magilton collected his first silverware as Cliftonville boss when the Solitude team ended their 26-year wait for an Irish Cup win in May last year.
BBC Sport NI looks ahead to a final that promises much and assesses who might pick up the silverware come the final whistle in this weekend's showpiece.
Having lifted the trophy on seven previous occasions, Glentoran are the second most successful club in the history of the competition, behind Linfield's 12.
The Glens are however aiming to bridge a 15-year gap since their last victory in 2010, when they defeated Coleraine in a penalty shootout after the match ended 2-2 after extra-time.
This is the east Belfast club's first appearance in the final since then.
Cliftonville are six-time previous winners, including a sequence of four triumphs in a row from 2013 to 2016.
The Reds saw off Crusaders twice, Ballymena United and Ards in those consecutive deciders to enjoy a period of domination of the competition.
More recently, the north Belfast side came from two goals down to defeat Coleraine 4-3 after extra-time in the first final to be staged on a Sunday in March 2022.
This year's finalists met in the 2006-07 final when Glentoran emerged 1-0 victors.
Cliftonville's route to the decider began with a 2-0 win away to Limavady United, followed by a 1-0 victory on the road at Championship leaders Bangor in round three.
A 3-0 success at Armagh City in the quarter-finals was followed by Jim Magilton's side overcoming Larne 1-0 at Inver Park in the last four.
Cliftonville saw off Dergview 2-0 in their opener, before beating Linfield 1-0 at Windsor Park in a heavyweight derby encounter in the last 16.
In a testing run to the final, Declan Devine's charges defeated Crusaders 4-2 after extra-time at home, then Ballymena United were seen off 2-0 in their semi-final.
Glentoran sit second in the Irish Premiership table as they seek to secure the runner-up finish which would ensure they qualify for European competition.
After going on a 16-game unbeaten record in all competitions, the club hit a rocky patch with a 2-0 loss to Cliftonville at Solitude in the league and a 3-1 reverse to Bangor in the last eight of the Irish Cup.
A 1-0 win over Ballymena in the top flight on Tuesday saw them get back to winning ways.
Cliftonville's Premiership form has been patchy in recent months but that home win over their BetMcLean Cup final opponents on 21 February, followed by a 2-1 away victory over north Belfast rivals Crusaders in the quarter-finals of the Irish Cup, will have boosted confidence for Sunday's final.
Magilton's men sit sixth in the league table and have another opportunity at knockout competition success as they prepare for an Irish Cup semi-final with Ards on 28 March.
In the previous two league meetings between the finalists this term, Glentoran ran out 1-0 victors at the Oval in August and 2-1 winners at Solitude in December.
Cliftonville manager Jim Magilton: "The excitement being generated through both sets of supporters is huge.
"Getting to finals is really important, the build-up is really exciting, but the final is about winning.
"I always say to the players to enjoy it because they've earned the opportunity. They've worked extremely hard to get to a final so it's important you do enjoy it."
Glentoran manager Declan Devine: "Cup finals are special occasions. They don't come around too often and we have to have everyone pulling in the one direction to try and get a result.
"To win would provide great memories that would last a lifetime.
"To walk out of the National Stadium on Sunday with another trophy would be magical for the club, the players and their families."
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