Homers boss wants players to re-write history books in Junior Cup final

Homers will become the first team in the 44-year history of the Ballymena Saturday Morning League to win the Coca-Cola IFA Junior Cup if they can overcome the challenge of Omagh side Strathroy Harps in the May Day Monday final at Mill Meadow, Castledawson (2pm).

“It’s the pinnacle of any junior footballer’s career - there’s simply no bigger trophy to win,” said Duddy, whose impressive first season in charge of Homers has already seen them claim the Arkmedia Saturday Morning League title at the weekend after a 2-0 over nearest rivals Carniny Rangers.

Despite being originally from Belfast, Duddy has a lengthy connection with Homers having played midweek games for them for a number of seasons, while playing for and later managing crack Amateur League side Rooftop.

When previous manager Jason Jordan stepped down at the end of the last season, Duddy took over as manager at a time of a low ebb in Homers’ history, in the wake of the infamous County Antrim Junior Shield final when both Homers and their neighbours Carniny Rangers got to the final only for both teams to fall foul of rules concerning player eligibility.

“It was a tough time and we had also lost a number of experienced players in John McDowell, Philip McBurney and Ian Millar - all good Homers men - so it would have been easy for the players and the club to be down in the dumps.

“But we brought in a few young players, reduced the average age of the squad and the players have responded brilliantly and it has been a really good season so far.”

With the league title already in the bag, Homers are likely to ring the changes for tonight’s Rainey Cup quarter-final against Randalstown Sky Blues with Duddy wrapping his players in cotton wool ahead of next Monday’s final.

“We’ll not take too many chances this week - we have a free Saturday this weekend so we’ll do a bit of training and maybe get a session on the 3G at the Showgrounds because it’s an artificial surface at Moyola for the final.

“Strathroy actually play their home games on a 3G pitch so they might be at a wee bit of an advantage but we turned in one of our best performances on that type of surface when he won at Lisnaskea earlier in this cup run, plus we have players who are good on the ball and have plenty of pace, so playing the final on it holds no fears for us.

“We’re all very much looking forward to it. We have a couple of busloads of supporters going and I know it’s created a lot of interest among football people in Ballymena.”

Duddy is likely to have a full panel of players to choose from with the exception of leading goalscorer Paul McNeill, who is getting married in Cyprus.

“Obviously we would have loved to have been going into the final with Paul in the team - what team wouldn’t miss a striker who has scored around 40 goals? - but we understand Paul’s situation.

“We have a decent squad and it will be up to someone else to come in and step up to the mark in Paul’s absence,” added Robert.