Clogher Valley tight head prop Neil Henderson admits that a cup final against Enniskillen adds extra spice to a match that was already massively important to both clubs.

Clogher Valley are focused on achieving back-to-back All-Ireland Junior titles, having won the competition for the first time last season, and while any cup win would be massive, the clash against their neighbours has added an extra ingredient to the occasion.

“Two teams from the west only 20 minutes away from each other. What more could you ask for, but a bit of local rivalry in the final,” admitted Neil.

“We are all very excited and it’s nice to get back to another cup final and be in a position to be able to defend the competition we won last year. We are all looking forward to it.”

Clogher Valley will go into the final as favourites for victory, having already got the better of Enniskillen early in the season. They have only lost once – to Ballyclare – so far in their league campaign, but Henderson does not believe that going into the match as favourites has added any pressure on the players.

“There is always pressure, but we put pressure on ourselves anyway,” he said.

“We set a high standard and it is that pressure from the inside more than from the outside.

“At the minute we are second in the league, and we are pushing on to look and win the league. So far we are reasonably happy, but we would have liked to have won that Ballyclare game.

“We are happy with our league form, but anything can happen in a cup final.

“Form sort of goes out of the window. We played them in the second game of the season at Mullaghmeen, but it will be a different challenge this week.”

Last year Clogher Valley won a dramatic final with a late surge against Ballyclare, overturning an 11-3 half-time deficit to win 13-11.

Key in that sensational comeback victory was Henderson’s try four minutes from full time, and admits he would love history to repeat itself.

“Of course I would like to do that again, but I will take tries wherever they come from and whoever scores them. As long as we get the tries that is all that matters!”

Their victory last season sparked great scenes of celebrations that continued from the Kingspan Stadium to the homecoming in Fivemiletown, and Neil is expecting similar support this time around as they look to add title number two.

“The whole community was buzzing and it was great,” he recalled.

“It is a big honour to win the All-Ireland. Our supporters travelled really well ast year for the final, and the travelling has been fantastic this season. Hopefully we can repeat that again.”