Irish Cup success is beyond a dream for Banbridge man

Jonny Tuffey and Glenavon Assistant Manager Paul Millar get to grips with the Cup at Windsor Park. Picture by Brian Little/Presseye

Banbridge has a new Irish Cup hero after Jonny Tuffey got his hands on the trophy on Saturday.

Those hands were much to thank for the triumph as he kept a clean sheet with a flawless performance in Glenavon’s 2-0 win over Linfield.

In truth, it wasn’t the goalkeeper’s most difficult day at the office. Linfield were outplayed by Tuffey’s team. He had only a couple of top drawer saves to make but it came as little surprise to the Glenavon support that he pulled those off perfectly.

“It was absolutely fantastic,” he said after what was his first Irish Cup triumph.

“It was a very special day. To play the way we played and to get the result that we did was just unbelievable. It was a really, really good day. It was beyond any dreams or anything I could have thought.”

Tuffey’s Glenavon side were given a roaring send-off from Mourneview Park that morning, the road filled with fans along with blue and orange smoke.

“To get to Mourneview Park that morning and see how many fans had turned up and get all the messages of support was great,” said the stopper.