This Friday will see CIYMS and Instonians battle it out in the Gallagher Challenge Cup final at North Down Cricket Club (11am).

Both sides have fought hard to reach this stage. CI have defeated Lisburn, Carrickfergus and CSNI on the road to Comber.

Speaking about their cup run, their captain, Nigel Jones, said: "It's a funny one, and I mean this in the nicest way, but you tend to forget who you played in the round before in the cup because you're so focused on the day and want to give the best account of yourself on the day. “You sometimes have to think quite hard who you played last time. It was good to play tough games along the way because it hardens you up a bit, but I must admit that when you've played it you're very much just focused on the next one. We've been like that this year and we are here now and that's the main thing." Meanwhile, Andrew White’s men have seen off North Down, Waringstown and Muckamore in the competition this season.

It will be a first Challenge Cup final for some of the younger players in the side but White explained that they should treat it like any other match. "Young lads don't need an awful lot of advice these days in terms of big games. They are used to playing in them and they will take it as another game. As long as they prepare properly, I have no fears of how they'll perform. it's a case of going out and taking on the challenge in front of them,” he said.

The Challenge Cup wouldn’t be the spectacle that it is without the help of our sponsors, Gallagher Insurance.

Speaking at a media event earlier this week, Shane Matthews, the Regional Managing Director for Northern Ireland said: “It has been brilliant to be involved with the Challenge Cup. “We first sponsored the competition back in 2016 and have enjoyed being a part of it since. We very much see ourselves as a community broker despite being multi-national business. “Friday will be fantastic for us. We will bring along guests who are suppliers and partners from the insurance market. They have been along in previous years and have loved the occasion,” he added.

If required, the reserve date for the final will be this Saturday (3rd August). If there is still no result, then we will try again on Saturday 10th August.

Neil Hunter, Richard Johnson, Shane Matthews

Shane Mathews, Regional Managing Director, Andrew White (Captain Instonians), John Matchett (Vice-Captain CIYMS), Richard Johnson, NCU President.

Shane Mathews, Umpires Alan Neil, Phil Thompson, Dessie Milne and Neil Hunter.