Foyle banking on cup success

David Barnett and Ray Menown’s side take on Banbridge Academy in the Danske Bank Schools’ Bowl Final, at Dungannon Rugby Club, this afternoon (KO 2.30pm).

For some players this will be their last game for the school but Mr Barnett is treating today’s final as just another game.

“I don’t like building the final up too much, I want to get the boys going into the game sort of relaxed,” stated Barnett.

“We are on a roll now having had three really, really good performances and I want us to keep preparing the way we have in those games, because that has probably been our best rugby this year and it seems to be working, so hopefully that routine will work again.”

“There are around five or six players who will be leaving the school this year, so it would certainly be nice for them to end their Foyle career on a high and winning a trophy.

“It would also be good for the younger boys to win and experience a final.”

Neither side have faced each other for a number of years and because of that Mr Barnett believes no one goes into this afternoon’s final as favourites.

“It’s hard to call who’s favourites and I’m just not saying that because I don’t want to build us up or down,” joked Barnett.

“We are two even sides and we haven’t played them for about three or four years, it was a tight game and we lost 3-0 after conceding a penalty.”

Barnett also believes that Foyle need to ensure their discipline is good and that they don’t concede any needless penalties.

“I feel the game is going to be very tight and it may even come down to discipline and who gives away the least penalties,” he added.

“We have been working on our defence last week and we are looking to make sure that we don’t give away any penalties, so we were staying on the back foot when the ball is in the fringes, as we don’t want to gift them the points.

“We want them to work for their points and not just give it to them on a plate.”

It’s expected a large travelling support will make the trip to Dungannon, much to Barnett’s delight.

“We are taking supporters buses, where a lot of our rugby and hockey players will be coming up to cheer the boys and hopefully the team dont get taken back by such a big crowd, which in fairness they shouldn’t as we have experienced a good crowd in our last few games.”