FOOTBALL: £5 ticket scheme for semi final

The Bannsiders' Community Coach plays an active role in encouraging young fans to come along to The Showgrounds, and he hopes that there will be a large turnout at The Oval in a fortnight's time.

"I think this is a fantastic scheme and hopefully plenty of fans will take advantage of it.

"It's a big part of my role at the club to encourage kids to come along and get involved with the club and schemes like this can only add to it.

"It's going to be a big night for us and we have a great chance of making it through to a final, so hopefully the fans will be out in force and get behind us.

"We've done well this year, but there's a big part of the season still ahead.

"This is the first time since I've been here that we've still been in with a shout of winning all three trophies in the turn of the year.

"We have to make sure that we make the most of it. We have a favourable draw in the Irish Cup, coupled with this semi final as well as having games in hand in the league, so it's going to be a big few months for us."

The IFA launched the 5 ticket initiative for children under 16 last week. With adult prices set at 10 the IFA, in partnership with Cup sponsor The Co-operative Insurance, aim to encourage more families to attend the semi-finals and sample some of the best action that domestic Cup football has to offer.

The Co-operative Insurance Cup Semi-finals will see 2008 / 2009 winners Portadown take on competition favourites Glentoran at Windsor Park on Tuesday 2 February (kick-off 7.45pm) with Coleraine facing Dungannon Swifts at The Oval on Wednesday 3 February (kick-off 7.45pm).

Tickets for both semi-finals can be purchased directly from the relevant clubs.