It’s the biggest weekend in Fox Lodge’s history as they prepare for a first Senior Cup final taking on favourites Newbuildings at Eglinton on Friday and Saturday (11am).

The underdogs tag is one that skipper Aaron Heywood doesn’t mind though as the Ballymagorry side have carried that tag all the way through the competition.

“We have been a bit inconsistent with our form, but as this cup run has shown, we can beat anyone on our day,” Heywood told the Chronicle.

"It’s a great element to have, knowing as underdogs, we still have the ability and capability of beating the top sides. It’s a tag that doesn’t faze me at all, and it’s worked quite well for us. The pressure is off and we can go out and enjoy our cricket. I’ve every confidence in the players, and I have full belief we can go out and win the cup and that’s the message I’ll be putting out to the boys. I’m proud to be leading them over the two days and we will be going for glory.

“It’s an amazing feeling to get to the final, and to do it with your home club makes it that bit more special. It’s not too many that get the opportunity to play in the final with their boyhood club. The atmosphere around the club this past few weeks has been incredible. The place is literally buzzing. The players, supporters, committee members, everyone just can’t wait for the game. A lot of the older club members have waited all their lives to see this and it’s finally happening, and that makes me a bit prouder of the boys, what we have achieved, and to see all the smiles on faces.

“I won’t need much of a team talk, as everyone is so motivated already. I will try and keep everyone calm and focused on the task in hand. There will be some nerves, but that’s good for some of our lads. There will be more excitement than anything. There is going to be a tough selection meeting this week, and I’m not looking forward to having to tell a few guys they haven’t made the final eleven.

“We are boosted by having Geeth Kumara back in the team. He's really excited and can’t wait to get going. He has so much experience and that showed in the semi-final. Not just for the runs he scored, but the calming influence and presence he had with the team. He has such a wealth of knowledge and he passed that on. He also has undoubted quality and that gives us added all-round depth. “We go into the final on a high with a few good recent results, and to beat Coleraine by one wicket leaves us in a confident mood. We just can’t wait for Friday.”