Senior Cup final spot 'nice carrot' for Instonians going into Clogher Valley clash, says Chris Pritchard
Instonians travel to Clogher Valley with a place in December’s Senior Cup final on the line.
Paul Pritchard’s team lead Group 2 by a point from the Co Tyrone side with the two meeting at the Cran in the final group game.
“There's a really nice sort of carrot for us going into this game,” said Pritchard. “We got there last year to the Senior Cup final and didn't get the result we wanted, we'd love another opportunity to get to Ravenhill again.
“The goal is to make sure we're sort of thinking ahead for a couple of weeks in the All-Ireland League but that's a real challenge for us to go into this weekend: knowing that if we get a win, then we get a final.”
The game will be Instonians’ second hit-out of the season and Pritchard has to juggle wanting to look at players with a potential final on the line.
He added: “I think we have so much faith in our squad and we know that we're going to need a big squad to reach our goals in the All-Ireland League, it's an opportunity for us to play guys this weekend that haven't played.
“We've only had the one game so far and those guys that haven't played, they need to get some minutes under their belt before we have Garryowen in a couple of weeks.
“There’ll be changes in and that's totally fine, we're going to need 30-plus lads this season to play in the AIL.
“It’s good, there's been a bit of headache around selection, but we've certainly looked at it in the sense that it's a good opportunity for guys this weekend.”
Pritchard was satisfied with the six tries in the victory over Ballymena last weekend.
“I thought we probably solved very well in the sense of what they were doing defensively. It took us a wee while, obviously – you'd expect that. They've had a couple of pre-season games plus a Senior Cup game; that was the first time the boys went into contact. I thought the guys did brilliant.”
The Clogher match is a semi-final in all but name.
“I'm sure they will very much love getting to a Senior Cup final, I’m expecting a very good game, expecting a good atmosphere there,” said Pritchard.
“It's just up to us to make sure that we play how we want to play. We're still getting better, we're still getting used to some of the new stuff we've brought in.
“It's just getting some guys that haven't had the minutes we want and then trying to get to a final.”
Former Ulster prop Schalk van der Merew starts for Inst while Pritchard is in the back row. Bevan Prinsloo returns to the back line.
In the other group game Queen’s and Ballymena meet at the Dub with both teams looking for their first win of the season.
In Group 1 Ballynahinch host Banbridge needing just one match point to secure a place in the final.
After last week’s win at Banbridge, City of Armagh round off their campaign with a trip to Dungannon.
Chris Parker’s side give debuts to Ethan Graham, Daniel Macklin-Copeland and James Lennon, former Ulster full back Shea O’Brien returns to the starting line-up.