David Jeffrey insists the R word will not enter Ballymena United's thoughts when they step out onto the pitch to face Crusaders again today.
The R word in question is of course revenge given the heartbreak the Sky Blues suffered at the hands of the Crues in last year's final Late goals at the end of normal time and extra time from Josh Robinson and Johnny McMurray secured the trophy for the Seaview side.
It was a devastating blow for Jeffrey and his men who had led since the ninth minute thanks to a Robbie Weir own goal.
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The United boss was philosophical when asked about his feelings going into this year's clash.
“The analysis is done. Our best wasn’t good enough. You don’t go seeking revenge when your best wasn’t good enough," said Jeffrey.
“We will try to give our best again and hopefully it will be good enough this year.
“No-one is feeling we are victims of injustice, we were beaten by the better side.
“If you don’t sit down and factually analyse what happened all you are doing is fooling yourself.
“I’ve been around too long to do that and my players know I’ll be real with them.
“I can promise you the R word will not even enter our headspace, that is the absolute truth.
“I’m blessed with a wonderful group of players and when we look back on the game we were bitterly disappointed.
“I came in afterwards and, no shame in it, cried like a baby such was the anguish for a litany of reasons.
“It was a very cruel way to lose a game of football and a final.
“But in the final analysis, while knowing it was cruel, had we taken our chances or defended better at set pieces we would have been Irish Cup holders. That’s the long and short of it.
“The significant thing for me is that I always ask the players to give of their best and we will see where their best takes us – see that day I couldn't have asked any more from my players. They gave absolutely everything that they had, they emptied the tank so there is no point in saying let’s look at last year as motivation.
“It was the same as our final against Glentoran, we took them to extra time and we were excellent but didn’t take chances. Did my players give their best? Two hundred and ten per cent they did. So no, we are not looking back.”
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