Cliftonville vs Linfield LIVE: Team news, TV and live stream info, betting odds and more for Irish Cup Final

The day of reckoning is upon us. It's time for the 2024 Irish Cup Final.

And it couldn't get much bigger than this. Cliftonville vs Linfield doing battle in the showpiece final.

The two sides missed out on the Gibson Cup this season as Larne made it back-to-back titles. But they can finish their campaigns on a high note if they lift the famous Irish Cup trophy this afternoon.

Linfield last won the competition back in 2021 as part of a double. Cliftonville's last success came 45 years ago, right back to 1979.

Since then they have lost four finals and were thrown out of another due to fielding an ineligible player in the semi-finals.

Will; they finally end their hoodoo this year? Or will Linfield make it a trophy double this season after claiming the League Cup?

Follow our live updates to find out.

Key EventsGOAL!! Cliftonville 0-1 Linfield14:45KICK-OFF!14:31Welcome!12:0315:18Gareth FullertonAnother 2 bookings

Sean Stewart and Kirk Millar go into the book.

ShareComments15:18Gareth FullertonBooking

First of the game in the 46th minute goes to Ronan Hale.

ShareComments15:11Gareth FullertonOff target

Shea Kearney blazes a long-range effort well over the bar.

Came following a lovely turn from Rory Hale.

ShareComments15:09Gareth FullertonReds blow

Odumosu can't continue.

Nathan Gartside comes on in the 37th minute.

ShareComments15:00Gareth FullertonBreak in play

Joel Cooper clatters into David Odumosu and the Reds keeper requires some treatment.

ShareComments14:56Gareth FullertonCliftonville chance

Rory hale floats in a cross but Sam Ashford just can't get on the end of it.

That was so close to an equaliser in the 26th minute.

ShareComments14:47Gareth FullertonLinfield well on top

They have really settled into this final.

Joel Cooper beats his man down the left and wins another free-kick.

Kirk Millar swings it in and Daniel Finlayson heads wide.

ShareComments14:45KEY EVENTGOAL!! Cliftonville 0-1 Linfield

Blues in front in the 14th minute.

Came from a free-kick on the right by Kirk Millar, and Ethan McGee ghosted into the six-yard box and sent home a bullet header.

What a start for Linfield.

ShareComments14:40Gareth FullertonAnother Linfield chance

Free-kick is touched to Joel Cooper who lets fly from 25 yards out but his shot lacks power and Odumosu saves comfortably.

ShareComments14:37Gareth FullertonBlues settled better

Linfield have enjoyed the better start in this final.

They created the first chance with that McKee shot.

Cliftonville need some time on the ball to settle the nerves.

ShareComments14:36Gareth FullertonHow the National Anthem was observed

The national anthem played before kick-off #IrishCupFinal pic.twitter.com/QNrc8loLZK

— Steven Crawford (@stevenrcrawford) May 4, 2024 ShareComments14:35Gareth FullertonGood save

From the corner, Cliftonville fail to clear and it finally gets to Chris McKee whose low shot is well saved by David Odomosu.

ShareComments14:34Gareth FullertonGood delivery

Linfield free-kick is curled into the box by Kirk Millar but Doherty manages to clear behind for a corner.

ShareComments14:31KEY EVENTKICK-OFF!

Away we go at Windsor Park!

ShareComments14:30Gareth FullertonNational anthem is done

God Save The King is played.

Loud booing can be heard from parts of the stadium.

Some fireworks have also been let off leaving a cloud of smoke across the pitch.

ShareComments14:25Gareth FullertonHere come the teams

The Linfield and Cliftonville players emerge from the tunnel to a massive roar.

What an atmosphere inside Windsor Park.

ShareComments13:51Gareth FullertonAnd here are the Reds...

The @cliftonvillefc team has arrived #IrishCupFinal pic.twitter.com/YBXXcDZcOW

— Steven Crawford (@stevenrcrawford) May 4, 2024 ShareComments13:50Gareth FullertonThe Blues are here...

The @OfficialBlues team have arrived #IrishCupFinal pic.twitter.com/G65f4B7vDb

— Steven Crawford (@stevenrcrawford) May 4, 2024 ShareComments13:49Gareth FullertonNot long to go now...

Atmosphere building amongst the Cliftonville fans as we move towards kick-off great to see the 1979 Irish Cup winners here #IrishCupFinal pic.twitter.com/EeyEQuR1nb

— Steven Crawford (@stevenrcrawford) May 4, 2024 ShareComments13:28Gareth FullertonCliftonville team news

Team news. pic.twitter.com/SgX0Ap6CuP

— Reds By The Minute(@RedsByTheMinute) May 4, 2024 ShareComments13:23Gareth FullertonLinfield team news

Your Linfield team for the Clearer Water Irish Cup FinalCOME ON YOU BLUESpic.twitter.com/Ucdze6VowF

— Linfield FC (@OfficialBlues) May 4, 2024 ShareComments12:26Gareth FullertonComplete fan guide

From travelling to the game, possible traffic disruption, where to park, ticketing and everything else, check out our complete fan guide for today's Irish Cup final right HERE

ShareComments12:24Gareth FullertonThe countdown continues...

pic.twitter.com/XC4x54anTx

— Cliftonville FC (@cliftonvillefc) May 4, 2024

The calm before the storm#COYB #AFJ | #ClearerWaterIrishCup pic.twitter.com/LejsUj5z9T

— Linfield FC (@OfficialBlues) May 4, 2024 ShareComments12:14Gareth FullertonLet battle commence!

Linfield fan Jack Brennan and Cliftonville supporter Marty McCullough get the Irish Cup rivalry going ahead of Saturday's big game at Windsor.

Wonder who will be celebrating come 4.30pm or so?

Jack Brennan and Marty McCulloughBattle lines have been drawn!ShareComments12:11Gareth FullertonMcClean hails teammate who is 'perfect foil'Linfield’s Kyle McClean (Image: Presseye/Stephen Hamilton)

Kyle McClean doesn't have too far to look for inspiration in the Irish League. Alongside him in the heart of Linfield's engine room is a man who has been there, done it and has the medals to prove it.

Jamie Mulgrew is aiming for an eighth Irish Cup success as the Blues take on Cliftonville in Saturday's final and McClean, who was named the league's Player of the Year this season, says his club captain is the perfect role model and foil for him on the pitch.

He said:

“Jamie is great to share a changing room with and play with. He’s someone you look to to see how he conducts himself on and off the pitch.

“This year has been a wee bit different where I’ve maybe got forward a bit more and Jamie and Shieldsy have given me the licence to do that.

“They’ve been doing a bit more of the dirty work and I always try to take a bit of their game and try to put it into mine. It’s been great from that perspective this season.

"I've really loved it this year. After the injury I had I probably had a couple of years where I was a bit frustrated with my performances and how things were going.

"I've managed to get on a good run from the start of this year. I've loved having a different role trying to get forward and impact games more."

ShareComments12:10Gareth FullertonHale: Reds determined to rewrite history booksCliftonville’s Rory Hale (Image: Presseye/ Stephen Hamilton)

Rory Hale insists Cliftonville will not be getting bogged down by their long winless run in the Irish Cup as they prepare to face Linfield in Saturday's final.

None of the current Reds squad were born when they last lifted the trophy some 45 years ago. Despite the weight of expectation to finally end their cup rut Hale said they would be approaching the Blues showdown as they have every other game so far this season as they bid to write themselves into the history books.

Hale said:

"I think there's two elements to it. You can go out and cement yourself as a legend of the football club if you were the one to score that winning goal or make that match-winning tackle.

"That's the motivation in itself to go and do that, but for the players it's really just on to the next game we've done that from pre-season right through to now and I don't think anything will change."

Winning any trophy with Cliftonville would mean a lot for local boy Hale. And while he would like himself or brother Ronan to have a big say in the final, he admitted he doesn't care who "steps up to the plate" if they go on and lift the cup.

He added:

"I've won cup finals before, I've four or five to my name, but this would be a special one. My da keeps reminding me he was there in 1979, but he's brought me to three cup finals since and we've lost them all.

"It would be very special if me and Ronan had a big say in delivering the trophy, but as long as we deliver the trophy I don't care who steps up to the plate."

ShareComments12:07Gareth FullertonBetting odds

Cliftonville 9/4

Linfield 21/20

Draw 5/2ShareComments12:07Gareth FullertonIs the game on TV?

The game is being shown live on BBC Two Northern Ireland with coverage starting at 2pm. The game can also be live streamed on the BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport NI website.

ShareComments12:07Gareth FullertonGoing to be some atmosphere

Both clubs have sold their allocation of tickets, with a bumper crowd of over 15,000 expected at Windsor.

It is set to be the biggest attendance this century, toppling the previous record of 14,190 who attended the 2001 Irish Cup showpiece between Linfield and Glentoran.

ShareComments12:05Gareth FullertonWhat time is kick-off?

Don't forget we have a slightly earlier kick-off time of 2.30pm for this one.

ShareComments