🤝 Ballynahinch v Dungannon<br>
🗓️ Saturday 3 May, kick-off 2.30pm<br>
🏟️ Kingspan Stadium<br>
🏆 Bank of Ireland Senior Cup <br>
📺 Ulster Rugby Live
🎟️ Please buy your tickets in advance. They will be £15 on matchday at the stadium (£13.50 online).
Teams
### Captain's Notes
Ballynahinch Captain | Bradley Luney
Leading your team to Kingspan Stadium for the Senior Cup final - what emotions are you and the team feeling?
The boys are excited, it’s been a few weeks since our last AIL game, so we’ve had a bit of time to get some niggles right and build into the final. The mood around the club has been great the last few weeks, with the 2nd XV winning the Towns Cup final & the 5XV winning the McCambley Cup, it’s provided a lot of energy and excitement for the 1XV to get out there.
What do you love about this group of players that have made it to the pinnacle of Ulster Rugby’s domestic competitions?
We’re a very tight knit group, Adam and the rest of the coaching team have built a really good culture. There’s a massive amount of pride in playing for Ballynahinch and everyone who puts on the jersey for any side is very aware of that. It is also our team manager, Chris Stevenson’s (Turk), last game before he takes up his new role within the club hierarchy, so I know the boys will want to send him out on a high. He’s a very popular figure around the club and he’ll be missed in the changing rooms every Saturday.
What advice will you be giving to your team on the day?
I think it goes without saying that the main focus of Saturday is to look after our own performance. Dungannon are a very good side, two very good coaches and a lot of quality rugby players so we will need to be on it.
A lot of the squad for Saturday were involved the last time we won it, so they will know exactly what's required. I think the main message of the leadership group is to make sure everyone is relaxed and enjoys the occasion.
What would it mean to you as a captain, to lift the Ulster Senior Cup in Kingspan Stadium?
I was lucky enough to lift it 2 seasons ago, and missing out on it last season was a good reminder to not taking the feeling for granted. The Senior Cup is really important for this group, to have something tangible that shows the hard work we have put in would cap the season off as a success.
On the back of another season in the top flight of AIL, how special would it be to bring home the Senior Cup?
The Senior Cup is something we as a group target at the beginning of every season. We were disappointed to miss out on the top 4 so it’s important to the playing squad and the club that we achieve one of our goals.
Dungannon Captain | Adam Milligan
Leading your team to Kingspan Stadium for the Senior Cup final - what emotions are you and the team feeling?
The circumstances of becoming captain are obviously not ideal, our captain James McMahon’s injury was hard for the team as he led us through this tournament and the AIL, but getting to lead your team out at Kingspan Stadium is obviously a very proud moment, and the team are very excited for the big occasion with the chance to win a Senior Cup.
Looking back at the competition so far, you overcame Ballyclare and had a convincing win against Banbridge in the semi-final. How does that prepare you for the final?
We’ve always took the cup as an added bonus on top of the All-Ireland League fixtures, so we’ve played with a lot of freedom in the tournament so far, and that’s shown in our performances scoring plenty of tries in both games. Obviously, Ballynahinch are the toughest team we’ve played in the tournament so far and we respect how good a team they are, but we will continue to play with that same freedom and if everything clicks I think we know we have a really good chance of winning.
What advice will you be giving to your team on the day?
I think most of all, I want the boys to enjoy the occasion. We’ve worked hard all year, playing every game a senior club can play - making the Ulster League Final, the AIL playoffs and now the Senior Cup Final. It’s one last game, and it’s for silverware, so it’s about emptying the tank one last time. I know the level of opposition and playing at Kingspan will help to lift our game and bring the intensity we need.
What would it mean to you as a captain, to lift the Ulster Senior Cup in Kingspan Stadium?
I hope James will be there to lift it alongside me, but I’ve given a lot to this club over the years and this is the first time I’ve had the chance to win the Senior Cup, so to win it as captain would be an unforgettable moment for me.
On the back of an AIL promotion after an impressive season, how special would it be to bring home the Ulster Senior Cup?
It’s been a memorable year for sure. We haven’t lost a game since the start of December and that helped us achieve the promotion we set out for at the start of the year. The one thing promotion did not bring was a trophy, so to top off the year with the Senior Cup would be another special day in what has been an amazing season.