United face crunch semi with Crues tonight

The Sky Blues have home advantage for the semi-final, when they will hope to reach their first knockout final since 2005.

But they face a formidable threat in the shape of Crusaders, while Ballymena also go into the game on the back of Saturday’s 3-0 defeat by Glenavon.

“We were always going to be the underdogs of the four teams that are left,” manger Roy Walker told Times Sport.

“The league standings would tell you that as would the cup pedigree of the other three teams, all of whom have won trophies in the recent past.

“Our home form has been better recently than it was before but we have to treat this entirely as a one-off and we have to put all our energies into being positive and doing what we can do.

“It’s certainly unusual to be looking a semi-final line-up which doesn’t contain any of Linfield, Glentoran or Portadown but all the teams are there on merit.

“We have crept into the semi-final almost unnoticed – the only time anyone paid any attention to us in this competition was when we were 2-0 down at Dergview in the quarter-finals!

“Our season has been defined for many people by two really bad results against Coleraine and Cliftonville but that has been offset by our cup run which has given our season a bit of balance.”

Supporters are reminded that season tickets and any passes for associated youth teams are not valid for tonight’s game. It will be pay at the gate at the regular prices of £10 for adults and £7 for concessions.

Meanwhile, Walker has revealed he is prepared to let Eamonn Murray leave the Showgrounds.

The winger has found difficulty in making it to training from his home in Downpatrick after starting a new job recently, while he also missed his lift to Coleraine for a recent league match.

“It’s just not practical to keep Eamonn any more.

“It may be that we might see what players other clubs might offer in part-exchange but either way, having Eamonn off the wage bill will free up some money to strengthen other areas of the team,” added Walker.

Saturday’s Carling Premiership home match against Glentoran (3pm) will be sponsored by Ballymena United Development Committee, while the match ball sponsor is Progressive Building Society, Wellington Street.