Eddie Keys reckons Enniskillen’s cup form will count for a lot when they take on Ballyclare in Monday’s Ulster Junior Cup final.

42 points separated the two teams in the final league standings, with Ballyclare only losing two league games all season, but Keys believes this Enniskillen side are a different proposition when it comes to knock out rugby.

They recently demonstrated their ability to turn the form book on its head when they knocked out City of Derry in the semi-final despite losing both league games to them, and CIYMS suffered a similar fate earlier in the season.

Defy the odds

Having already lost twice to Ballyclare, Enniskillen are going to have to defy the odds once again if they are to lift the trophy.

“City of Derry were a good side, big and physical, and we lost to them twice during the year but we prepared really well for it,” said Keys.

“That is what we are going to do for this game as well. We have lost to CI twice in the league but turned them over in the cup as well. We know we can do it.

“To be honest, we have been a bit disappointed with the league. We have been a bit inconsistent, but the cup run has been good.

“We have got to a semi-final and a final, but we don’t want to be the team that just gets to finals.

“To be a success you have to win these, and we believe we can.

“We know Ballyclare are a good side and they have been to plenty of finals themselves, but we will train hard and we will give it our best.

“They probably edge us for experience. They can play all types of rugby. We have seen videos of them and they can move it and they can play up front as well, but we will give it a good shot.”

Home when possible

Keys spends most of his time in England, studying at Loughborough University, and gets home when possible to represent his home club. Even though he is hundreds of miles from Mullaghmeen, he can still sense the anticipation and excitement in the build up to the big game.

“I am coming home on Thursday and will get a couple of training sessions in, but even over the phone you can feel the buzz of it, and I can’t wait to get stuck in on Thursday and Saturday, and then all eyes will be on Monday,” he said.

“I have come back a few times this year. I was back all over Easter so I got a good few games with the lads, and I have played with quite a few of them right through school and at mini rugby as well, so I know then all very well. I am playing over here but the season is done now so I am just keeping up my personal fitness.”

Responsibility

The fly half knows the game could rest on his shoulders as the kicker, but he is ready to take on the responsibility if the game comes down to fine margins.

“Everyone has their roles on the pitch and you just focus on your own job,” he explained. “You don’t dwell on whether it is going to come down to the kicker. I suppose that is what the practice comes down to. You have to trust the process and trust yourself to hit it well.”

Keys was a member of the squad that lost out to Clogher Valley in January in the All-Ireland Junior Men’s Cup Final, but he is relishing the opportunity to visit the Kingspan Stadium again and put right the wrongs of that day.

“This is up there with one of the biggest matches I have played for the club,” he admitted.

“I have only played at Kingspan once with the squad, and a lot have only played once, in January. When you have played there once you want to get there again.

“That has been our aim with the two cups and luckily we have got there.

The experience of playing there and losing that final could well help us here.”