Football: Ayre and Peel to meet for 2024 Railway Cup Final

Sides facing off in last two for second season running

Ayre United and Peel will face off in the Manx capital today (26 December) in the 2024 Plum Properties Railway Cup Final.

Kicking-off at 2pm at The Bowl in Douglas, it's the second season running both teams have reached the last two of the competition.

Whilst Ayre United come in as defending champions, Peel's recent better form has seen them leapfrog the northerners in the Canada Life Men's Premier League.

Manx Radio's football correspondent Tony Mepham explains why he thinks the Railway Cup is a special occasion in the Isle of Man football season and rates the chances of both sides to claim the trophy this afternoon:

Both teams left it late in their respective semi-final clashes on 14 December to secure their spots in this showdown.

Ayre United required a Shaun Kelly strike in second-half stoppage time to earn a narrow 3-2 win over Laxey at Andreas Playing Fields.

Meanwhile, Peel scored twice in the final three minutes at Ballafletcher against Corinthians to snatch a dramatic 4-3 victory.

In last year's final Ayre were 3-2 winners over Peel with the northern side thanks to a brace from Danny Oram and a strike from Jamie Callister.

Aaron Costain and Lee Gale found the net for Peel for whom it was a second Railway Cup final defeat in as many seasons.