There we are then, Crusaders are the Irish Cup champions.

Ballinamallard came in chasing a fairytale after a remarkable run to the final but the quality of Crusaders was too much for the Mallards to deal with.

It's been a difficult season for Crusaders but the Irish Cup will do wonders for the team as they look towards next season, surely with their eyes firmly focused on the league title.

That'll do for now then, if you're a Crues fan i'm sure you'll enjoy you're night. If you're not...well enjoy your night anyway.

Congratulations Crusaders, worthy winners they are.

CHAMPAGNE MOMENTpublished at 16:29 British Summer Time 4 May 2019

16:29 BST 4 May 2019

✅ Glentoran

✅ Linfield

✅ Ballymena United

✅ Coleraine

✅ Ballinamallard United

Crusaders lift the Irish Cup. My goodness they were forced to do it the hard way, but they did it.

CRUSADERS ARE THE 2018/19 IRISH CUP CHAMPIONS!

What a journey it's been for Ballinamallard but they were undone today by a ruthlessly efficient Crusaders side who were every bit worthy winners today.

Sean Ward has just been named man of the match.

He's about to win the Irish Cup with a third different club. Some man for one man.

Oh that's close. Ballinamallard within a hairs breadth of a goal.

Nathan Cashel, who has been their best player on the ball today, cuts inside and whips a right footed ball in low.

Colin Coates sticks out a leg to try and block it and it looks like it just brushes his studs and comes back off the post.

That would have, with 10 minutes left, made things ever so slightly tense.

That famous Erasure song can be heard from the Crusaders faithful.

Michael Ruddy nearly puts a cherry on the icing of the cake when the ball drops to him from a long throw, but he can't get the ball out of his feet and when he does the angle is gone and it's wide.

Not a bother though, the Irish Cup is surely on its way to the Shore Road.

Two goals in the first 10 minutes of the second half have killed this cup final as a contest. Crusaders are home and hosed as their fans in the East Stand "stand up for the Hatchetmen" to inject some atmosphere into the occasion.

The Mallards fans will have known there was always a danger that this could happen, and they are having to feed off the crumbs of the odd break from their side.

There's no doubt there has been much more urgency from the Crues since the break and it won't be long now before captain Colin Coates gets his hands on the trophy.

Ross Clarke. He comes on in the Irish Cup final, then he scores in the Irish Cup final.

All in a day's work.

Matthew Smyth gets a clearance all wrong and it skews off the side of his boot towards his own goal, Paul Heatley slides towards it but can't direct his effort towards goal.

It's all gone a bit flat and, understandably, feels like we are now sliding towards the inevitable with 20 minutes remaining.

Duwayne McManus tries his luck with a 30-yard free kick.

He bends it over the wall but wide of the mark, Harry Doherty most likely had it covered anyway.

Ballinamallard are throwing caution to the wind now, and they might as well. It does leave them even more open at the back though.

Crusaders got the second half off to the best possible start with Philip Lowry doubling the lead.

Can the Mallards stem the flow?

A win is unlikely, but they're not going to lie down and let this become a training exercise for Crusaders.

They have two chances, from a free-kick and a corner, to get the ball into the box but can't trouble the Crues defence, who have been rock solid when called upon so far.

Paul Heatley who, on his 300th Crusaders appearance, has been relatively quiet for his lofty standards, jinks his way into a bit of space on the left and fires a low effort across goal and just wide of the far post.

Crusaders are rampant now and centre-back Sean Ward rampages down the left and cuts a ball back to Heatley whose shot is parried by John Connolly, Jordan Owens can only put the rebound over the bar.

Heatley has 155 goals in those 300 games by the way, hugely impressive stuff. Some player.

Teams are back out.

Ballinamallard are still in this, but they need to find something going forward.

Get your cliche klaxons at the ready...

The next goal is crucial.

Mark Sterling
BBC Sport NI at Windsor Park

Glad that half's over? Yes, so are we.

It's been pretty poor as a spectacle, both on the pitch and off it, but Crusaders will no doubt not worry about that if they can hold on to the 1-0 lead they have at the break.

The Premiership side have definitely been superior and for 15 minutes after Jordan Owens' goal they looked threatening - particularly from crosses into the box.

But from the 20-minute mark there has been little to excite the crowd and the lack of urgency in the game is being felt in the stands.

An important team-talk for Mallards boss Harry McConkey right now. He's got a way with words - let's see if he can inspire a comeback from his Championship underdogs.