Ballinamallard made the ideal opening to their Championship campaign with a 3-0 win over Limavady United on Saturday but manager Harry McConkey knows that they face a big test this weekend when they travel to title favourites Larne.

Big spending Larne will be keen to bounce back and secure their first league win having drawn against Knockbreda on Saturday although McConkey will take great encouragement from his side’s performance against Limavady.

“I’m sure Larne are going to look for a reaction, especially on their home patch. The Knockbreda game will probably have given them an extra edge but we ourselves are going to be in a much better frame of mind going down there after getting three points in the bag, scoring three goals and keeping a clean-sheet in our first game,” said the Mallards boss.

Pre-season was a mixed bag for Ballinamallard and McConkey admits he was relieved with the outcome on Saturday.

“We have to be pleased with that. I think the over-riding emotion is still relief because we have had an anxious pre-season and our performances have been very hard to gauge and there have been so many inconsistencies and changes to personnel.

“We didn’t start very well in the game but we grew. I had asked the players to make sure that for the first ten or 15 minutes that we stayed in the game and find our feet. When we started to move the ball we looked as if we could cause them trouble and that’s what we did,” he added.

The visitors did pose a threat from set pieces but it was something that a youthful Mallards defence dealt well with.

“Our centre two are young players but they are athletic, they won the aerial battles and their use of the ball was excellent

“We knew that the major threat from Limavady would be from set pieces. I thought though that their opportunities were limited to that and they didn’t open us up in open play but we did to them.”

And as the game progressed the Mallards looked ore threatening at the other end with Jason McCartney opening the scoring before half time with a thumping effort before Ryan Campbell doubled the lead.

“Rocket’s pass and then Jay’s finish were both sublime for the first goal and really pleased me. Rocket then added the second and this is why I brought him here, he is a goal machine,” stated McConkey.

Josh McIlwaine then wrapped it up in added on time after good play by Sam Robb.

“When I put Sam on I told him don’t be afraid to do what you are good at and he has that great confidence in that he is so assured on the ball and has great balance. He was composed on the ball, he stepped inside and set up Josh who finished really well.”

There was also an exceptional performance from 16 year old full back Sean McEvoy.

“I think he could easily become a fans favourites here. He knows that he is progressing and nothing flusters him and we are delighted to have him and we will enjoy him while he is here” added McConkey.