It would be fair to say that Cliftonville have been a cup team this year given their inconsistent league form.

The Reds won the League Cup earlier this month, but they have fallen way short in the league and find themselves in the bottom six. If they can retain the Irish Cup, they'll secure all important European football for next season.

Despite their inconsistencies, they come into this one after a morale boosting 3-0 win against Carrick Rangers last weekend.

Ards have had a good Championship campaign, finishing the 'regular' season in the top half and have momentum after winning their last four league games.

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BBC iPlayer

A reminder that you can watch tonight's game live on BBC iPlayer or on the website by pressing the play button at the top of this page.

Michael Clarke is joined on commentary by Glentoran coach Tim McCann.

Irish Cup holders Cliftonville defeated Crusaders 2-1 in a north Belfast derby at Seaview to secure a place in the semi-finals.

Read report here

Holders Cliftonville began the defence of the Irish Cup with a routine 4-0 home win against Premier Intermediate side Banbridge Rangers in the fifth round.

Jim Magilton's side required extra-time to see off fellow Premiership side Glenavon 3-2 to secure their passage to the quarter-finals before Ryan Curran and Alex Parsons helped them overcome north Belfast rivals Crusaders 2-1 to book their place in the last four.

Winners in 1974, Ards caused an upset in round five by beating Premiership side Ballymena United 2-1 and then eased past Premier Intermediate outfit Moyola Park 3-1 in the next round.

In the last eight, John Bailie's side beat Premiership strugglers Loughgall 2-0 to book their first semi-final appearance since 1995.

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Watch the best of the action as Ards go through to the Irish Cup semi-finals thanks to a 2-0 home win over Loughgall.

Read report here

There are two changes to the Cliftonville starting XI who defeated Carrick Rangers last weekend with captain Rory Hale and Shea Kearney starting and Conor Pepper and Axel Piesold not in tonight's squad.

John Bailie makes six changes to the side who were the victors against Ballyclare Comrades.

There's a switch between the posts with Alex Moore replacing Marc Matthews. Max Greer, Connor Maxwell, Ethan Simpson, Eamon Scannell, and George Tipton also start.

Conor Scannell, Kyle Calderwood and Ross Hunter all drop to the bench with Corai Quinn and Joel Given not in the team.

Cliftonville: Ridd, Addis, Conlan, Keaney, Stewart, Kearney, Hale, Gordon, Wilson, Gormley, Curran.

Subs: Odumosu, Pettifer, Glynn, McGuinness, Parsons, Corrigan, Madden.

Ards: Moore, Greer, Arthur, Ruddy, Maxwell, Simpson, McCart, Tipton, Steele, E Scannell, Newell.

Subs: Matthews, Barr, Scannell, Hunter, Carson, Calderwood, Roohi.

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And then there were four.

The finalists for the Irish Cup final on 3 May will be confirmed this weekend and you can read our comprehensive guide of how you can follow all the action across BBC Sport NI here.

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Cliftonville manager Jim Magilton says he expects his side to "rise to the challenge" when they face Ards.

The Reds are defending the trophy they won for the first time since 1979 by beating Linfield in last year's decider and last month the north Belfast club added the BetMcLean Cup to their silverware cabinet.

Ards have defeated Premiership opponents in the form of Ballymena United and Loughgall on their way to reaching the last four of the competition and are on a run of four consecutive wins in the Championship.

"They're winning games, they're very confident. We face a huge challenge, one that we're going to rise to," Magilton told BBC Sport NI.

"We know how confident a group they are. Winning games of football just breeds confidence.

"We recognise their strengths and we need to exploit whatever weaknesses are in their team. We're very determined to defend the Irish Cup."

The teams met earlier in the season in the first round of the County Antrim Shield in September, the Reds only advancing courtesy of a 9-8 penalty shootout success after the game ended 0-0.

"You look at Ards' record in the cup competitions this year, we played them here and they were so unlucky not to go through," reflected the Reds boss.

They've had two major scalps in the Irish Cup and we're expecting a really tough game. They're very well organised, well coached, they've got players who can hurt you.

"They have certainly earned the right to play in an Irish Cup semi-final with a goal of reaching an Irish Cup final very much in their sights and we have to stand up and be counted."

Magilton believes his squad includes the kind of players who relish the opportunity of performing on the big occasions.

"The best players take the pressure on board. They love it, they love that stage, they want it, they crave it.

"They now have an opportunity to present themselves again and we'll see what happens," he added.

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Ards manager John Bailie said that it is "surreal" for his Championship side to be in the semi-finals of the Irish Cup.

The north Down side beat Premiership Loughgall 2-0 with goals from Michael Ruddy and Eamon Scannell helping them to victory in their quarter-final tie.

They are in the last four of the Irish Cup for the first time since 1995 and face holders Cliftonville for a place in the final.

"It's a bit surreal, we have done really well in cup competitions in terms of performance levels when we've been tested against Premiership teams," Bailie told BBC Sport NI.

"Semi-final don't come along often for a club like Ards so it's going to be a big day."

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of tonight's Irish Cup semi-final between Cliftonville and Ards at Windsor Park.

The Reds are aiming to put a disappointing league campaign behind them and retain a trophy they won for the first time in 45 years last year by reaching another final.

Standing in their way are Championship side Ards, who have already dumped out two Premiership sides on their way to the last four.

It promises to be an exciting encounter, and you can watch the game on the BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website. We will have live text commentary and in-play clips here too.

Thanks for joining us - enjoy

Image source, Inpho