Banbridge will take a massive step towards lifting the Ulster Premiership title for the first time, if they defeat Instonians tonight at Havelock Park (7.45pm).
If they do, it will mean that Bann only need a point against their arch rivals Lisnagarvey on Saturday and the title is theirs.
It is hard to believe that the last time the Keightly Cup was in the trophy cabinet at Havelock Park was last century, in 1989.
Bann had just dominated Ulster hockey, when they won Senior One, today’s Premiership, four seasons on the trot.
Players such as Mark Sinnamon, Norman McGladdery, John Bell, Colin Allister and Paddy Malcolmson, just some of the Banbridge team which landed the title, were renowned thoughout Ulster hockey.
McGladdery was hockey’s George Best, once he got the ball you could not take it off him and once in the circle the goals flowed from his stick.
Sinnamon was probably the most prolific striker of a ball from a penalty corner. Defenders, without face masks, were in trepidation of him as he had one of the fiercest shots in the game.
There were no drag flicks in those days, he simply stopped the ball and blasted it off the back-boards like an exorcet missile.
But since last winning the league title, Bann have been in hockey’s wilderness, as they have watched teams such as Garvey, Cookstown and Annadale dominate Ulster’s Premiership.
However, there is a feeling that this is all about to change.
It may now be the turn of Bann to step up and dominate Ulster hockey, they have the young team to do it and with Mark Tumilty, one of Irish hockey’s best coaches at the helm, his young side is ready.
They are and I am afraid to say it in case I put the reporter’s scud on them, still on for a possible treble.
Later this month they are off to Dublin, as Ulster’s only representatives in the Irish Senior Cup semi-finals.
And then next month the IHL gets underway, so they are in for a busy finale to the end of the season.
And if I was a betting man…my money is on RED!
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