Fixture schedule is shaken up as NIFL bid to make sure League Cup final goes ahead

FROMBACKPAGE After talks involving both clubs and the NI Football League, it was decided there should be a fourth attempt to play the game at The Showgrounds on Saturday, meaning Cliftonville’s trip to Warrenpoint Town moves to Tuesday and Ballymena’s home game with Ballinamallard United is postponed, with a new date to be confirmed.

TheRedswereangeredbythe late postponement of the semi-final on Tuesday evening.

After the pitch was declared playable by official Evan Boyce at 2.30pm, the game was axed at 5.45pm following the arrival of match referee Keith Kennedy.

Because Cliftonville will now be in midweek action, their encounter with Linfield, originally set for next Friday night, has been rearranged for Saturday, subject to the Reds’ League Cup exploits.

If Cliftonville defeat the Sky Blues this Saturday, their encounter with David Healy’s side will be put on the back-burner because the Reds will be playing Dungannon Swifts in the cup decider — but if it’s Ballymena who progress to the final, Linfield will visit Solitude, with a contingency plan in place for a 5.30pm kickoff if United and Cliftonville are frozen out again this weekend.

One game that has been rearranged for February 17 and is not dependant on any League Cup permutations is Carrick Rangers v Warrenpoint, which had previously been set for the previous night but has been put back due to Town’s midweek engagement with the Reds.

• QUEEN’S hopes of lifting the Collingwood Cup were shattered by 10-man UCD in yesterday’s final in Belfast.

Daire O’Connor’s injury-time goal clinched a dramatic 2-1 victory to sun the hosts.

Queen’s were chasing a first Collingwood title since 1985 and when UCD’s Georgie Kelly was sent off before half-time it looked on the cards.

His dismissal came moments after Ronan Young’s free-kick had got QUB on terms after Timmy Molloy had put UCD ahead.

Both teams had second-half chances before O’Connor’s lastgasp winner.