DAVID Healy’s Linfield side might be in better form going into this afternoon’s Irish Cup final, but the Blues boss is well aware Cliftonville can rise to the occasion.
And Linfield will have to get to grips to the occasion as much as their rivals from forth Belfast if they wish to lift the famous trophy at Windsor Park.
The south Belfast club has had an unrivalled record in the Irish Cup since Moyola Park beat Cliftonville in the inaugural final on April 9, 1881, winning it an incredible 44 times.
The Reds have lifted the silverware eight times in the club’s history, with the last, famous win coming in 1979. Linfield also have the edge in encounters this season, drawing one and winning three, including an authoritative 3-0 victory at Solitude in February.
Nevertheless, Healy insists this afternoon’s clash presents a much more challenging prospect, with a full house bringing added pressures.
“One of our best performances of the season was at Solitude,” said the former Northern Ireland striker.
“But playing in front of 16,000 people with the nerves and excitement that comes with it makes it completely different.
“We’ll take nothing from the previous games but we have proved we are capable of beating Cliftonville.”
Despite having the confidence of getting the better of the earlier meetings of the sides this term, Healy points to the manner of the Reds’ semi-final win over league champions Larne as evidence of the levels they are capable of on their day.
“I saw Cliftonville in the semi-final and as good as the performances we have put on this season, that was probably their best performance of the season,” he said.
“They are certainly capable of that again.
“Hopefully our players will be tuned into the job and hopefully we can go and play the way we can play.
“If we do, form and previous games against Cliftonville will certainly not matter, it will be all on the day.”
Healy will be asking his players to respond positively to narrowly losing out to Larne in an exhilarating fight for the league title by winning the cup.
That loss was confirmed when the title rivals drew 1-1 at Windsor Park 12 days ago, but Healy and his players are noted for reacting to adversity, although the Killyleagh man is playing down any notion of Cliftonville facing a backlash.
“No, I don’t think so,” he said.
“Larne have changed the landscape, the pyramid has changed, they are on the top of it and we at Linfield have to get our chasing boots on and we have to do it quickly.
- When it’s all over and done no-one will forget Joe Gormley because legends live foreverOpens in new window
- Brendan Crossan: Flags, bunting, Irish Cup final fever, hospitals and HummersOpens in new window
- Reds are ready to deliver first Irish Cup since 1979 says Rory HaleOpens in new window
- ‘I could never leave Cliftonville for another team: Solitude is my home’ Captain Chris CurranOpens in new window
“Clubs like ourselves, Cliftonville, Glentoran, Coleraine, and others now need to relish the challenge that lies ahead.
“The league is done and dusted now and we have a huge game to look forward to.
“Like a derby game, you can go into it in good form and find yourself on the end of a beating, so the final will be won on the day.
“We’ll be prepared for the final the best we can as staff, and we have players in the dressing room, boys who have been there before like Jamie Mulgrew and Kyle McClean, which can help.
“I think there’s six or seven who haven’t won the cup so it’s important that players like Jamie and Kyle and others can be strong as leaders, as they have been all season and the time that they’ve been here, to keep leading the other players who haven’t been there.
“We’ll be as finely tuned as we can be. Cliftonville play in a structured manner, we’ve changed bits and pieces at times throughout the year but we’ll pick the team based on what we feel can go and get the performance and result on the day.
“The cup final is a great day and everyone is looking forward to it.”