Niall Currie wants players to seize 'wonderful opportunity' of landing spot in the Mid-Ulster Cup final

The Premiership side welcome their rivals from across the town in the final-four contest at Shamrock Park.

Currie’s men come into the tie after losing their last three Premiership games – against full-time clubs Coleraine, Glentoran and Larne – but the Ports supremo vowed that he will resist the temptation to rest players.

Their opponents currently top the Championship standings by a single point but will be hurt by a home loss to Queen’s University on Saturday.

Currie was full of plaudits for Annagh’s squad but has called on his players to take advantage of a “wonderful opportunity” to reach a cup final.

"We were lucky enough to win it a couple of years back – again it's the Senior Cup,” he said.

"I went myself and watched the Annagh on Saturday and I can see exactly why they're sitting in the situation they're sitting in the Championship.

"Very good side, great camaraderie, and they've got players who can hurt you.

“We've had a good conversation with players, even after the game on Friday night. As I say, Tuesday night's a big night for the club.

"It's a wonderful opportunity for the players to get into the Senior Cup final. We'll be approaching that one as strong as we can go.

"I'm not even thinking about Bangor on Saturday, to be honest with you. This is a big game for everybody on Tuesday night and that'll be our focus.”

Despite losing those three aforementioned games to the so-called Premiership big-boys, Currie outlined how there have been plenty of positives to take from the performances.

He explained: “We started the season, we played the top six from last season, so whenever it turns around again and you get them four games coming at you…but listen all games are difficult, let's be honest.

"But when you see a line of games like that, you have to scratch your head. But it is what it is.

"We've turned around, we've put in very, very good performances. Our performance against Linfield was outstanding and our performance against Glentoran and Coleraine was very, very good.

"The first half performance on Friday night was very good – so there's plenty of positives to take.

"As I say, we're sitting with seven players, seven huge players, missing at the minute. A couple of suspensions, but with three long-term huge, huge injuries that nobody really talks about – and they're three big hitters.

"As I say, we've just got to get on with it. The boys have been brilliant the last three or four games and I’ve no real criticism of them.

"The only real criticism is the second-half on Friday night as I thought we could have done a hell of a lot more.

"It was too easy in the end for Larne after putting up such a valiant effort in the first half.”

Rathfriland Rangers host Armagh City in the other semi-final next Tuesday evening (November 18).