Ballyclare on cusp of making history and joining senior rugby ranks in All Ireland League

​Mike Orchin-McKeever’s side travel to Navan (2pm) to face Leinster champions Monkstown in the AIL Provincial playoff final. The winner will join the senior ranks next season while the loser will face Bangor in two weeks for a place in Division 2C next season.

Orchin-McKeever is well aware of the magnitude of the achievement of potentially taking Ballyclare into the senior ranks.

“The supporters are very proud of what we achieved to date, hitting Town’s Cups – we reached five finals in a row – we did the Town’s and Junior Cup double; we won the All Ireland Cup for the first time; we won the league for the first time,” he said.

“As a club they are booming with belief of what could happen and they are dreaming of bigger things, and the next biggest thing is qualifying for All Ireland League rugby for new challenges.

“From a motivational point of view, it would be great to show the club and the town a new level of competition but truthfully it is more about the players achieving things to look back on from their playing days as well, but the supporters are going to be proud of them regardless of the outcome,” he added.

“It would be outstanding to take a club, a community and a town to another level of rugby.”

Ballyclare reached the final with a 32-17 win over Creggs from Connacht last Saturday.

Orchin-McKeever said: “It was brutal conditions in regard to the strength of the wind disrupting play. The resilience of the lads and the mental focus was outstanding and I’m delighted for them.

“The full-time whistle was probably the most pleasing aspect so I could finally enjoy it.

“Different competitions bring different mentalities. In league games you are going for bonus point wins. That knockout competition, the reward of getting that win gives us two shots at the next opportunity of getting promoted to the All Ireland League. The whole squad performance was excellent.”

Ballyclare know how to get the job done in finals and the coach will be looking to his senior player to guide the team in Navan.

“I think we have had five cup finals in three years and we have won four of them,” Orchin-McKeever said. “The side is young but they do have experience, in terms of ambition, resilience and a no-fear mentality – they have an abundance of that.

“Joel McBride as captain has led the team through all these finals. He has had a couple of misses and very near opportunities. We have lost a final and league run-ins, so you learn from that; Joel knows how to communicate with the boys.

“Matthew McDowell, I called him the ‘Iceman’ – the guy is as cool as – his goal-kicking is outstanding. Further experience with the age profile is Ricky Lutton (former Ulster prop).

“You’re now into playing against the best of the best and that is where we want to be, and we now feel we have earned the right to have that opportunity.”

Ochrin-McKeever is expecting a tough battle up front in particular against the Dubliners.

“They look pretty physical and big certainly compared to our profile,” he said. “It’s hard to tell what they were trying to do and the conditions they had for the semi-final, but they showed character to get the win.”