Final batch gone!

Cliftonville’s entire allocation of tickets for the BetMcLean Cup Final has been sold.

Following on from a typically enthusiastic Red Army response to last week’s General Sale and exceptional uptake among Members and Season Ticket holders for reserved seats in the upper tier of Windsor Park’s North Stand, the NI Football League this afternoon made additional Adult and Concession tickets available in the Kop Stand and lower tier of the North Stand.

These, too, were quickly snapped up, meaning that Jim Magilton and his players can look forward to being roared on by a capacity Reds crowd when they do battle for the silverware with Glentoran on Sunday, March 9 as they bid to add another glorious chapter in a competition that has delivered so many unforgettable occasions over the years.

From the nerve-jangling penalty shootout victory over Larne in 2003 to the iconic comeback against Coleraine in the 2022 Final, Cliftonville have generated countless League Cup Days That Live Forever – and we’re counting on your support to help us deliver another when we go head-to-head with the Glens.

A full decade on from lifting the trophy for the very first time when Larne were overcome on a rain-soaked November night, similar conditions laid the scene for a North Belfast demolition derby that saw the Reds put four unanswered goals past Crusaders.

Tommy Breslin’s side retained the silverware with shootout success over the Crues at Solitude 12 months later before making it three-in-a-row when they came out on top of a rollercoaster scrap with Ballymena United.

A record-breaking fourth consecutive triumph was celebrated courtesy of a 3-0 victory over Ards in 2016, but arguably the most memorable decider of all came three years ago when an equaliser in the deepest depths of injury-time saw Cliftonville recover a 2-0 deficit against Coleraine before going on to win 4-3 in a pulsating period of extra-time.

It’s not just Finals in which the Reds have scaled heights in the tournament over the years, with a string of memorable performances and results contributing to an ongoing love affair with the BetMcLean Cup. From the Club record 11-1 victory over Lisburn Distillery in a 2016 second round tie to this season’s dramatic semi-final defeat of Larne at Inver Park, we’ll be showcasing some of the standout Days That Live Forever on social media during the countdown to March 9.