Ex-team-mates and friends in opposite corners in BetMcLean Cup Final

TWO good friends and former team-mates will be hoping to secure the bragging rights over the other when they line out for their respective teams in Sunday’s BetMcLean League Cup Final.

Jamie Glackin will be turning out for the cup holders Coleraine and he will face fellow Omagh man, Kris Lowe, who has been regular in the title-chasing Cliftonville side.

Both players have tasted cup glory before in the prestigious knockout competition. In 2018 Lowe played in the Dungannon Swifts team that secured its one and only senior national trophy success by defeating Ballymena United 3-1 in the decider and two years later Glackin was one of the star performers as the Bannsiders defeated Crusaders 2-1 on the showpiece occasion.

Both players have followed similar paths to their respective clubs, having started out at Omagh United Youth before making a name for themselves at Dungannon Swifts and going their separate ways.

The Omagh pair have become household names in the Danske Bank Premiership in recent seasons and needless to say both are determined to get their hands on the first major prize of the domestic season.

Under Paddy McLaughlin, Cliftonville are challenging on all fronts – League Cup, Irish Cup and Danske Bank Premiership – and Lowe is relishing Sunday’s showdown that could draw a crowd of more than 10,000 to The National Stadium.

“Since I joined Cliftonville we have had a great season. Most weekends we’re coming out on top and that’s in stark contrast to playing with Dungannon when more often than not is I was coming down the road with a sour head on me,” he said.

“Part of the reason I made the move was to compete for trophies. A lot of people outside of football probably judge you on your medals, awards and achievements and hopefully I can add to mine come Sunday.

“This season has the potential to one of the greatest ever for the club, yet you could end up trophyless. Sunday is the first opportunity for us to make sure we have a trophy at the end of the season.

“It’s great to be fighting on all fronts, it’s exciting times. To secure the League Cup would be nice and would give us the confidence to go on and possibly get to the Irish Cup Final and spur us on to win the league.

“But, of course, it’s not going to be easy, we know what Coleraine are like. We play them that often during the season and we haven’t had an easy game against them. We’ll not be taking our eye off the ball.

“We’ll be competitive and see where it takes us.”

Glackin and Lowe also have something else in common. They played in the Tyrone team which defeated Manchester United 2-0 in 2012 Milk Cup competition at Castlederg’s Darragh Park.

Glackin scored a wonder goal on that occasion and 10 years on he’s hoping to again enjoy that same winning feeling he experienced two years ago in defeating the Crues.

“It should be a good day, there’s going to be a big crowd and hopefully it’s a good day for us,” said Glackin.

“In the last final it was extra special for me getting one over Crusaders (his former club). On the day we were poor in the first half but came good in the second.

“It was big highlight for me, for sure – you want to be winning the trophies.”

For Coleraine Sunday represents a last opportunity of silverware this season. The Bannsiders are sitting sixth in the league and last Friday evening were knocked out of the Irish Cup by Cliftonville in controversial circumstances.

But Glackin doesn’t believe that puts any added pressure on his team to deliver come Sunday.

“Our big pressure is qualifying for Europe,” added the gifted midfielder.

“You have to embrace cup finals, you have to take it all in. Sunday promises to be a great atmosphere and hopefully that lends itself to a great spectacle. Hopefully I end up with another winners’ medal but we’ll see what happens.”