Jason McCartney knew from his first visit to Ferney Park that the club had big ambitions. The former Sligo Rovers players admits that he didn’t know anything about club when he was first approached to join but he was impressed with what he saw and the tricky winger has played his part as the club has gone from strength to strength. McCartney was part of the side that clinched the Championship title before taking the Premiership by storm in their first season in the top flight.

“I remember when I got the phone call about Ballinamallard and to be honest with you I hadn’t a clue where it was and I didn’t know anything about them but when I went up and seen the pitch and that, you felt that the club wanted to do something. It was unbelievable the local talent that was there and to be able to go from winning the Championship, to having a great year in our first year in the Premiership and being able to compete with the likes of Linfield, Glentoran and Cliftonville, all those big clubs, it was great. It is brilliant for a village like Ballinamallard to go and do that.” he stated.

McCartney has become a popular figure during his four years at Ferney Park and he explains that there is a special bond between everybody at the club that sets them apart from the majority of clubs.

“I’ve been at a few clubs throughout my career and Ballinamallard is an easy club to come in to. Everyone around the club is really good. I remember the first time I arrived at the club and people just wanted to come over and talk to you about games. At other clubs you only meet up for a match or training and people don’t really want to mix but at Ballinamallard there is a real togetherness. It’s like a big family at the club. You look around the ground on Saturday and you would nearly know everybody’s name and that’s the way a club like that should be. It is very hard to find that but luckily enough Ballinamallard have that and I think that’s what pushed them on to do so well. It’s a massive thing to have at a club.” And having played for a number of clubs previously, McCartney now feels right at home at the Fermanagh outfit.

“I love it at the club. I’ve had about six or seven clubs but it is great to be settled at a club and enjoy what you are doing. There are top players there and people ask is it tough travelling up and down but I think the people at the club and the players themselves make it easy for you as everyone gets on and you look forward to seeing people and having a good session and a bit of craic with the lads.” McCartney is honest in his assessment of his present form and while he feels that there has been improvements in his game in recent weeks, he is keen to improve further.

“To be honest I would like to be performing a lot better. In pre-season I felt really good and it was probably the best I felt in a while but I’ve missed a few games with injury this season. However, the last few games I’ve started feeling a lot better again. Against Ballymena and Glentoran I felt I was getting at players and creating a bit more although I would like to be more involved in the game. Sometimes you can get left out of it on the wing and it is hard as you are looking for other players to get you involved at times and sometimes you just have to keep your discipline. You want to go looking for the ball but you need to do a job for the team and keep your shape. I would like to be playing better and you have to set yourself goals. At the minute I don’t think I’m setting up enough goals and that’s my job so it is something I will be working on,” he said.

Tuesday night is new territory for the Mallards but McCartney stresses that they have to treat it as just another game and not let the occasion get to them.

“It is going to be a big challenge with a big crowd and big atmosphere and I suppose a lot of our players won’t have played in a semi-final at this level. Mentally you have to be right, there could be penalty kicks or there could be extra time so you have to be ready for whatever comes at you. It is important though that we treat it as another game and not get carried away with the occasion. We can’t afford to get caught up in the moment because things like this mightn’t come around again and you have to grab it.” First up for the Mallards is a meeting with Linfield on Saturday, and McCartney says that manager Whitey Anderson has made it clear that if they want to be involved on Tuesday night then the players have to perform against Linfield.

“It has been tough since the quarter-final because everybody has been looking forward to the semi-final but Whitey has been keeping everybody grounded and basically he has said that if you want to play in that semi-final then you have to perform in the games leading up to it. If you don’t perform in the games beforehand then you leave yourself open to not being involved on Tuesday. Hopefully we can get a good performance on Saturday against Linfield as it would be a massive confidence boost,” he said.

Having missed out on cup finals with Sligo Rovers, reaching a final is big aim for McCartney.

“The last time I was near something like that was when I was with Sligo Rovers and that’s when I left as I had to go and get a job and start working so I had to give up full time football. Sligo Rovers then went on to win the League Cup and the FAI Cup.

“There is one thing that I have always wanted to do and that is play in a cup final at a good level and it would be great if we could get there. Also it would be great for the people at Ballinamallard because they have put so much into it, especially Whitey.”