For many of the Coa players as well as their manager, Gary Donnelly, they know what it’s like to taste success and defeat in the Junior Championship.

Those experiences may prove vital when it comes to the bit on Saturday in the Junior decider for Donnelly and his charges.

With a mix of youth and experience throughout the squad, the Coa boss is hoping Saturday will be an occasion they can all enjoy.

“We have a lot of experience and that does help,” says Donnelly. “With the experienced lads helping out the younger lads hopefully it will stand to us.

“A lot of us played in a Junior final before so it will not not faze us. All we will be thinking about is getting the performance right on the day and see where that takes us.”

Donnelly admits 2020 was a rebuilding year for the club after a disappointing 2019 so he delighted his side have a chance to play for some silverware.

“We are happy to get there and happy to get the chance to play for a trophy at the end of they year. We know the boys are looking forward to it and we are just counting down the days until Saturday.

“It was all about building a squad this year coming from such a bad year last year. We didn’t want to be relying on 15 players and in fairness to them they have all stepped up to the mark.”

Standing in Coa’s way are last year’s beaten finalists Derrylin and Donnelly knows they pose a serious threat but Coa can call on the likes of Ryan Hanna, Eoin Donnelly and Cathal Beacom to help guide along the younger squad players in Ben Thompson and Robbie McKenna but the manager knows it won’t be easy.

“From watching them they look impressive and they were in the final last year so they will be looking to right the wrongs of last year and fair play to them so far they have been impressive in their wins.

“They do look as if they have a lot of good footballers, they seem to be fit and have a lot of pace about them so we know exactly what we are up against. It’s just a matter of trying to minimise the threats they have and trying to impose our own game on them.”

Playing in the decider has given Coa a boost and Donnelly knows how much a trophy would mean to the club and he and his player can’t wait.

“It is going be a new game and a different challenge. But we are looking forward to it. It’s always good to get to a final. It creates a bit of a buzz around the community so everybody’s looking forward to it now,” he added.