Albert Watson: I fear for Linfield in Irish Cup Final… with Cliftonville's strikers, this could be their year
Linfield’s William Murphy and Albert Watson celebrate winning the Irish Cup after defeating Crusaders in the 2012 Final
Albert Watson in action for Carrick Rangers against Jordan Owens of Crusaders
Linfield League and Cup double winner Albert Watson has warned the Blues to be wary of Cliftonville’s fire on Saturday.
The experienced defender helped Linfield celebrate a double in 2012, when he also scooped the club’s Player of the Year prize.
Still going strong at Carrick Rangers, the Larne Under-16 coach also won a League title with the Invermen and three County Antrim Shields.
The Irish Cup Final will see ex-Northern Ireland team-mates and friends Jim Magilton and David Healy go toe-to-toe and former Ballymena United defender Watson is expecting a ferocious battle between the two rivals. Cliftonville have had an impressive season and can look forward to European football but the Irish Cup has evaded their grasp since 1979.
The Reds’ motivation to make history will be sizzling hot and Watson feels Linfield could experience an uncomfortable afternoon.
“I have my concerns for Linfield around the Cup Final. Cliftonville are certainly due a Cup win,” said the 38-year-old.
“The Reds have explosive players like Rory and Ronan Hale who can just turn a game on its head. I really do think it will be a close game. Cliftonville play a very good brand of football and Linfield will need to defend well.
“Linfield have been conceding goals and we know the Reds can score goals.
“This Final could go any way. If Cliftonville play the way they did against Larne in the Semi-Final they will beat Linfield. It’s fresh in their memory and this is a one-off game in which they can leave it all out there.
“I have a feeling Cliftonville might do it. This could be their year.”
Both sides have match-winners who can be explosive on the big occasion and the players will need to win their individual battles.
The Hale boys — Rory in midfield and Ronan in attack — can be game changers and Watson, who left Linfield in 2013 to join FC Edmonton in Canada, feels Magilton’s side have a cutting edge which can slice open the Blues.
“I look throughout their squad and I see game changers,” said the centre-back. “I can remember the European Play-Off against Glentoran at The Oval when Ronan scored four goals for Larne. He is an exceptional talent and in the blink of an eye can stick one in the top corner.
“He’s a player that can leave you saying ‘wow’ and Rory has enjoyed a phenomenal season.
“You can’t write the Reds off, they are playing great football and you must give Jim Magilton great credit. I think they have been exceptional this season. They lost Levi (Ives) and Crickey (Gallagher) but they have maintained their impressive form.”
Watson’s Carrick team-mate Curtis Allen, who won a League title at Linfield and the 2015 Irish Cup with Glentoran, takes a different view, reinforcing the conclusion this showpiece is difficult to call.
“I think Linfield will be strong,” said Allen, who spent two years with the Blues after joining from Lisburn Distillery in 2009. “They suffered heartache in the League and will have a score to settle. Cliftonville have waited a long time to win the Irish Cup but the Blues will be like a wounded animal.
“I’ve been at the club and I know that if you don’t win the League there is a massive post-mortem into it and they will be firing on all cylinders come Saturday.”
