It was a mixed weekend for Newbuildings, whose Premiership title ambitions suffered a blow after losing at Bready, before bouncing back to lift the Faughan Valley Cup.

What's the feeling in the camp?

"To lay it straight, we're gutted about Saturday but that’s behind us now. Absolutely buzzing after Sunday, all of us. Has brought back the fire and we ready for Friday. At the end of the day, it’s just another game of cricket. If we can stick to what we have been doing all season and showcase all the skill our team has to offer, should be no reason why we can’t come out as champions.

Has the Faughan Valley win took a lot of the pressure off?

"Yes, it was a strange one because we have obviously being playing in different competitions all season and then all of a sudden we're fighting for three trophies in seven days. Having lost Saturday puts us in 2nd place behind Bready for league but winning the FV has released a bit of pressure.

"At the beginning of the season, if we were to say we were T20 champs and senior cup finalists, would have taken that any day."

The suspension of Jason Dunn is a blow. Does your bowling lack variety?

"Yes ofcourse Jason is an instrumental player in our team. It’s very unfortunate that he can not play and we are all devastated for him. We are playing on a hybrid wicket from what I have heard, which is gonna be good for us. We are going to stick to our six seamers with Ryan Hunter as our spinner."

Gareth McKeegan seemed to be struggling while keeping last weekend. Is he an injury concern?

It’s been a long season for all of us and our bodies are feeling it. As a keeper especially it’s gonna be tough on the knees, it’s only normal but he’s feeling good and raring to go this weekend.

What would it mean to lift that trophy?

As a club, it would mean the world to us. It would just make everything worth it. All the hard work put in behind the scenes, all the early mornings and late nights, all the sacrifices we have to make as cricketers and being part of the committee.

Do you sense that the neutrals would prefer a Fox Lodge win? Is there perhaps a bit of jealously at how quickly and successfully Newbuildings have grown?

"We can’t control what others think about us as a club but what we can control is the way we go about our business. We play cricket hard and fair, we put our youth first and are trying to create a structure that is an everlasting success for the future. We have grown as a club tremendously and are going from strength to strength. What others think about us, has nothing to do with us really."