Banking on cup glory

The sides have met once already this season with the Tyrone men coming out on top, but despite that result, both sides are still very much in contention for the Billy Henderson Properties Ltd Senior One title.

Strabane on their way to the final have defeated Fox Lodge, St Johnston and Donemana in the semi-final, and skipper Jonathon Beuckes is expecting another tough encounter against Brigade.

"Whenever you go into a final it's always a 50/50 chance of winning and I think whoever plays well over the two days will give themselves the best chance, so we'll be taking it as it comes," he said.

"I keep saying to the guys no matter if it's a cup final or a league game you try and go out and try to win it; you should also try to have the sort of thought patterns, play one ball at a time and try not to get too far ahead and if you can play good consistent cricket you'll be rewarded.

"We are looking forward to Friday and hopefully the weather stays good and there will be a good crowd in, watching."

The South African believes Strabane have the right mixture of youth and experience in their side.

"We have a good squad of players, guys who have played for a while and a few young guys who have just come into the side and it is good that we are improving and trying to play good cricket consistently," Beuckes added.

"It doesn't help playing good cricket for just one season; you want to keep doing well as you go on.

"As I have said there is a good mix of older guys and younger guys and it's good to have that depth and also give the youngsters a go in the senior side."

The Limavady Road men overcame neighbours Glendermott, Coleraine and Eglinton to reach this weekend's showpiece final and captain Mark Simpson is hoping his players can rise to the occasion.

"Your target at the start of the year is to try and win as many games as possible and everyone has one eye on the Senior Cup Final, because it's really the highlight of the season, so we are pleased to be there," declared Simpson.

"We are still battling on two fronts, the league and this weekend's Senior Cup Final, but we now have one eye on the North West final, we know it's not going to be easy to beat Strabane, because they are sitting on the same amount of points as us in the league and are in exactly the same position as ourselves in terms of their season."

Because both sides suffered ClubTurf semi-final heartache last Sunday to Limavady and Instonians respectively, Simpson believes this weekend's final is too close to call.

"There's definitely no favourites and I don't think the favourites tag means much anyway; but in my eyes I don't think either of us are favourites, although Strabane did give us a good stuffing whenever we played them at their place earlier in the season in the league.

"To be honest it was just one of those days and we'll not be reflecting too much on that game, because this Friday's match is a different day, with different conditions; we know they can beat us and we know that we can beat them and it will be about who wants it more on the day and maybe who gets that little bit of the rub of the green," concluded the Brigade skipper.

Umpiring proceedings will be duo John Thompson and Roly Black, who is incidentally making his first appearance in a senior cup final.