Maurice set to savour cup final experience for EIGHTH time!

If they want any tips on what the big day entails, they could do worse than ask Maurice Millar,

The Harryville man will watch Ballymena in an Irish Cup final for the EIGHTH time this weekend.

They include the successes of 1958, 1981, 1984 and 1989, as well as 1959, 1974 and 1978, when the Sky Blues were beaten finalists.

“The team of the early Eighties was probably the best Ballymena team I have seen but my favourite final was 1958,” says Maurice, who association with the club began when he was taken to his first game as a five-year-old and has included roles as diverse as net boy, fund-raiser and committee member.

“We weren’t fancied to beat Linfield in that game but I still remember Alex McCrae strolling around the middle of the park - he was a tremendous player.”

Despite having seen so many finals, it hasn’t dampened Maurice’s enthusiasm ahead of Saturday’s game.

“I’ll be as excited as any of the other finals. Even the week leading up to the semi-final, I was counting the days until that game.

“We have had some tough games along the way like Linfield and Dungannon but the most important goal Ballymena scored this season was Darren Boyce’s equaliser at the Welders or else we wouldn’t be talking about the final.”

So can Ballymena mark their first appearance in the showpiece final for 25 years by going on to win the trophy?

“I would like to think so,” says Maurice. “We never thought in 1989 it would be such a long wait until the next one.

“Winning the County Antrim Shield was great but it’s definitely time we won the Irish Cup again,” added Maurice.