Crusaders striker Jordan Owens (left) and manager Stephen Baxter in front of the League Cup trophy. Pic by Pacemaker.Crusaders striker Jordan Owens (left) and manager Stephen Baxter in front of the League Cup trophy. Pic by Pacemaker.
Crusaders striker Jordan Owens (left) and manager Stephen Baxter in front of the League Cup trophy. Pic by Pacemaker.

LEAGUE CUP FINAL: Jordan Owens’ familiarity breeds confidence for Crusaders camp

During what is widely accepted as an era-defining period of change in Irish League history, Crusaders’ hopes of silverware success may, once again, rest on Jordan Owens this weekend - a player who has cultivated a career on the foundations of familiarity.

Since breaking out of the Seaview club’s youth set-up in 2008, Owens’ consistency of performance stands in many ways as a focal point of Crusaders’ development into a domestic force.

The imposing physical presence of Owens has led the line towards every major honour secured under manager Stephen Baxter across over 500 appearances and a place as Crusaders’ all-time leading goalscorer.

The Crues and opponents Coleraine switch focus this Saturday from the most thrilling Danske Bank Premiership title race of the modern era as two of the five rivals battling for an edge.

The previous occasion the sides stepped out with League Cup honour on the line was back in 2012 when Owens played his part in helping Crusaders lift the prize off a Chris Morrow goal at Ballymena Showgrounds.

That win stands as the sole League Cup reward within Owens’ medal collection and when he walks out on to the Windsor Park pitch this weekend in front of the Sky Sports television cameras for the current clash it will be armed with the same skillset on which Crusaders have so often counted over the past decade - but bolstered by the benefit of experience gained between the two final dates.

“It was a big cup final then in front a big crowd and I was only coming into the team,” recalls Owens. “I was in and out of the squad but from that experience you know what it takes to win trophies and we’ve had a squad which has been good enough to do that.

“I don’t see why we cannot go on and win more.

“The League Cup win in 2012 - and Irish Cup win before in 2009 - probably set down a marker.

“It was big, huge in 2009 as the club hadn’t won the Irish Cup in a while.

“You can see from that the ins and outs of players, we’ve had big squads and the club has been building.

“The club is going forward and we are winning trophies every season.

“You can see that and certainly the League Cup win in 2012 was another big stepping stone.

“Playing back then as a young striker with people like Colin Coates and David Rainey, they pushed you on and now I can see young players are hungry for that and I can help them.

“If you are hungry you can get success.

“Strikers always want to score goals but I’ve had a few injuries myself this year.

“I’ve been in and out of the team and players want back in so you have to perform.

“Every game feels like a cup final and my job is to score goals and keep the team moving forward.”

Owens broke the deadlock on Crusaders’ previous senior knockout showpiece stage - last season’s Irish Cup win over Ballinamallard United.

“We set up in training through the week against Ballinamallard knowing they would be a tough opponent,” said Owens. “We treated them like any Irish League team and the early goal settled us a bit.

“We settled into the game and both teams had chances but we got a few goals.

“We were probably the best team on the day but Ballinamallard gave it their all.”

It was a trademark finish by Owens as he showed strength inside the box to create the crucial space for a decisive header.

In a time of a new-money injection by Glentoran and Larne shifting the goalposts on numerous fronts, Crusaders can draw comfort from the dependability of Owens’ record-breaking career in Crues colours.