Ballinamallard Captain Richard Clarke was delighted to get back out on the training pitch with his teammates last Thursday night as the Mallards began their preparations for the Irish Cup clash with Dergview at Ferney Park on Saturday, May 1.
Prior to the session, the squad and management all had to undergo Covid-19 testing, in line with IFA protocols, with Clarke explaining that it all ran smoothly as they got back down to work.
“We had the testing before training and in a way it is nice to have that certainty before training that everybody has tested negative, and you can just get on with the football side of things. 
“It is a new experience for us all but it ran very smoothly and I would have to give a lot of credit to the club for the way they have handled the situation and the work they put in behind the scenes to get everybody prepared for it,” said Clarke.
With everybody cleared, it was then back out to the pitch, and Clarke says it was an enjoyable experience for all concerned.
“It was great to be back out. Getting out on the training ground again was just great, and you could hear the laughter and enjoyment and although we did a lot of hard work, everyone loved it. 
“Just getting back among ourselves again, that was mainly why we wanted to get back, because we have been away from each other for a long time.
“You would miss that whole social side of things as well as the mental and physical side of things that football can bring, and there was definitely a good buzz about the place.
“I think the weather helped as well; it felt like pre-season, but obviously we know it might be short-lived before we actually go back in the summer,” he added.
With the Championship season having been brought to a halt early last season, and having not got going at all this season, the focus for the Ducks will be to get up to speed as quickly as possible for competitive action, although the skipper admits that they also have one eye on next season and getting in early groundwork for that.
“Our last competitive match in the league was against the Welders, and that was well over a year ago now. We also played against Limavady in the North West Cup in October, so we have only really played one competitive game all year.
“We have played loads of friendlies but you never get that same intensity in a friendly that you get from a competitive fixture. 
“We are looking at this month and the possible progression in the cup if we can as preparation for next year, because there are players who have come into the club and they haven’t made their debut really, and you want to give them a flavour of what it is like.
“They have been training with us so they know what the club is about, but you want to give them a game which has that competitive nature to it, and there is no doubt that Dergview will bring that,” he said.
Indeed, Clarke feels that it is a good draw for both sides.
“You always want to get a good draw in the cup against one of the big boys but although we didn’t get that, I think the next best thing for both Ballinamallard and Dergview was to draw each other in the cup.
“Both teams have come back at the same time and will have the same time to prepare for the game.
“It is mouthwatering when you think about it – it is a derby match, and both clubs will be looking to progress, so it is going to be a tough game,” he added.
He is expecting that it will be a tightly-contested affair.
“All the games we have played against Dergview have been so tight, and I think that it has been pretty even if you look at the head-to-heads throughout the past two seasons.
“Both teams are well matched and I think that old cliche of ‘whoever wants it the most’ applies here.
“I have no doubt that both teams have aspirations to progress because you just don’t know with the Irish Cup, we have experience before of where you get good draws and it can take you far into the competition.
“I just think it is going to be nip-and-tuck and with the game going straight to penalties with no extra time, I think both sides will be busting themselves to win it in 90 minutes,” said Clarke.