The Swifts hit the front as Kyle Owens attempts to clear the danger but heads into his own goal.

Dungannon's James Knowles tries his luck from distance from a free kick but, uncharacteristically, the cultured midfielder puts his effort over the stand behind the goal.

Paul Leeman
Former Glentoran captain on BBC iPlayer

It's a lovely little ball over the top - it looks like Kyle Owens has it under control but he gets it all wrong.

It's been a really good start for Dungannon.

Bangor had been relatively comfortable up to conceding that goal - how will the Seasiders respond to that setback?

There's a swirling breeze around Seaview which has caught a couple of players out already with their passes not reaching their intended targets.

James Knowles tries his luck with an effort from outside the penalty area but Bangor keeper James Taylor is able to deal comfortably with the situation.

Steven Scott's diagonal pass looks to have out Andrew Mitchell in behind the Bangor defence but Caomhan McGuinness is across to clear.

Dungannon have been really pressed high up the pitch - it's good pressing from Bangor.

James Knowles' pass sends John McGovern scampering clear but Bangor keeper James Taylor is quickly off his line to slide out and avert the danger

Caomhan McGuinnes plays a clever through ball into the right hand channel for Ben Arthurs to run onto.

He outpaces Danny Wallace and cuts the ball back tantalisingly across the face of the Dungannon goal but no other Bangor player had made a forward burst and the attack comes to nothing.

Dungannon force an early corner which John McGovern tries to backheel towards goal but the danger is cleared.

Referee Tony Clarke starts the action at a boisterous Seaview.

Which of these two sides will book a place in the showpiece final on May 3?

On this equivalent weekend six years ago, Bangor were also in cup semi-final action.

On that occasion, however, the County Down side’s pursuit was the McReynolds Cup, during their season in the Ballymena and Provincial Intermediate League, after they dropped out of senior football.

It’s fair to say that the Seasiders’ progress in the intervening six years has been pretty meteoric and they now stand well placed to return to Northern Ireland’s top league, while they are also potentially 90 minutes away from the biggest knockout game in the domestic calendar as well.

Championship pacesetters Bangor produced a stunning display to upset Premiership opponents Glentoran 3-1 in their Irish Cup quarter-final at Clandeboye Park.

The Seasiders belied their underdog status by going in three goals to the good at half-time thanks to goals from Ben Arthurs, Ben Cushnie and Lewis Harrison.

The shell-shocked Glens replied with a 70th-minute Charlie Lindsay strike but Lee Feeney's second tier side saw out the game to set up this evening's meeting with the Swifts.

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John McGovern bagged a double as Dungannon came from behind to beat Carrick Rangers 3-1 in the Irish Cup quarter-final four weeks ago.

Danny Gibson put Carrick in front, but the Swifts fought back with Andrew Mitchell also netting for the visitors.

Mitchell levelled in the second half and McGovern's calm finish made it 2-1 before his near-post finish sealed a place in today's semi-final.

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Dungannon Swifts manager Rodney McAree says managing his hometown club in an Irish Cup final would be "a dream come true".

McAree was part of the side which went down to Linfield in a penalty shootout in the 2007 decider at Windsor Park and then guided his team to a League Cup success in 2018 during his first stint as Swifts boss.

"You always dreamt as a player about representing your club in the Irish Cup final which I was fortunate enough to do, even though we got beaten on penalty kicks that day," McAree told BBC Sport NI.

"Then when you take up the mantle of head coach, or any coaching role, you want to be involved in an Irish Cup final.

"It would be a dream come true if we were involved in it on the first Saturday in May but we know we have a lot of hard work to do to get there."

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Image source, Inpho

Cliftonville striker Joe Gormley said that his side are determined to retain the Irish Cup to honour their late teammate Michael Newberry.

Gormley scored the opening goal in the 3-0 semi-final win against Ards as the Reds booked their place in a second successive final.

Members of Newberry's family were in the crowd for the last-four tie, and Gormley hopes they can celebrate with the team again if they win the final on Saturday, 3 May.

"We would love Michael to be here and be part of the team while playing but we will always remember him and hopefully come the final we can bring home the cup for him," Gormley told BBC Sport NI.

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Image source, Press Eye

Ards manager John Bailie said that holders Cliftonville "fully deserved" their 3-0 Irish Cup semi-final win at Windsor Park last night.

Joe Gormley opened the scoring for the Reds before substitutes Alex Parsons and Ryan Corrigan added goals in the second half.

And Bailie believes his Championship side were beaten by a superior team as the Reds reached a second successive Irish Cup final.

"It's been a really tough night, we knew it would be tough, Cliftonville are a quality side, and they played some quality stuff tonight," he told BBC Sport NI.

"They fully deserved their win, they played really well and did a good number on us."

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Image source, PACEMAKER

Holders Cliftonville moved a step closer to retaining the Irish Cup as they eased past Championship side Ards 3-0 in the semi-finals at Windsor Park.

Joe Gormley fired the Reds ahead on 29 minutes with a composed finish before substitute Alex Parsons added a second with a close-range header and Ryan Corrigan scored a late third.

After winning the competition for the first time in 45 years last season, the Reds now have another final to look forward to on Saturday, 3 May.

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