Annagh United boss Ciaran McGurgan said facing local rivals Portadown in the fifth round of the Irish Cup for a second season running “adds a bit of spice” to the tie.
McGurgan’s side will make the short trip to Shamrock Park on Saturday [15:00 GMT] looking for more cup success over their neighbours.
The Championship side knocked their Premiership counterparts out of the Irish Cup at the fifth round stage last season as they picked up a 3-2 home win, with McGurgan hopeful they can repeat that feat.
“When it comes to Irish Cup, there is more pressure on them as the Premiership club, the last results don’t really matter, it’s a clean slate and it’s going to be a really tough game,” he told BBC Sport NI.
“We’ll take that result [3-2 win] again, but it won’t be that easy, we won’t think it’s a case of turning up because of previous results, that’s not the way it works.
“The mood is good and cup day is one we look forward to. Obviously we have had a bit of success [over Portadown] but that’s in the past and Saturday is a completely different game.”
‘We train on one half of the pitch and Portadown train on the other’
While from the outside it may appear that Annagh and Portadown are fierce rivals, McGurgan said the two clubs actually have “a great relationship”.
That is evidenced by the fact they share facilities as both clubs train on the artificial surface at the BMG Arena, at the same times.
McGurgan doesn’t view that as problematic, even in preparing to face Niall Currie’s side.
“On Tuesday we trained on one half of the pitch and Portadown trained down the other,” McGurgan explained.
“They just get on with it and do their own thing, we don’t interfere with each other, we just get on with it and don’t pay too much attention.
“We’re in a good place so we’re going to go and enjoy it.”
Despite recent good results against Ports, McGurgan acknowledges that they are still the underdogs as the Championship club, but he is pleased with where the club is going.
Annagh sit top of the second division and have hopes of winning promotion this year.
“We’ll always be the little brother, let’s be honest. Portadown are a big club and have big support, that is one thing we probably lack, a big support, but we are just happy to have progressed the club and we are pushing it as hard as we can.
“We’re doing well in the league and the squad is in a better place as is the club, but we’re playing a Premiership side and it will be a lot tougher.
“I think the fact it is a local derby and it is a cup tie levels it a bit.”
