Banbridge go north in Irish Cup

Banbridge Town have been pitted against fellow Championship Two side Ballymoney United in the Fifth Round of the Irish Cup.

Town, of course, defeated Rathfriland Rangers 4-2 to reach the last 32, which will take place on Saturday 11th January. They had been hoping to be rewarded with a glamour tie against a Premiership side but club chairman Andrew Cully is hoping they will have that chance in the next round.

He said: “It’s probably not the draw we wanted. Everybody wants to get Linfield so it ruined the drama a little bit when they were drawn out first.

“We’ll look at it the other way and think, if we can get through this then we’re in the last 16. Then there’s a chance of getting a bigger draw. If we get a home draw against a Premiership team, you just never know.

“It’ll be a hard trip but there’s no reason why we can’t go there, get a result and earn our chance against the big boys.

“It’s a good opportunity for us to progress to the last 16 but then Ballymoney will be thinking that as well. We’ll go down there and give it our all.”

Banbridge have alreeady baten Ballymoney this season, 3-0 in a league tie at Crystal Park.