Cliftonville's players bow their heads as the national anthem is played. Their club had asked that God Save the Queen not be included in the pre-match ceremony but the Irish Football Association opted to stick with the current policy.

Singing from fans pretty much drowned out the anthem.

The teams are out. It is loud at Windsor Park. We are ready to go.

As we approach kick-off, a reminder of how the teams made their way to the final.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, BBC Sport

Richard Petrie
BBC Sport NI at Windsor Park

The red carpet is being rolled out and the stage is being set for the arrival of the teams onto the Windsor Park pitch.

Both sets of supporters are now in full voice as the tension begins to build.

We are inclined to think of the Irish Cup final as very much a domestic occasion but the Cliftonville flags draped across the front of the North Stand indicate that supporters have travelled from as far away as Denmark, Dundee and Aberdeen to cheer on Barry Gray's men today.

Coleraine fans are seriously out in force too. Is there anyone left in the north coast town today? Looks like it's been a case of 'last out lock up' going by the sea of blue and white adorning three sections of the ground.

Richard Petrie
BBC Sport NI at Windsor Park

It's the Cliftonville fans who are making their voices heard loud and clear from the North Stand as their players return to the sanctuary of the dressing room for a final team talk from manager Barry Gray - who incidentally was not even born the last time the Reds picked up the most coveted piece of knockout silverware in the local game in 1979.

The Reds' contingent are beginning to drown out the stadium PA system, which is currently blaring out '99 Red Balloons Go By' - a big hit for Nina in the 1980s for those of you who may not go back that far. An omen perhaps?

The Coleraine squad are now taking centre stage on the Windsor Park pitch as they warm up ahead of the 14:30 BST kick-off in front of the East Stand which is housing a section of their 6,000-plus supporters.

Manager Oran Kearney says last year's cup final defeat by Linfield was an important learning experience for his young team.

Coleraine's famous backer - actor Jimmy Nesbitt - is hoping to see his beloved Bannsiders lift the Irish Cup for the sixth time in their history.

He was at Windsor Park for the club's last cup triumph in 2003 when Marty Quinn's side beat Glentoran 1-0.

Barry Gray looks ahead to the big occasion and the opportunity to land his first trophy as manager of Cliftonville.

Cliftonville's Irish Cup finals have been up and down in the past. Take a look through the archives at some of their final experiences.

Coleraine have five Irish Cups to their name, their first success coming in 1965 and the most recent victory was in 2003.

Marty Quinn had a stellar managerial career with both Cliftonville and Coleraine. Who is he backing today?

Richard Petrie
BBC Sport NI at Windsor Park

The Cliftonville players are the first to emerge from the tunnel, having swapped their smart matchday suits for training tops and shorts.

They receive a warm reception from those Reds fans who have opted to take their seats early in the North Stand and coaches Stephen Small and Harry Fay start putting them through their pre-match paces.

At the other end of the pitch Coleraine goalkeeper Chris Johns is getting in some shot-stopping practice - the April player of the month played every minute of every league game for the Bannsiders this season, keeping 16 clean sheets in 38 games.

Supporters from both clubs are starting to filter through the turnstiles and the sound of air horns can be heard reverberating around the stadium as the atmosphere begins to build.

Coleraine's Stephen O'Donnell and the non-playing Ryan Catney of Cliftonville give their pre-match thoughts.

Cliftonville start much as you would expect. Joe Gormely is the sole survivor from their last Irish Cup final team and he is joined up front once again by Rory and Jay Donnelly. Chris Curran wears the captain's armband.

Eight Coleraine players who started last year's final are involved from the start again today. Top goalscorer Jamie McGonigle is recalled to the starting line-up having been on the bench last week against Glenavon. Josh Carson is the Bannsiders' only unavailable player as he is suspended.

Have a look at this season's league meetings between the cup finalists.

Image source, BBC Sport

Coleraine made their way down to Windsor Park earlier this morning. The team have certainly been the talk of the town this year and the fans were out in force once more to send the players on their way.

Richard Petrie
BBC Sport NI at Windsor Park

The players and coaching staff from both sides are looking the part in their cup final suits as they take a first look at the playing surface and get accustomed to their surroundings at the National Stadium.

Red ties and grey suits for the Cliftonville squad, blue suits and ties for their Coleraine counterparts.

The stadium PA is providing the only noise inside the stadium at the moment but that will change very soon when the thousands of fans from both sides begin to file into the stadium and make their voices heard.

It's a pleasant warm afternoon at Windsor Park (something of a tradition on cup final day) and it promises to be a colourful occasion and a wonderful atmosphere for the traditional end-of-season showpiece.

Joe Gormley marked his return to the Irish Premiership this season by picking up the Golden Boot. The Cliftonville marksman was on the scoresheet five years ago when the Reds lost out to Glentoran in the final.

Six in the competition already this season, he's a hard man to keep quiet.

Image source, BBC Sport

Victory over Cliftonville this afternoon would see the cup being lifted by a Coleraine captain for the sixth time.

Having lost 3-0 to Linfield in last year's final and recently finished Premiership runners-up, Oran Kearney's men will be desperate to have a trophy to show for all their efforts.

Image source, BBC Sport