OVER 100 Arranmore United supporters will descend on the Diamond Park, Ballyare on Saturday to watch their team face Cockhill Celtic Youths in the Ulster Junior Shield Final (kick-off, 3pm).

Jerry Early’s Arranmore booked their spot in the decider with a victory over Glengad United Reserves, and they aren’t boarding the ferry and making the long trip to Ballyare just to make up the numbers.

“There’s a massive crowd going over for the game,” said Early.

“There’s a full coach load leaving from the island, and there will be cars and mini-buses going, and others from the mainland.

“I’d say we will have over 100 supporters in Ballyare, so hopefully we can give them something to cheer.”

Declan Proctor has recently left the country to go travelling, so he won’t be available this week, while Gavin McGlanaghy (shin splints) and Ruan Reynolds (hamstring) are huge doubts.

However, Early says he has a good crop of committed players, and they will try their best to overcome those injury setbacks.

“We’re the most unique club in the county in my opinion, and not just because we’re an island team.

“The amount of effort our players put in to be available every week is incredible.

“We have lads coming back from Cork, Galway, and Dublin, and they don’t just do it the odd Saturday, it’s every week.

“We’re mentally tough, and in the main, it’s a full Arranmore team as well.

“That’s some going considering our area is just three miles by four miles, and geographically every other club has a much bigger pick of players.”

Arranmore have also been in contention for the Glencar Inn Division One title this year, but Strand Rovers will win the league crown this Saturday if they defeat Oldtown Celtic at home (kick-off 2pm) in their final game of the year.

Arranmore have two games left and they could claim the title or force a play-off if they are victorious in those matches and Strand fail to win on Saturday.

“We will probably know by the time we kick off on Saturday if Strand are going to win it.

“We have pushed them all the way, and at the start of the season if you had offered me the chance to be going for two competitions at the end of April, I would have taken it.

“I suppose the big turning point in the league was when we played them in January, and they scored a late goal to draw. We felt a poor decision went against us at that time.

“They gained a point and we dropped two which was a big difference.

“They will have to go and win it because we won’t give up until it’s over.

“They won’t get anything easy against Oldtown either, and if they have their full team, they are a match for anyone.

“But as I always say, the table doesn’t lie at the end of the season, and the team that finishes top deserves it.”

Arranmore face a difficult task this week against a Cockhill Celtic Youths side that have won promotion to the Inishowen League Premier Division.

They defeated Milford United comfortably 3-0 in their semi-final, and will go into the game with confidence.

Early said: “I have to say I don’t know anything about them, and I might have to make a few phone calls before the weekend to see what they are about.

“I would have huge respect for the Cockhill club and what their senior team have done in winning seven leagues in-a-row, and it’s a real hotbed of soccer down there.

“They will certainly be favourites, but they will know they are in a game when they play us.

“We won the league a couple of years ago, and the Voodoo Cup two seasons ago so we have plenty of winners as well.

“We will give it our all, and hopefully we will get that wee bit of luck that will win us the game.”