A scarf older than the majority of those out on the pitch tonight!

Larne lost that final to Ballymena back in 1989, will that scarf be a happier one come full time tonight?

Even by David McClure's high standards, this is impressive.

Like a massive putting green.

Mark Sterling
BBC Sport NI at Mourneview Park

Ah, there it is. The sound of football fans cheering on their team.

As the Linfield players finished up their warm-up to go back inside for final preparations, they turned to applaud their supporters in the away end and were met by a loud and enthusiastic roar.

The same thing happened for the Larne team when they headed in a few minutes later, with their supporters in the home stand letting them know they were behind them.

It's what local football has been deprived off throughout 2021 and it's absolutely magic to hear it.

The crowd had been quiet enough until that point but hopefully they will find their voice again when the players re-emerge for kick-off.

Shayne Lavery and Ronan Hale have been directly involved in 38 and 25 goals for Linfield and Larne respectively this season.

But which in-form marksman will be smiling at the full-time whistle tonight?

Image source, BBC Sport

Fans are back and you absolutely *love* to see it.

The Irish Cup final deserves a bit of atmosphere, and it's going to get some. If you're one of those lucky enough to be at Mourneview tonight, use #BBCIrishCup on Twitter to send us your pics from the ground!

Mark Sterling
BBC Sport NI at Mourneview Park

David Healy joked in his post-match interviews on Tuesday night about his players asking if there was time to get fitted out in cup final suits.

Seeing captain Jamie Mulgrew doing his pre-match dander on the pitch, it looked like tracksuits for the Blues.

Larne, meanwhile, have either had a quick turnaround at the tailors or already had their suits in the wardrobe as they were bedecked in a sharp grey number for their pitch walkabout.

Probably means next to nothing in the general scheme of things, of course, but interesting to see one of the cup final traditions being maintained in what has been an anything-but traditional Irish Cup format this season.

In addition to BBC Two NI, tonight's game is available to watch on the BBC iPlayer, with coverage beginning at 19:30 BST.

Image source, BBC Sport

Dean Jarvis replaces Mark Randall in Larne's only change. Jeff Hughes, who played in Larne's 2005 final defeat by Portadown, captains the side.

Linfield boss David Healy also makes just one change from the side that cruised past Ballymena in the semi-final with Matthew Clarke replacing Stephen Fallon, who scored on Tuesday.

Jamie Mulgrew captains the side on what is his eighth Irish Cup final appearance. He's won six out of the seven he's played in.

Andrew Waterworth, who scored a hat-trick in the 2017 final victory over Coleraine, is unavailable.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, BBC Sport

It has been an Irish Cup unlike any other: thrilling, dramatic and tumultuous.

This year's edition began just 27 days ago with an opening round that featured the withdrawal of six Championship clubs after the second tier was not granted elite status.

And this week's climactic chapter has been just as chaotic with the Irish FA earlier today having dismissed Crusaders' protest after goalkeeper Jonny Tuffey's red card in the Tuesday's semi-final shootout defeat by Larne.

While Crusaders have the right to appeal against the decision, it's over to Larne and Linfield in a Mourneview Park decider dripping with intriguing sub-plots.

David Healy's Blues can, of course, complete the first half of the double with a win this evening in what would be the club's 44th Irish Cup success (and their seventh trophy under the former Northern Ireland striker's tutelage).

But it could be an even bigger night for Larne, who are aiming to lift Northern Irish football's premier knockout prize for the first time having clinched the County Antrim Shield in December.

Larne have had the edge over Linfield this season with three wins out of five, including a 2-1 success at Windsor Park six days ago.

But, as the old adage goes, form goes out the window in cup competition.

With tonight marking the return of fans to the local game, whatever way you look at it, this final - the first played outside Belfast since 1975 - promises to be a captivating showdown for the Irish Cup between two of the country's strongest teams.

Image source, BBC Sport