IRISH CUP FINAL: DAVID HEALY HAILS 'RESPECTFUL RELATIONSHIP' WITH CUP RIVALS

David Healy has highlighted the respectful relationship between Linfield and Cliftonville as the two sides prepare to meet in the Irish Cup final for the first time in 90 years.

Healy hailed the connection the clubs have built up from "across the divide" whilst keeping their intense rivalry on the pitch. With a trophy at stake in front of a packed house at Windsor Park this afternoon the Blues boss is expecting a showpiece final on and off the pitch.

“We want to be successful in Cup finals and looking from the outside, this one hasn’t been played in 90 years," he said. "We know the intense rivalry that the clubs have had over the years and we can call it as it is with sides from across the divide but the relationship that I have had with any Cliftonville manager, chairman or other people at the club has been a close working one and people may not see that.

“There are respectful relationships we have built up, including the return to Solitude, and in my time here we have been respectful to one another as two successful clubs. There will be a big crowd and hopefully we will minimise any controversy around it.

“There will be 15,000 at the game and we want it to be played in the right manner and the showpiece it should be. My players will be finely tuned, fired up and ready to go. Hopefully, we can show anyone watching the game that we can hold a good Cup final in front of a big crowd and everyone toes the line on and off the pitch.”

Healy will go head-to-head with good friend Jim Magilton this afternoon and he is not surprised with the job his former teammate has done with the Reds. "I couldn't understand the question marks at the time around someone like Jim coming into the job," he said.

"Four, five or six years ago supporters of any Irish League club would have been really excited by that. Jim has went in, hit the ground running and got his team in fine form...they were the form team for large parts of the early stages and they've certainly hung in there.

"I've worked with Jim, played with Jim and know the type of character he is - he was always going to demand the highest standards and he has certainly got that. Cliftonville are in the final again and everybody knows they haven't won the Irish Cup in such a long time, so they're going to be desperate to go and put that right."

Linfield are also desperate to add the Irish Cup to the BetMcLean Cup they won earlier this season after missing out on the League title. Healy doesn't feel that disappointment will have any impact on the events this afternoon.

"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," he said. "Hopefully our players will be tuned into the job in the week leading up to it and hopefully we can go and play the way we can play.

“One of our best performances of the season was at Solitude. But playing on Saturday with 15,000 and the nerves and excitement that comes with it is completely different."

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2024-05-03T23:33:23Z dg43tfdfdgfd