The domestic football season gets underway tonight as Sports Direct Premiership Champions Linfield and Clearer Water Irish Cup victors Dungannon Swifts meet at Windsor Park to compete for the NIFL Charity Shield (7.45pm k.o). Linfield will be targeting a 5th success whilst The Swifts will be making their first appearance in this annual match. Both sides meet again at Windsor Park next month on the opening weekend of the Premiership season.
The Charity Shield Final is traditionally seen as the curtain raiser for the Irish League season although in recent years it has doubled as preparation for clubs participating in European competition. This season Linfield will head to Tolka Park in Dublin to face League of Ireland Champions Shelbourne in the UEFA Champions League (9th July) while Dungannon Swifts travel further afield travel on 24th July, to Liechtenstein, to play FC Vaduz in the Europa Conference League.
Managers David Healy MBE and Rodney McAree will welcome the opportunity to face top opposition in a competitive game with some early season silverware up for grabs. The Gaffer will certainly look for a good performance and hope to avoid any injuries in the squad ahead of next week’s massive tie in Dublin.
Hopefully this will prove to be the first step on the long road towards another successful season for The Blues.
COYB!
By Ken Garrett. 