Wind the clock back a year and Lisburn were finishing the 2021 cricket season rock bottom of the NCU Premier League and relieved that a restructuring of the top flight meant there was no relegation.
Twelve months on, and fresh from their remarkable recent coronation as league champions, Lisburn will be roared on by two bus loads of supporters who will travel to the North West for Saturday's Irish Cup final against fellow NCU side CIYMS.
Captain Callum Atkinson, the man in charge during one of the best seasons in the club's long history, hopes those supporters can roar Lisburn to victory at Bready against a CIYMS side who will start as favourites.
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“We should have over 100 supporters and they will be pretty loud which should help us. To be fair, our support has been good for a few years now, the normal supporters and the so-called ultras, who will be in fine voice this weekend,” said Atkinson.
“It gives you that boost when you know you have that support. It should be a good atmosphere, I’m sure CI will have good support too and I’m sure the ones in the North West will come out to support the day as well. I’m expecting several hundred people to be watching and it should be a great experience. “
CI, with all-star line-up and the NCU Challenge Cup and All-Ireland T20 Cup already in the trophy cabinet, will start as most people’s favourites. However, Lisburn's Premier League title triumph included an opening day triumph over CI which set the tone for the Wallace Park club’s season.
“That result gives us confidence, and generally we have had a pretty good record against CI over the last few years,” Atkinson continued. “To win the Premier League that CI are in obviously in gives us massive confidence. They are effectively a professional team, bar one or two players, but they have lost a number of games this season, and I certainly think they are there for the taking.”
Atkinson is very frank - winning the Irish Cup was “not even on my radar”, but after a stunning run that included a comprehensive semi-final victory over Clontarf, it became a reality. The Indian overseas professional Faiz Fazal has been in superb touch, but Atkinson is keen to highlight the contributions throughout the team, with Neil Whitworth a particular standout.
“At the start of the season the NCU competitions were our absolute priority, especially after we got off to such a good start in the league,” he added. “Our expectations after the restructuring were first to try and finish in the top six and as the season has gone we guaranteed ourselves in the top six, and we continued winning games and that then changed to winning the league.
"Probably up until the semi-final against Clontarf when we won that, from my point of view the Irish Cup and winning the Irish Cup was not on my radar. Everyone has got charity in their roles, yes CI are a very good side but we massively back ourselves on this one. It’s a one-off game, yes they have good players but we also have good players who can win games.”
For Jones, a man who has won every honour in the Irish club game bar the Irish Cup, this represents the final frontier in terms of trophies.
"Getting through to the final means a lot to the guys, and to the club. We’re really looking forward to the day, and for most people, to get the chance to play in the Irish Senior Cup final is the pinnacle of their career in Ireland," he said.
“It would mean a lot to me and the lads to win it. I’ve been lucky over my career to play some pretty big games, and I look back with fond memories on those, but this one here, I’ve not had the opportunity to play. I’m absolutely buzzing for the opportunity to do that next Saturday.
The Clear Currency Irish Cup final between CIYMS and Lisburn takes place at Bready Cricket Club, starting at 12pm. Entry is free and the game will be live streamed on the Cricket Ireland website.
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