Crossword Genius

Cheering cup side missing final (3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

tea

'cheering cup' is the definition.
(a cup of tea may cheer you up)

'side missing final' is the wordplay.
'side' becomes 'team' (a side is a sporting team).
'missing final' means to remove the last letter.
'team' with its last letter taken off is 'TEA'.

(Other definitions for tea that I've seen before include "Principally" , "TREE" , "Leaves for brewing" , "Plantation product" , "Afternoon meal (3)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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