Mike McKeever eyes another Towns’ Cup final with Ballyclare

‘Clare are hoping to make the final for a third consecutive season having won the trophy in 2018, but they came up short 12 months ago against Enniskillen. Coach Mike McKeever says he tries to do something a bit different to prepare for cup games.

“We value the competition and try to create a community environment, we have a good record reaching the final of the Towns’ Cup in the last two years,” he said.

“When it comes to the cup matches we try to do something that training week, this week we have invited the upper sixth school leavers that are part of the senior squad to come down and train with us.

“There is no pressure on them, it is just a chance for they to come down watch us train and see how club rugby works.”

Ballyclare have won both league games against Dromore this season but McKeever knows that will count for nothing in a cup semi final.

“It’s a great match up, two competitive teams and both sitting first and second in the league and now drawn each other in the semi final, we’re just happy to be at home in any cup match,” he said.

“We have played Dromore twice in the league this year and beaten them twice but we had to be at the top of our game to do that and it will be a similar approach this Saturday.

“It is a big task taking on Dromore but when the players know the reward is another day out at Kingspan and a massive occasion for the club and the town, it’s an achievable thing to do and having beaten the holders from last season we want to go one step further and bring the cup back again.

“They are a well-coached, well-organised side with a lot of fight in them, but we’ve played them twice and beaten them. The last result was 28-0 to us but cup rugby is different and it’s exciting with it being the Towns Cup as well.”

There has been no talk of a league and cup double around The Cloughan.

“It is very much next game focus, our training and matches are all based around fun and enjoyment, the boys give as much as they can and I always think happy players will give that bit more and keep that central to things,” said McKeever.

“You could say we hit the post last season, finishing second in the league and runners-up in the Towns’ Cup so one step forward would be nice.”

Ballyclare go into the game on the back of a bonus point win at Inst.

“Getting a win at Shaw’s Bridge is a tough task never mind beating them with a bonus point, we went 19-0 up then it went 19 all, Inst played really well and I was delighted to get a bonus point,” added McKeever.

Dromore are four points behind Ballyclare in the league but have a game in hand. The other semi-final sees Ballynahinch 2s travel to Banbridge 2s.