‘We don’t fear Coagh’ - Blair

The centre-back also admits that they will respect this weekend’s opponents but he feels they have enough about them to book their place in the quarter-final.

“We’ll respect Coagh, but we won’t fear them, I have to admit that this Newbuildings squad is the best side I have every played with and that counts my time at ’Stute,” insisted Blair.

“I think we had a couple of guys up watching them recently and there is definitely nothing to fear, so hopefully the surprise factor will help us, and Coagh to maybe take us lightly, but I’m also sure they will have looked at our league results and be ready for us, but you never know.”

The ex-Institute man concedes that he and his team-mates were a wee bit disappointed that they missed out on the chance of playing at Windsor Park, Solitude or Coleraine Showgrounds in this round, but they soon started dreaming of reaching the last eight.

“All the players and the whole village is buzzing and we are all looking forward to the match,” he said.

“Whenever we saw the draw back in Villas, that day myself and everyone in the squad were a bit downbeat, but the more we thought about it we started to get more upbeat.

“Coagh are definitely a beatable team, the way we have played this year the confidence is high, we have played nine league games and won nine, so because of that everyone at the club is looking forward to it.”

Despite them being a point behind Oxford United Stars in the Northern Ireland Intermediate League, the local rivals still took time out to wish Newbuildings luck this weekend and Blair thought that was a nice touch.

“The whole Waterside is cheering us on, now that ’Stute are out there is even more interest and you can even see over the last few league matches that our crowds are getting bigger.

“Even Oxford, who we’re fighting with for the league, they had a wee bit in one of the papers, wishing us all the best and that’s brilliant that the whole town is getting behind us.”