Sadler’s Peaky Blinders Irish Cup final: Glentoran v Ballymena United (Tonight, Windsor Park, 8pm)
BALLYMENA United boss David Jeffrey has admitted ahead of tonight's Irish Cup final with Glentoran that there were times earlier in the season when he questioned why he returned to management.
With 31 trophies in 17 years while in charge of Linfield, Jeffrey's legendary status as an Irish League leader was secure but in 2016 he decided to come back into the fold with Ballymena.
There was League Cup glory a year later, a shock title challenge in 2019 which climaxed with Linfield pipping the Sky Blues to the post and a historic win in Europe at the start of this term as Jeffrey worked his magic.
Then things started to go wrong. League form was awful and a 2-1 County Antrim Shield final defeat to Cliftonville when Paddy McLaughlin's side netted twice in injury time was tough to accept. With the Irish Premiership campaign finishing early due to the coronavirus pandemic Ballymena ended up in a hugely disappointing and discouraging tenth place.
On Monday four months on from their previous game - a league loss to Coleraine - at Windsor Park, Ballymena beat the Bannsiders 3-1 in a dramatic penalty shoot following a 1-1 draw after extra-time to clinch a spot in the Irish Cup final.
Ahead of the showdown with Glentoran, Jeffrey remarked: "The season was horrible and there were a number of times I maybe asked myself ‘why did I come back to put myself through this again?’ because compared to the first three years it was a challenge, so after we won the penalty shoot-out I was just so thankful and proud of the players.
“This season we had an horrendous list of injuries and suspensions and let’s also not forget we didn’t have the best of fortune at times.
“I think of the County Antrim Shield and losing to Cliftonville with two goals in added time - that was a cruel experience.
“But I’ve said to the players, it’s not about looking back and redemption. Everyone seems to talk about redemption, but you haven’t heard me talk about that.
“Despite all of the previous difficulties, we’ve got ourselves to an Irish Cup final and I think that has given the Ballymena community a lift."
United have not won the Irish Cup since 1989 but Jeffrey insists he does not want his team to focus on that.
Instead he wants the club to concentrate on the here and now and the togetherness illustrated by generous gestures from some players in giving up their limited ticket allocation for family members so that more Ballymena fans can attend the final. Each club received 250 tickets from the IFA for tonight.
“We were given 250 tickets as a club and the response of the players has been fantastic in terms of sharing those tickets among fans," said the former Linfield boss.
“We had a very strict allocation, for some it was two, others just one and these are players who have been working the last five weeks to get themselves into a final.
“The number of players who texted me to say ‘it’s OK, David. I’d rather mine went to a supporter’, so there’s a real sense of togetherness which has been borne out of Covid-19."
Jeffrey makes Glentoran 'big favourites' but quietly he will fancy his side's chances.
He says: “There’s absolutely no doubt Michael (McDermott) and Paul (Millar) have put together a very strong squad, they were miles ahead of us in the league and are big favourites, so it’s going to be tough but we will give our best and see where it takes us."
