The two traditional giants of Irish League football will clash at the National Stadium at 2.30pm, with a 15,000-strong crowd expected to be in the stadium to watch the match.
While the fervor may be concentrated in north and south Belfast, there are fans from around the country and beyond making their way to the city for the finale.
A busload of ardent supporters will depart from Co Tyrone on Saturday morning, filled with fans from Cookstown, Dungannon and Coalisland.
Mark Rankin pictured with his fellow Cliftonville supporters.
Among them will be Cliftonville fan Mark Rankin, who explained the bus hasn’t been given a definitive departure time for after the game.
“The driver phoned me to ask what time we wanted to come home. I told him afterwards we’d probably make our way back towards Solitude and a few of the bars,” he told the Belfast Telegraph.
“I can imagine if they do win it, the bus could be light on numbers on the way home! There are men mightn’t be home for a week here.
“I’ve been to the last three or four cup finals they have been in, but there has never been a sell-out like there is going to be here tomorrow.”
Mark – a self-confessed pessimist – has cast off his doubts and feels Cliftonville are about to end their 45-year wait for the trophy is about to come to an end.
“From the night Cliftonville beat Coleraine at Coleraine in the first round of the cup, I’ve been telling everyone they are going to win it this year,” he said.
“When they last won it in ’79, the first game was away to Coleraine that year, and I just think it’s a wee omen. I’m usually a pessimist, but I have a good feeling about this one.
“They aren’t favorites for tomorrow, but there’s a buzz among the Cliftonville fans, for a lot of us, we think we are going to break this hoodoo tomorrow.”
NI golfer Gareth Maybin is holidaying in Portugal, but the huge Linfield fan is planning to tune into the game on the BBC iPlayer.
NI golfer and Linfield fan Gareth Maybin.
“I’ve followed the Blues all my life really, since I was seven or eight. I started going to games and I’ve been an avid fan really for the last ten years,” he said.
“I’m quietly confident. Cliftonville really at the end of the season kind of lost a bit of their form. I thought Linfield played really well against Larne and deserved to win it, but it ended a draw.
“There’s going to be around 15,000 there. It’s absolutely brilliant; it’s massive. Two big clubs with a lot of history. It should be a cracker.
“We obviously won the League Cup and were disappointed not to win the league, but if we were to get the Irish Cup over the line, that might be forgotten about.
“Any time it is a final, especially between two big clubs like that, both teams are going to be up for it and it’s going to be a tight one. There won’t be much in it.
“I think it will end 1-1 and Linfield will win on penalties.”
Die-hard Cliftonville fan and comedian Tim McGarry has tentative plans to turn sculptor should his beloved Reds get over the line on Saturday.
“If we win I will be uncontactable for about seven days. I’ll be in the social club and outside building a statue to Jim Magilton,” he said.
“I’m always confident nervous but nervous. I was there in 1979 and I’ve been through a few heartaches beforehand. But I think we’re in a good position, we have a good chance of winning it and we could finally break the hoodoo.
“I got my tickets within five minutes of them coming out – I’m a season ticket holder and I’ve two sons who are fanatical as well.
“I’ve a son in England who watches all the games on the stream and he’s flying over for the final, my brother is up from Dublin.
“I was actually offered corporate seats but I decided I wanted in with the fans, because if we win it’ll be a far better atmosphere.
“Or if we lose, I really don’t want to be eating a prawn sandwich and trying to be polite to Linfield fans over on the other side.
“It’s one of the biggest endings in 20-30 years, they are saying, it sold out very quickly. It’ll be a massive day and we’ll all enjoy it no matter what happens.
“The craic will be good, the atmosphere electric. Hopefully we get a good match and our boys turn up.”
Former DUP special adviser David Graham, who has also had spells working for both Linfield and Glasgow Rangers, is expecting a tight game.
Former Linfield General Manager David Graham.
“Sadly a lot of games of this magnitude, you don’t talk about who won the game, you talk about who lost it,” he said.
“It might come down to a slip or individual error and it will be up to the opposition to capitalize. I’m really excited for it.
“I think the crowd goes is testament to what Gerard Lawlor has been able to do and others in NIFL, because they have really started to drive the league.
“Their job has been made easier by the quality of football. There is no doubt Kenny Bruce and Tiarnan Lynch have raised the bar in terms of the playing standard.
“Credit has to go to Jim Magilton, who has picked his backroom staff wisely. He’s signed well as well and he has every right to go into the game feeling confident.”
Platitudes about the league are one thing, but when asked for his gut instinct, David is backing the Blues.
“I’m feeling positive about it. It may come down to defense; overall Linfield have a stronger defense. I hope I don’t have to eat my words tomorrow, but they are well set up,” he said.
“There are a lot of things in our favor; whatever happens it’s going to be a really exciting day. I just hope that Cliftonville’s unwanted cup record stays in place for at least another year!”
Linfield and Cliftonville set to face off in tense Irish Cup Final
