Sky's the limit for cup final duo

McCabe is a seasoned Irish League performer having won the title with Glentoran and lost in a cup final with Dungannon.

Last year, Shane McCabe was part of Peter Canavan’s Fermanagh squad but as he left and the local GAA decision makers dithered over appointing a successor, McCabe was quickly snapped up by old friend Gary Hamilton.

McGrath, on the other hand, was playing in the Junior Cup this season for Lisbellaw returning to junior football after spending a couple of seasons with Ballinamallard, much of that latter season spent on the bench. A bit of a mid-season goalkeeping crisis led to McCabe recommending McGrath to Glenavon manager Gary Hamilton.

McGrath came in, did well and as he readily admits must be doing something right as he has helped the team to the final and earned a contract with the Lurgan side.

A bit of a fairytale alright but the experienced McCabe helps to keep his friend’s feet on the ground.

“To be honest, if James gets a bit carried away, I just remind him that he was signed to chauffeur me up to the games,” laughs McCabe.

He adds: “I think he was maybe a bit disillusioned and went back to play with Lisbellaw. He has come in and taken his chance and I think if we are to win, James will have to play well as it is a tight game but that is the case for all of us.” 32-year-old McCabe admits there is a great buzz about the club and the town of Lurgan in the build-up to the game.

“I think all the tickets have sold out and there will be a carnival atmosphere but we have a lot of young players and it will be important to get settled in the opening 10-15 minutes, It is a great week leading up to the game but we have to remain focused.

“It will be an exciting game for the neutrals, there is very little between ourselves and Ballymena and it will be a big game for both clubs. They finished seventh in the league while we got into the top six and all our games this season have been very close. There will be very little between the teams and opportunities such as finals like this do not come around too often, so it is important that we make the most of it.” Saturday’s final will be new territory for McGrath who admits the last few months have been a bit of a whirlwind.

“It’s all happened so quickly this last couple of months that I have not really had time to think about it. It’s been really hectic and I suppose maybe when I sit down next week and reflect, then all that has happened will hit me. It would be nice to do that with a winner’s medal in my pocket,” says James or Fudge as he is known to his team-mates.

He adds: “I have been offered a new contract so I must be doing something right!” It is a big weekend for the McGrath family as his brother Paul will play for Lisbellaw in the Irish Junior Cup final on Monday and his father James manages the team.

Indeed, James junior was one of the heroes in a penalty shoot-out in one of the earlier rounds for Lisbellaw, saving a penalty before scoring the decisive kick.

“Hopefully we can get the win and then I intend to go to the Junior final if I am not too worse for wear. It is a bit football mad in the house at the minute. Lisbellaw are the underdogs by all accounts and will be up against it but we will see what happens.” Like his friend and team-mate, he agrees that it is about taking your chances on Saturday.

“The boys in the squad some of whom have played with Crusaders have been making the point that finals are few and far between and there is a determination to make sure we take our chance. I have not played much recently as the manger has wrapped us all up in cotton wool, so I am looking forward to getting back out there and playing. It should be a great occasion and there seems to be a lot of people coming up from Fermaanagh and Lisbellaw to support us, so it would be great if we could finish the job off.”