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Steven Crawford

Stephen Baxter expects Ballymena United to bring the 'fire' against Irish Cup holders

Crusaders boss Stephen Baxter is predicting another hotly contested Irish Cup final with Ballymena United.

The cup holders face off against the Sky Blues in Sunday's showpiece final 12 months after their last epic encounter.

Ballymena looked to be on course for their first Irish Cup triumph since 1989 after Robbie Weir put through his own net early in the first half, but goals at the end of normal time and extra time from Josh Robinson and Johnny McMurray secured the cup for the Crues.

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It was devastating for United and Baxter is expecting them to come out all guns blazing this Sunday.

"Fire," was the Crusaders boss' response when asked what David Jeffrey's men will bring.

"David will have this team so focused and motivated like he did in the semi-final.

"It's a one-off game so it's a big opportunity because if you win you're in Europe.

"David is a very experienced manager, he knows how to get his shape right and get his team playing.

"They did very well in last year's final and we pipped them with a couple of bits of quality.

"I'm expecting another mammoth battle. Ballymena will be formidable opposition so we will have to really be on our game to make sure we're better than them on the day.

"It's going to take something special to beat them."

It's the first Irish Cup final to be played on a Sunday, but Baxter feels it won't affect his side's plans too much and he is still hopeful of getting out on the golf course in the build up.

"All things being equal I'll still get a game of golf on Friday," he said.

"We will try and work through the same processes, at my age you don't get too anxious or worried about all this.

"You do have to make sure that all the fine details of what we need to do are met so that the boys are on it.

"We have to make sure everything is boxed off and we don't leave anything to chance.

"We will change our schedule up slightly with the game now being played on a Sunday, but players are usually in that cup final mode as they've done it a lot, so it's not something that will hamper us."

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