Duo up for the cup

THE prestigious North West Matt Morrison Junior Cup final on Friday night sees Premier Division sides Newtowne and Greysteel face each other, at Limavady Showgrounds (KO 7pm).

Title winners Newtowne will go into the final as favourites, but Greysteel manager Paddy Irvine doesn't mind going into the tie as underdogs.

In fact if Greysteel can cause an upset then the entire village will either be celebrating or playing.

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"We have around 50 players signed for both the first team and reserve team and they all have a Greysteel address," said Irvine.

"Myself and joint manager Dessie Moore made a point this season to sign all locals and we can't ask for much more as we have reached two cup finals and done alright in the Premier Division.

"We have brought a few players up from the Reserves this season and they have done very well for us.

"We know that we go into the final as underdogs, but we won't be afraid of Newtowne and like any cup final it all depends who performs on the day.

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"Newtowne have been there and done that: with the final being staged at Limavady United we are going into Newtowne's own back yard, but as I have said we'll be up for the game."

Irvine also admitted that his side have a number of injury worries going into the final and he also acknowledged that former Institute defender Adrian Creane has played a major role in their success this season.

"Unfortunately we are struggling with injuries, Gareth Sands, Brian Logue and Declan Doherty are three major doubts for us, so we'll have to wait and see how they are later in the week.

"Adrian has been a great assist to both me and Dessie; he has taken training and has been a great leader on the pitch for us," concluded Irvine.

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As for Newtowne, their joint-managers Michael Burns and Martin Holland are only too aware that they'll go into Friday evening's final expected to win the game, but they aren't taking anything for granted.

"We are used to the favourites tag," admitted Holland.

"Last year we won the double, but it would be great if we could win the treble this year, the Sentinel Cup, League and hopefully the Junior Cup.

"We have played Greysteel twice already this season and have won both matches 2-0; firstly in the semi-final of the Sentinel Cup and then in the league, both matches were tough and I'm expecting another tough match this Friday. They know everything about us and we know everything about them.

"This will be our third Junior Cup final in four years, we have won one and lost one, so we have experienced both sides of it."

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As for Burns he, like Holland will be warning his players not to underestimate Greysteel.

"Playing any Greysteel side over the years is never easy, they fight tooth and nail for corners, throw-ins, everything, but we have been in so many cup finals over the last few years we know what to expect," said Burns.

"We have won two domestic trophies already this season; it would be great to complete the treble, but we have also won the Draperstown Cup earlier in the year, that competition is normally for Intermediate sides, but we were invited into it in the summer and won it, so if we can win on Friday night then that will mean four trophies in one season.

"The boys knows that we need to step up to the plate if we want to win on Friday, we have managed to overcome Greysteel twice already this season, but that means nothing now.

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"Over the years our biggest problem is that we struggled in matches where we are expected to win, against the so called lesser sides, so as I have said the boys need to make sure they step up to the plate.

"We beat a very good and well organised Liverpool Supporters Club in the semi-final, so it would be disappointing if we beat the Junior Cup holders and then lost the final."