Strabane Athletic captain Liam McMenamin says drawing Irish League giants Glentoran at home in the Irish Cup fifth round is a reward for everyone who has helped put the club in their current position.

The Premier Intermediate League outfit were the second-last name out of the hat at Tuesday’s Windsor Park event, quickly followed by 23-time competition champions Glentoran.

Strabane are currently enjoying a debut Irish League campaign after gaining Premier Intermediate League promotion for the first time in their history through last season’s play-off.

They’ve already got a taste for taking on Northern Ireland’s elite having came up against defending BetMcLean Cup champions Cliftonville at Solitude last month – Strabane took a shock 2-0 lead before losing out 5-2.

placeholder image — Strabane Athletic’s Liam McMenamin pictured with Danny Amos and Josh Kelly from Glentoran. (Photo by Presseye/Stephen Hamilton)

Hosting the Glens will be a day to remember for all associated with Strabane and McMenamin, who started his career at Sheffield Wednesday, is already excited for the January showdown.

"We were sitting there when it was coming down to the last few teams and my mate beside me said ‘there couldn't be many left, could there?’,” he said. “I actually thought there were more teams to come, and then next minute it’s Strabane vs Glentoran.

"It's massive and it's going to be a good day, but that's why we put ourselves in this position, for chances like this.

"You sort of think ‘could you maybe draw somebody that's sitting around the same level as yourself and have a chance of getting through the next round’, but realistically, if you do get through to the sixth round, you're eventually going to pull one of the big boys.

"If you get one now, you take it. I think the biggest thing for us was getting that home draw.

"In years gone past, we've been drawn away and even recently in the League Cup we played Cliftonville. Those are great days out, but we haven't had the chance to do it at our own ground. Everybody at the club will be looking forward to it.

"It's for everyone involved at the club. There's a lot of people at the club that volunteer, do a lot of work, and this will be a day that they'll love.

"The WhatsApp group hasn't stopped. It’s great...even looking at it there up on the TV, it's nice to see.”

Strabane had to earn their spot the hard way, scoring in the dying moments to seal a 4-3 victory over Abbey Villa in the third round before beating Rathfriland Rangers.

Now under the management of Mo Mahon, the Melvin Park Arena club are coming off their second league win of the season and are adapting to life in the third-tier.

"Mo's been in a couple of weeks now...he’s very hands-on and very good at working with players,” added McMenamin. “He has made a big impression on the group since he's come in.

“Last year when we were in the Ballymena League, we played quite a few of the PIL teams and thought we managed ourselves quite well against them, so the group believes that we're good enough to compete.

"It's just whether we can do well enough to put ourselves in that top-four...that’s our aim, to try and finish in the top-four and get promoted again.

"We're under no illusions that it's going to be very difficult, because there are a lot of proven PIL clubs in there that will all be looking to do the same, so we know it's not going to be easy, but it's one that we're relishing.”