Cup holders Cliftonville set for emotional Solitude return

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Irish Cup fifth round

Coverage: Watch H&W Welders v Glentoran live on BBC iPlayer on Friday (19:45 GMT); listen to Sportsound and follow text updates and in-play clips on Saturday

Cliftonville begin their Irish Cup defence on Saturday on what is sure to be an emotionally charged afternoon at Solitude following the death of defender Michael Newberry.

Newberry's sudden passing on 30 December at the age of 27 rocked the Irish League community, with Cliftonville's match against Dungannon Swifts and his former club Linfield's game with Larne both postponed as a mark of respect.

Following a flurry of touching tributes to Newberry from far and wide, the Reds are set to return to action when they host Banbridge Rangers in the fifth round of the cup, while Irish Premiership leaders Linfield take on Ballymena and Provincial Intermediate Football League outfit Wellington Rec at Windsor Park.

Earlier this week, Cliftonville confirmed Saturday's game would be preceded by a pre-match tribute to Newberry, who won the 2021 Irish Cup during his time with Linfield.

Having knocked out Queen's University, Mid Ulster Intermediate A side Banbridge Rangers are making their fifth-round debut, while Cliftonville prepare to make their first outing as holders after beating Linfield in last season's final to end a 45-year wait for their ninth Irish Cup.

Media caption,

'A wonderful person' - Devine pays tribute to Newberry

It is likely to be a sombre affair at Mourneview Park, too, as Glenavon play for the first time since the passing of their former chairman Adrian Teer.

Teer, who served the Lurgan club as a director for nearly 40 years, died on 31 December aged 79 following a long battle with illness.

Glenavon host Championship side Dundela in a repeat of the famous 1955 final in which the east Belfast side produced one of the competition's all-time shocks to win their only Irish Cup.

Before a busy Saturday that includes 15 ties, two of Dundela's east Belfast neighbours - H&W Welders and Glentoran - will raise the fifth-round curtain on Friday evening in a game which will be shown live on the BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website.

Glentoran are in the midst of a seven-game unbeaten run but the Welders - who sit fourth in the Championship - will be buoyed by having taken the 23-time winners to penalties in a County Antrim Shield meeting earlier this season.

Having led the Shield tie until James Singleton's injury-time equaliser, Paul Kee's side will be hoping to go one better and set the tone for a weekend of upsets.

And shocks may well feature in abundance as there are no all-Premiership encounters.

Crusaders travel to Knockbreda in one of the two early kick-offs, Portadown are away to Mid Ulster rivals Annagh United, while Carrick Rangers, Ballymena United and Dungannon are home to Newry City, Ards and Rathfriland Rangers.

Loughgall and Larne both travel to the north west to face Institute and Limavady United respectively, while on the north coast Coleraine welcome Armagh City in a tie that pits Bannsiders boss Dean Shiels against his brother-in-law Shea Campbell, who is in charge of the Championship outfit.

That leaves four ties without Premiership representation. Belfast Celtic host Moyola Park, while Ballymacash Rangers take on Ballinamallard United.

Finally, last season's surprise quarter-finalists Newington and Ballyclare Comrades are on the road for ties against Bangor and Dollingstown.