There is a real belief that Enniskillen can end their long Towns’ Cup drought and bring the trophy home to Mullaghmeen on Easter Monday. They will face Ballynahinch on Easter Monday looking to go one better than their cup final defeat last year, and captain David Buchanan believes they have the quality to prevail.

“We don’t know what type of Ballynahinch team we will face on the day but we want to put in a strong, committed and honest performance in the final, and if we do that then I think we have a real chance of going one step further than last year,” he said. “Our focus will ultimately be on our own team and how we can impose our style of play and patterns on the game. Ballynahinch are probably one of the top sides in Ulster rugby and have a large pool of players to draw from and they are the current Junior cup winners this year. They will be looking for the cup double, but there is a big 80 minutes of rugby to be played on Monday and we are primed and ready to go.”

The defeat to Bangor in the 2016 final was a tough one to take for the Enniskillen team, but David is hopeful they can draw on that experience this time around. “From any defeat there are lessons to be learnt and whilst we have lost our captain and a few other experienced players from last year, there is still a core nucleus of guys from last season along with the new boys that have come in who have been exceptional. We will hopefully seize this opportunity to better last year and top off what has been a good season. It’s up to the squad to impose ourselves on them from the start on Easter Monday. That is maybe something we didn’t do last year and maybe we were a bit shell shocked in the opening minutes and we fell behind early doors. A good start will be key.”

It is 80 years since Enniskillen last lifted the trophy, and the chance to shape the club’s history is a huge incentive for the players on Monday.

“Having played for Enniskillen since I left school it would mean so much to me personally,” revealed David.

“There are so many past players that have lost out in quarter finals, semi-finals or even finals. I personally have been on the wrong end of the score in two finals so maybe it will be a case of third time lucky. It would mean a great deal to everyone involved in the squad, and the rugby club has to thank the sponsors and the supporters who have played no small part in the clubs success over the last couple of seasons. The good will and encouragement we have seen from far and wide has been a great source of encouragement to myself as captain and the rest of the boys.

I think and hope that Fermanagh will down tools for the day and go up the road to support the Skins. Anywhere you go that bit of support is like having the 16th man. We certainly noticed it in the home semi-final against Armagh. It was hugely appreciated and it can get you through some of those tough moments. Looking to the stands and hearing the support it can give you that little bit extra and that is sometimes what is needed.”

Should they win the trophy David will have the honour of lifting the cup as captain, but he says he feels no added pressure and is confident that with the backing of his players they can send the Enniskillen fans home in a good mood. “Obviously there are decisions that need to be made during the game but I am quite lucky that I have an experienced group of players that will draw on the experiences of being there last year,” said the captain. “My motto has always been to keep it calm and assured, and with the coaching structure we have in place, we have more than enough firepower and capability to do the business on Easter Monday.”