SPEECHLESS; LINFIELD 4 CRUSADERS 1 IRISH CUP FINAL Jeffrey lost for words (for once) as Blues seal a 6th double in 7 years.Byline: DARREN FULLERTONEVEN Linfield boss David Jeffrey David Jeffrey is a former Northern Irish footballer who played for Linfield, he is now team manager. He was previously a captain of Ards. In the 2005/2006 season Jeffrey guided Linfield to a clean sweep of domestic trophies. didn't boast the range of vocabulary to describe the deliverance of a sixth double in seven years at the weekend. The Irish League's preeminent wordsmith word·smith n. 1. A fluent and prolific writer, especially one who writes professionally. 2. An expert on words. Noun 1. conceded Saturday's Irish Cup The Irish Cup is the national cup knock-out competition in Northern Irish football. Inaugurated in 1881, it is the fourth oldest national cup competition in the world. Prior to the break-away from the Irish Football Association by clubs from what would become the Irish Free State stroll against Crusaders had left him speechless. "The feeling is indescribable," said Jeffrey. "I don't have the vocabulary to say how pleased, proud, happy, ecstatic I am. "I wish I had better words. I am just thankful and grateful for this win and to secure another double is just tremendous. "Six doubles in seven years? What we have achieved in the past seven years at this club is phenomenal. "I don't think we have seen a record like that before and I'm not sure it will ever be surpassed." Linfield, who lifted the Irish League title nine days ago, secured the Irish Cup at the weekend with two goals in either half. Mark McAllister Mark McAllister (born 23 February, 1988 from Garvaghy Road, Portadown, County Armagh, Northern Ireland) is a footballer who plays for Irish League club Dungannon Swifts in County Tyrone as a centre forward. fired home from close range in the 28th and 41st minutes en route to lifting the man of the match award. A deflected Colin Coates Colin Victor Coates (born April 4, 1946 in Richmond, New South Wales) is a former ice speed skater from Australia, who represented his native country in – a record – six consecutive Winter Olympics, starting in 1968 in Grenoble, France. freekick handed Crusaders a lifeline at the start of the second-period. But Linfield were soon 3-1 up, thanks to Michael Carvill who curled a 25-yard free-kick into the top corner. Marauding ma·raud v. ma·raud·ed, ma·raud·ing, ma·rauds v.intr. To rove and raid in search of plunder. v.tr. To raid or pillage for spoils. midfielder Jamie Mulgrew put the result beyond when he rounded off a sweeping team move late on. "I think the fourth goal summed us up best - it was a terrific team goal," said Jeffrey. "It's a tremendous achievement from the players. "They step up to the plate every year and deliver every year. I think we have only lost one Irish Cup game in our last 40 or something. "As a player, during 10 years at Linfield, the club were involved in only two cup finals. I played in one and lost it. "I never won the trophy as a player, so to lift it as a manager is a wonderful feeling. It means a lot." Crusaders boss Stephen Baxter believes the Irish League's chasing pack face a thankless task catching Linfield. He also alluded to the Blues' lucrative contract with the Irish FA for use of Windsor Park as an international venue. "Six doubles in seven years highlights the job other clubs face trying to stop them," said Baxter. "I joked back in January that if you gave me an extra pounds 250,000, we could maybe compete with them. "You don't compete with Linfield because you can't compete with Linfield - it is a financial stretch. "We are not complaining about it. If I had the money I would spend it. Take nothing away from Linfield. "While they have a great squad, they all have to work hard and play well every week." ?LINFIELD will put their Irish League and Irish Cup trophies on display before today's glamour friendly with Rangers at Windsor Park (3pm). The Rangers 'Til I Die' organisation in Northern Ireland will be selling Rangers rosettes at the game, with proceeds going towards the Rangers fighting fund. Tickets for the game will be on sale at the Windsor Park ticket office right up to kick-off , priced pounds 20 each. CAPTION(S): JOY BOYS Michael Carville, Mark McAllister & Jamie Mulgrew * HI HO SILVER David Jeffrey lifts yet another Irish Cup for Linfield at Windsor s |
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