How difficult is it to win back-to-back Irish Cups?

Their opponents were seeking revenge a year on, but Lowry scored the third in a thumping 4-0 win in the sunshine at Windsor Park to help the Crues retain the cup.

"It's a strange one when you play the same opposition back-to-back. We played Crusaders twice at Linfield and both those games were on a knife-edge even though we won one of them more comfortably. They were really tight games," he added.

"The Ballymena ones, the first one was the biggest one as we kind of stole the cup from them and then it was billed as a revenge mission in the second one and it didn't pan out for them. We ran out and played really well and were deserved winners.

"There is added spice when you come up against teams in back-to-back finals. It's not something that tends to happen very regularly, but you just have to be professional about it. The best team always wins the cup."

Back-to-back wins would be 'amazing' for Swifts

Lowry, who is on co-commentary for Saturday's final which is live on BBC Two Northern Ireland and BBC iPlayer, also believes that the fact the Swifts have kept together the majority of the squad that experienced winning the cup last year will help them deal with the pressure to deliver again this year.

"There's always loads of pressure in cup finals because there is more that goes into it than just the trophy on the day. There is now the carrot of European football and the financial windfalls that brings, so there is always pressure," he continued.

"If you win it previously, the experience stands you in good stead because you know what to expect on the day, how big the occasion is and how fine the margins can be. Being in a final before certainly helps."

Rodney McAree's side will be underdogs again, as they were in last year's final against Cliftonville, given Coleraine's recent run of form and the Swifts' poor end to the league campaign.

Lowry believes that the cup may have served as a "lovely distraction" for the Swifts during an inconsistent season and that they will be determined to create some more history, show their newfound Irish Cup pedigree and get back into Europe without having to navigate the play-offs.

"Both teams are coming into it on opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of form. Coleraine have been imperious since the split, won all five games but Dungannon have lost all five of theirs.

"They have been there last year and shown they can cause upsets. They're always really difficult opposition and I wouldn't be writing them off. In Rodney McAree they have a fantastic manager who has been there and done it.

"It would be amazing for the club. To win one and follow it up back-to-back would be unbelievable. I'm sure the players that were in that panel last year will be looking round and telling the newcomers in the squad how big a day it was and about the celebrations that went on for days and weeks."