Enniskillen coach Stephen Welsh believes his squad are in good shape as the start of the new rugby season approaches this weekend.

The normal restart date in August has been pushed back two months, but Welsh reckons his side have adapted well to the long pre-season and will go into their first match against Carrick well prepared.

“It has been a strange pre-season, with Covid, but I think we are in a good place for it,” said the Skins coach.

“It has been slightly more difficult this season because it has been longer and you have to get your fitness levels right and peak at the right time and not wear people out, but we are happy with where we are and everyone is excited to get the league back up and running.”

Enniskillen will go into the campaign without influential full back Alex Parke, who has moved to play Senior rugby with Queens, but Welsh is hoping that his loss will be more than offset by some new additions and by the progression of some of the younger members of the team.

“We are really happy with the squad,” he admitted.

“We have been trying to keep the squad together, because we have a fantastic balance. We have a couple of older guys, and right down to a few guys who have been playing for three or four years, and we are seeing them really come to the front.

“Jamie Kelly and Jack Rutledge are becoming leaders, and we have a couple of boys out of school and out of our under-18s, and two new guys in as well, so it is exciting times when those five players are in the mix with an already good team.”

Last season was a record-breaking one for the club as they clinched the Junior Cup to give themselves a shot at an All-Ireland cup this season.

The draw has pitted them against Dublin outfit Seapoint Rugby Club, and Welsh admits that a good showing in the competition is one of their targets for the season.

“It’s hard to follow last season by setting goals, and if I asked them they would pick all four competitions, but the All-Ireland Junior Cup is something that we had a wee taste of it a while ago.

“That was about four years ago, and we weren’t really in the place that we are now,” he said.

“Most of the boys have never played in it, so they are mad excited for that. It is an old cliché, but we will take every week as it comes and try to get the performance right, and then all the goals will fall into place.”

Under the new captaincy of Gavin Williamson, Carrick present the first challenge of the campaign, and Welsh is hoping to make a winning start.

“Carrick are a massive team. They are very physical and it’s tough to go there, but we did the double over them last year and we will be going up there, confident.”

Opening Four Games

Saturday September 26

Carrickfergus v Enniskillen

Saturday October 3

Enniskillen v Clogher Valley

Saturday October 10

Instonians v Enniskillen

Saturday October 17

Enniskillen v Portadown