Comber Rec chase Border Cup after disappointment last year

18 December 2024

COMBER Rec will look to go one step further and put last season’s Border Cup final heartbreak behind them when they meet Crumlin Star at the Blanchflower Stadium next Friday.

Rec claimed the Steel and Sons Cup on Christmas Day last year and had hoped to make it a double two days later, but were left stunned as Willowbank dealt them a 6-1 defeat.

While they have recorded a mixed bag of results in the Amateur League Premier Division – they sit in ninth place – their cup form has been undeniable and they have earned themselves the chance to better their runners up medals from 2023 as they search for their first Border Cup title in 66 years.

They have already overcome Portavogie Rangers, Shankill United, Finaghy and Derriaghy en route to the final and will be riding high on confidence, having posted an unbeaten record in their past three games.

Now just one step from glory, if Comber are to get their hands on the silverware, they will have to overcome a Crumlin Star side who sit six points above them in the table.

Star are being tipped as the favourites and have seen off worthy opponents in 1st Bangor, Shorts, Drumaness Mills and Immaculata to make it to the finale.

Since 2017, they have been crowned Premier Division champions twice and have claimed two Border Cups, two Intermediate Cups and the Clarence Cup.

There is no doubting their pedigree in knockout competitions and while many fancy them to add to their trophy cabinet, there are no certainties in football.

The magic of the cup has a tendency to spring an upset or two and that is something Comber know all too well.

Mark Brady’s side will be encouraged by their 5-1 victory over Crumlin Star in the Steel and Sons Cup in September.

Brett McConville hit a hat trick in that encounter and could prove to be the difference between winning and losing this time out, having found the back of the net 19 times this term.

Simon Hanna and Elliot Wilson added to McConville’s goals in what was a dominant display and there is no doubt they will be hoping for more of the same.

However, Brady will concede that Crumlin have the upper hand, having beaten Comber 4-1 and 3-2 in the league.

Whatever happens, this is sure to be one of the games of the season and given their track record, the two sides are unlikely to disappoint.

Kick-off is scheduled for 2.45pm.

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