Linfield should not under-estimate David Miskelly’s desire to lift the Irish Cup.

The Portadown goalkeeper now has a golden chance to realise the dream that slipped agonisingly through his fingers in 2005.

An injury at the quarter-final stage five years ago robbed Miskelly of a chance to take a cherished place between the sticks as the Ports went on to thrash Larne 5-1 in the decider.

Paul Murphy became the first name on Ronnie McFall’s teamsheet while the former Northern Ireland Under-21 shot-stopper reflected on what might have been.

But Miskelly plans to grab his chance on the big stage. In the semi-finals he performed heroics in a tense shoot-out to deny Ballymena United a place in the final.

And now the time has come for him to banish the frustration of 2005.

“I got injured in the quarter-final against Ards in 2005 and never recovered in time to play in the final,” said Miskelly.

“It was very disappointing but these things happen in football. Hopefully, this is now my chance and I will end up with a gold rather than a silver prize.

“You only get so many opportunities to play in an Irish Cup final and I’m not getting any younger.

“I want to take any opportunities that come along and then get the rewards from that. I’m 30-years-old but I’ll go on for as long as I can and perhaps assess things in three years time.”

Miskelly is now out of contract with the Ports but he added: “I’ll be happy to stay. Portadown have been good to me and hopefully I can repay them.

“These are exciting times for the club with younger players like Ross Redman and Sean Mackle maturing brilliantly. It only bodes well for the future and 11 v 11 I don’t feel there are many better sides than Portadown.”

Miskelly will come face to face with a player who thrives on the Irish Cup final stage.

Linfield striker Peter Thompson has twice helped himself to a brace in the showpiece clash — against Glentoran in 2006 and Coleraine in 2008. The Ports number one might be expected to shake a little as he dons the gloves but he says there is no fear factor.

“Linfield have some great strikers but we also have some pretty good centre-halves too,” said Miskelly. “Hopefully they will cancel each other out. We have Darren (Kelly) and Andy (Hunter), John (Convery) and Ryan McCluskey who can fill in in that position. Unfortunately Keith O’Hara is missing out through his injury but we have the players to cope.

“Linfield have about six strikers who could walk into any team and you can’t take anything for granted.But there is definitely no fear factor. We have beaten them twice and drawn here at Windsor.

“The 5-0 defeat was a blip but we had played a lot of games by then, I think it was about the tenth game in around 22 days.

“Linfield have the best squad in the league but we will thrive with the underdog’s tag. On our day we can beat anyone and that’s how we will be looking at it.”

And what if it comes down to another penalty shoot-out and the spotlight again switches onto Miskelly and his counterpart Alan Blayney?

“Hopefully it doesn’t come to penalties but if it does it’s a question of who can hold their nerves — there is no pressure on the keepers at that stage,” he said.

“The player can put it away or the keeper can get a little luck.

“But we won’t be playing for penalties — if that happens we’ll deal with it and the luckiest team will win.”