Kieran McCourt believes there will be more pressure resting on the shoulders of Ballymacash Rangers going into Friday night’s Premier Cup final.
Rangers currently lead the way in Intermediate A, and sit 18 points ahead of McCourt’s Windmill Stars albeit having played two more games.
There has been significant redevelopment at The Bluebell in recent years with works including the laying of a new 3g pitch, while manager Lee Forsythe recently bolstered his squad with some high-profile signings including former Irish Premiership striker Guillaume Keke.
Expectation is rising at Ballymacash, and McCourt believes Windmill’s cup rivals will be desperate to back up their investment with a trophy.
“We know Ballymacash well,” McCourt told Match on Tuesday.
“We played them earlier in the season and they beat us 4-1 up at our place. We were very poor in the second half.
“They are obviously investing heavily down there and they will be going all out to win the Premier Cup on Friday night.
“There might be more pressure on them to deliver silverware (considering the investment).
“Lee has gone there to win trophies. So they might be feeling it a little bit more.
“But it is a cup final so I am sure both teams will be feeling more pressure this week. Both will be hungry to win that cup.”
McCourt added: “I think previous form and league standings go out the window for a one-off game like this.
“I think it might help that we have played each other already this season. We know what each other is about.
“They are physical and like to get it from back to front as quickly as they can. They then play off the second ball.”
Windmill Stars have enjoyed a number of big cup wins this season, while they also experienced playing against Premiership opposition in the Irish Cup.
And despite a 6-0 defeat to Coleraine, McCourt says that experience has stood his players in good stead this season.
“The Irish Cup run definitely proved we can win the big games, and on our day we are more than a match for any team in our division,” he added.
“The problem is we have had too many off-days. We seem to turn it off and on and the inconsistency has been an issue.
“Hopefully Friday night is one of our better days. We have set up against teams such as Armagh City, Tobermore and even Coleraine although we were beaten 6-0.
“We set up well and did ourselves justice and we know how to play in big games.”
Windmill didn’t have a game at the weekend due to their match against Markethill being postponed, but they had arranged a friendly against Banbridge Townon Tuesday night.
McCourt has a number of injury concerns ahead of Friday’s final at Holm Park, but he hopes they clear up in the next
couple of days.
“Thankfully we have a game to give the boys a run out ahead of Friday’s final,” he said.
“We don’t have many players cup-tied or anything like that, but we have a few struggling with injury at the minute and we are getting it a wee bit tight.
“But hopefully they pull through.
“It is a big game for us.
“If we win it will be the biggest trophy the club has won since moving into intermediate football. So that shows you how important it is to us.
“There is a buzz around the squad. It is a final and everyone is looking forward to it.
