Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Winger Jones determined to help Olympic earn festive cup final spot
By
NATHAN JONES is confident Ballynahinch Olympic won’t go missing in one of the biggest games in their history tomorrow night – their Border Cup shootout with Orangefield Old Boys.
The two sides lock horns under the floodlights of Seaview (8pm kick-off) with the prize for both a first ever appearance in the festive Amateur League showpiece, where the holders Crumlin Star lie in wait.
Olympic head into the tie as favourites to clinch a spot in the final by dint of their status as a Premier Division club, but having come up against Graeme Arthur’s resurgent Old Boys en route to their 1A title last season, Jones is adamant complacency won’t be an issue.
“Over the last few years, we haven’t really had a cup run, but our seconds are in a final on Boxing Day so it’d be good to get into a final as well,” said Jones.
“We haven’t really been thinking about it, we’ve been taking it one game at a time but here, there’s been a real good buzz about the club and everybody seems to be really excited for it now.
“You try to put the game to the side, even on Saturday, but you always have one eye on it and we’ll lap it up, we’ll take in the occasion and we’ll not get a better opportunity to get to a Border Cup final I believe.
“We played Orangefield last year and they were a good test, so we know all about them.”
Jones believes Olympic come into the tie high in confidence after recent results and encouraged by their performances en route to the semi-final, with Niall Murray the hero last time out, smashing a hat-trick in a 4-0 rout of Crumlin United.
“We’ve had some real good tests so far. Larne Tech up there is as tough as you get, there’s not too many teams will go up there and beat them,” said Jones.
“Now it went to extra-time which was an absolute battle, but it was a great win, and then wee Minto [Murray] pulled us out with a smashing hat-trick against Crumlin.
“So we trust ourselves, and we know we are good going forward.”
Jones made his name as a prolific forward at Drumaness Mills, earning a move into the Irish League with Dundela, and then Queen’s, before switching to the Olympic at the beginning of last season.
But despite netting 20 times in all competitions last year, manager Liam Sloan had some fresh ideas coming into the new campaign, with the 27-year-old forward now thriving out on the flank, with Saturday’s goal in a 3-2 win over 1st Bangor his 14th of the season.
“I’m playing out on the wing now, it’s a different role, I got pushed out at the start and I’ve really taken to it and I’m really enjoying it,” explained Jones.
“I think if Sloaner had have told me at the