James McKenna makes no bones about it, this Saturday’s final game of the season clash with Carrick Rangers is the biggest one he will have been involved in during his eight year spell at the Mallards.
McKenna was part of the Ballinamallard squad that brought Premiership football to Fermanagh for the first time four seasons ago when they won the Championship One title but he feels that this game surpasses all that has gone before in terms of importance.
“It is the biggest game that I will have played in and I’m at the club eight years now,” he commented. 
“Obviously there were big games in the run up to getting into the league but it is crucial that we stay in the division and in my opinion it is easily the biggest game the club has ever played in. It is the proverbial cup final but it is bigger than a cup final because for the youth section, the supporters, the sponsors and anybody involved in the club, everything revolves around being in the Premier League.”
Ballinamallard currently sit two points ahead of Carrick and one in front of Warrenpoint Town so a win on Saturday would leave them finishing out of the bottom two and safe from relegation or a play-off game. There are other permutations that would also see the Ferney Park outfit secure their Premiership status but McKenna says that they will be going to Taylors’ Avenue with the sole aim of taking the three points.
“There is no way we can do anything apart from go there to win the game and in my opinion it is going to take a win. You have seen over the last couple of weeks when you thought somebody might do you a favour, it doesn’t happen, so you have to look after yourself and all we can focus on is winning the game and if we do that then we know that we are safe. There are permutations were a point might do us but you wouldn’t know whether that was enough until after the game so you can’t have that mindset. We’ll be going there with the mindset that we have to win the game,” he added.
It is all set for dramatic and compelling afternoon of football with pressure on all sides involved to come up with a result. 
“There is a lot of pressure and it is massive on them as well. The onus is 100 per cent on Carrick as they know they have to win, a draw does them no good. They have to go for the win and if we can be solid defensively I think we have the quality to get a goal or two,” said McKenna.
It is going to be a day for players to stand up and be counted and McKenna believes that the Mallards have the experience in the squad to guide them through on the final day of the season.
“There is possibly more experience in the squad than there has ever been and we are going to need every bit of that on Saturday. We will need all the big players to step up and take responsibility while the young lads also have a big part to play,” he stated.
He also feels that the players owe it to the manager and the supporters to produce a performance on Saturday.
Whitey brought us all to the club, he has been involved with Ballinamallard a lifetime and it is the last thing that he wants is to see the club back in the Championship. We owe it to each other and we owe it to Whitey and the supporters to get the job done on Saturday.”
McKenna has had a frustrating season with injuries but he has still played a key role for Whitey Anderson’s charges. 
He has scored five goals during the campaign and his versatility allows him to fill a number of positions.
Last Saturday against Ballymena he was asked to slot in at centre half and he admits it is a role he is comfortable with.
“I don’t mind playing centre half and at times I think I’m more suited in there. I toyed between centre half and midfield before I came to Ballinamallard but I just seem to have played more as a midfielder since I’ve been here. This season though with injuries I have played a few games at centre half and I feel comfortable in there. To be honest, anywhere I’m asked to play, I’ll play as long as we can get the job done,” he said.
McKenna is proud of having helped the Mallards into the Premiership and he is determined that when he eventually leaves Ferney Park, the club will still be in the top flight.
“The players all have pride in themselves and nobody wants to be associated with getting relegated,” he said. 
“I’ve been here for the good times, coming up to this division and seeing what it means to everybody at the club. I started in the Championship with this club eight years ago and when I leave it one day I certainly want to be leaving it as a Premiership club. 
“I don’t want to say that I was part of the team that went up but ultimately went back down again. It’s not what anybody wants.”