Stephen Baxter
Carrick Rangers manager on BBC Sport NI

That was a huge chance [for Ryan Curran]. The ball was maybe a little bit behind him and he doesn't quite get the right contact on it.

The free-kick is played short to the edge of the box for Luke Conlan, who slips the ball to the unmarked Ryan Curran.

However, he can't keep his low effort on target.

Steven Scott is the first name in referee Ian McNabb's book for bringing down Luke Conlan.

This is a really good area for a free-kick.

Odhran Casey tries to find Ryan Curran with a long cross, but his delivery is too heavy and is collected by Declan Dunne.

Neither stopper has had a lot to do so far.

Andrew Mitchell's cross from the left wing is easily gathered by David Odumosu.

We've played just over 15 minutes here.

Stephen Baxter
Carrick Rangers manager on BBC Sport NI

After that little spell that Cliftonville enjoyed, Dungannon need to see their way into the game and must start asking questions of them and putting them under a little bit of pressure.

Leo Alves' delivery is a good one and it's a bit nervy of a nervy moment for Cliftonville as Luke Conlan tries to clear the ball, but mishits it.

However David Odumosu is alert to the danger and thwarts the chance.

Dungannon have the first corner of the game after Luke Conlan knocks the ball out of play.

Well, that shot won't be written about in any history books!

Shea Gordon's effort from the edge of the box is well over the crossbar.

John McGovern weaves his way around multiple red shirts, but Shea Kearney gets back and clears the ball.

McGovern looks like a threat every time he gets the ball.

Both teams look really up for this today and are pushing forward and searching for an early goal.

No attempts on target yet, but I have a feeling this is going to be an entertaining game.

Stephen Baxter
Carrick Rangers manager on BBC Sport NI

This game is far too close to call. We've got two standout teams who can play some excellent football. It's maybe about who controls the nerves early on and gets off to the best start.

Here we go!

Will Cliftonville be the back-to-back Irish Cup victors or will Dungannon secure the Irish Cup for the first time?

Cliftonville: Odumosu, Addis, Kearney, Hale, Curran, Conlan, Gordon, Gormley, Casey, Keaney, Wilson.

Dungannon Swifts: Dunne, Scott, Curry, Knowles, McGovern, Dillon, Alves, Glenny, Wallace, Mitchell, Bigirimana.

After winning his maiden Premier League title last weekend, Liverpool's Conor Bradley hopes his former club Dungannon Swifts can secure a memorable first of their own on Saturday.

The Stangmore Park outfit have never won the Irish Cup and will meet Cliftonville in the showpiece decider at Windsor Park on Saturday afternoon (14.30 BST).

The 21-year-old played age-group football for Dungannon United Youth and latterly Dungannon Swifts, and will be supporting Rodney McAree's side from afar this weekend.

"I'm really looking forward to it," Bradley, who missed Liverpool clinching the title against Tottenham on Sunday through injury, told BBC Sport NI.

Image source, Getty Images

For much of Dungannon Swifts' 76-year history, the thought of reaching the Irish Cup final would have felt a fanciful notion.

Then again, so too would have been becoming regulars in the Irish Premiership, European qualification and Setanta Cup participation.

That all changed in the space of a few short years when, first under Joe McAree and then Harry Fay, a young and exciting Swifts side scaled new heights at Stangmore Park.

With bigger clubs circling their best players, the team was soon to be picked apart but not before what midfielder Shane McCabe calls one last "David versus Goliath" battle - the 2007 Irish Cup final against an all-conquering Linfield side.

Read more here

Image source, Inpho

Lauren McCann
BBC Sport NI at Windsor Park

Shea Gordon's return from injury is timely for Cliftonville as he had really started to establish himself in the side prior to his spell out and was impressive in the League Cup final.

Dungannon will be equally pleased that captain Dean Curry is starting after he had been managing a knee issue in the build-up to the game.

He has formed a good partnership with Danny Wallace in defence and is a threat at the other end from corners.

This one is set up to be a battle of the strikers, with the evergreen Joe Gormley in fine form for the Reds having netted 20 times in the league and Swifts forward John McGovern proving equally as dangerous with 13 league goals.

It's the dream of every football supporter to make history with the club you love.

For Rodney McAree, that's exactly what has happened.

He will be in the dugout as Dungannon Swifts look to win the Irish Cup - the showpiece event for club football in Northern Ireland - for the first time.

McAree is from the town, and after a stint playing for Fulham, where he became a cult hero, he returned home to Stangmore Park.

In 2007, the Irish Premiership underdogs were denied a first Irish Cup success on penalties to Linfield.

Read more here

Image source, Pacemaker & Presseye

Cliftonville striker Joe Gormley said that he "doesn't lose sleep" over not featuring in last year's Irish Cup final win.

Gormley was the only substitute not used during the Reds' 3-1 extra-time win over Linfield in the decider at Windsor Park.

Despite not making it off the bench, Gormley was one of the first players over to congratulate Ronan Hale for scoring Cliftonville's third goal and says he looks back fondly on the day.

"You do think about it [not featuring] sometimes, but I wouldn't lose sleep over it," he told BBC Sport NI.

"Even though I didn't play last year because Cliftonville won it, I won it."

Read more here

Image source, BBC Sport

He's played at Old Trafford and the Emirates, scored at Wembley and featured in one of football's biggest tournaments.

Yet it's a small town in Northern Ireland, playing in front of 2,000 people most weeks, where Gael Bigirimana feels most at home.

From Newcastle United to Dungannon Swifts, it's been some journey for the Burundi international.

The 31-year-has been a revelation since moving to Stangmore Park in 2023, and he has helped the Irish Premiership's underdogs to a second-ever Irish Cup final and a possible European adventure.

Bigirimana is loved in Dungannon, and that feeling is mutual.

In his words, sometimes "simplicity is genius".

Read more of Andy Gray's article on Dungannon midfield maestro Bigirimana here.

Image source, Getty Images