Bann girls out to cause an upset in Senior Cup semi

Bann are flying high in only their second season in Senior One. They’re now sitting third but opponents Armagh are top, unbeaten all season and looking to get back to the top division.

Bann girl Alex Jenkinson, who is enjoying her first year back at the club after returning from university in Glasgow, reckons her side have what it takes to upset the odds and reach the final with a good display on Sunday afternoon.

“Armagh are top of the league and they beat us 2-1 the last time we played but in a Cup match like this, anything can happen,” she said.

“We’ve been playing very well over the last few weeks and we have have really improved. Of course, it will be a very tough match against the top side in our division but we definitely have a chance of causing an upset.”

Bann are six games unbeaten since that last defeat to Armagh. They’re beginning to push towards their ambition of becoming a Premier League side under the stewardship of new coach Neil Madeley. They’ve also welcomed a series of new additions to the squad this season with Rachel Kerr, Alannah Magee, Elaine Brown, Gina Woods and Charlie Brush all signing for Bann.

“We’re a stronger side this year with a lot of new-comers,” said Jenkinson. “We have what it takes and it would mean so much to everyone to beat Armagh on Saturday.

“It would show everyone how much we have actually improved and it would just be great to see all the hard work we’re putting in during training paying off.”

In the other semi-final (pass-back 1.30pm), 2013 Champions Ballymena take on newly promoted Dungannon, who performed well in the Senior Cup group stage and sit second in Senior One after a string of victories in the league.

Ballymena’s current form has dipped since the start of the season and they also lost out to Dungannon in Senior One at the start of November. They currently sit in sixth position in the league table.