That's us for this evening, then.

Keep your eyes on the BBC Sport NI website and our social platforms for match highlights and post-match reaction.

You can read Mark Sterling's report from Windsor Park right here.

The Crues can go to bed tonight dreaming of their cup final day to come, and joyous that North Belfast bragging rights belong to them.

As for Cliftonville, they'll have to let the disappointment wash over them quickly as they gear up for what looks set to be a nailbiting title race.

We're into April, and the best of the season is yet to come in the two biggest competitions. Thanks for joining us.

So what next?

Well, a bit of a wait until the second semi-final with Ballymena United and Newry City slated for Wednesday 13 April.

Glentoran have indicated they intend to keep fighting against their dismissal so who knows what, if anything, happens next there.

What we know with absolute certainty is that Crusaders will be back at Windsor on 7 May for the final.

The DJ duly obliges to the Crusaders' fans cheers by playing some Erasure.

He's had that queued for the whole second half. Even though it was one goal in the end it rarely looked in doubt, barring one brilliant intervention from Jonny Tuffy.

Crusaders' season was effectively on the line tonight and they delivered the goods.

They'll have another day out at Windsor this season.

There's the whistle, Crusaders are back in the Irish Cup final for the first time since they won it in 2019!

Deserved over the 90 minutes, that's a huge win for the Shore Road men.

Cliftonville's treble dream is over and they'll rue the fact that they were not able to capitalise on a strong start and never truly responded to going behind.

Kitchen sink time for Cliftonville. 90 seconds left.

Jonny Tuffey, that is utterly superb.

He's not just a calm head, he's a hell of a keeper. It's the biggest chance of the half for Cliftonville as Joe Gormley nods a long ball into Paul O'Neill's path.

He's clean through and tries to go round Tuffey, who reads it and sticks out a leg to divert the ball away from goal.

Five minutes of added time.

Instant impact from Kearns who twists and turns inside the box but Jarlath O'Rourke sticks to his task and stands him up albeit at the expense of a corner.

A first of the half for Cliftonville, whose fans rise in voice accordingly.

Oh what joy for Crusaders to have Jonny Tuffey in such moments, who calmly comes out to gather.

Ross Clarke has acquitted himself extremely well on the right tonight, has looked the likeliest man to make something happen for Crusaders pretty much at all times.

He spins out of another tackle from Levi Ives as the leaders control possession in their preferred area of the pitch.

Paul Heatley eventually goes up for a header and as he comes down, he seems to grimace in pain and signals that he's in a spot of bother, looks like a bad touch of cramp.

Daniel Kearns is on for Cliftonville as Kris Lowe comes off.

Paul Leeman on co-commentary says Cliftonville need to find more urgency. That's exactly it.

At the moment they're on their way out and it's all been rather limp from the Reds since they went behind. It's not the most captivating of contests, and Crusaders will be absolutely delighted if it stays this way until the end.

Daniel Larmour is the next Crusaders player to make way. He's been struggling with an injury for the last 10 minutes or so as well and rather hobbles off.

On comes Chris Hegarty.

Mark Sterling
BBC Sport NI at Windsor Park

At this stage in the League Cup final here a few weeks ago, Cliftonville looked dead and buried at 2-0 down to Coleraine. And we all know what happened then.

They are in this match much more, but they are leaving it late if they are going to get an equaliser and, in truth, their play in the second half has lacked the attacking vigour that they have become renowned for.

Plenty of patience in possession, but you feel they will have to crank up the urgency levels soon to force a goal.

For their part, Crusaders could say they are managing this game quite well. Rarely in trouble at the back and carrying a threat on the break themselves.

If ever a semi-final was delicately poised.....

This has been a really strange half, lacking any discernible pattern or flow.

Jonny Tuffey has been little more than a spectator with Paul O'Neill and Joe Gormley, so vibrant in the opening 20 minutes, struggling to make an impact.

Cliftonville will need to find a way to turn up the pressure on their rivals going down the stretch here, because at the moment it's reasonably comfortable for the Crues.

Ben Kennedy is down holding his hamstring, he's getting a bit of treatment and Crusaders will desperately hope it's not the end of his game as he has really grown into it.

Jarlath O'Rourke is brought on as the Crues try to see this one out.

Rory Hale has definitely brought a bit more tempo to Cliftonville's play and has wasted no time in getting in the thick of the action, taking a hefty hit from Philip Lowry before sliding in to beat Ross Clarke to the ball, but he can't prevent it going behind for a goal kick.

Bit more of an edge to this one now, as you'd expect in such circumstances.

We're past the hour mark and it's been an incident-free second half thus far, which suits Crusaders right down to the ground.

Chris Curran's race is run for the day, the captain makes way for Conor McDermott as Paddy McLaughlin issues some animated instructions to his men.

Half an hour to save their Irish Cup campaign.

Yup, on comes Rory Hale to see if he can't come back to haunt his former club.

Ronan Doherty the man to make way.

At what point does either manager look to his bench?

Plenty of options on both, maybe a Daniel Kearns or Rory Hale for Cliftonville?

Jordan Forsythe wriggles out of a challenge to win a corner for his side.

Ben Kennedy puts it right on top of Luke McNicholas who does well to parry it out but Crusaders recycle and get another corner.

This time it's an inswinger from Kennedy who gets it back, chips it in to Billy Joe Burns who heads over.

Crues enjoying the set-pieces, Cliftonville not so much.

Right, back underway at Windsor.

Remember that second semi-final saga?

Yeah, not heard the last of it.