At 2.30pm, Lurgan, one of Ireland’s oldest rugby clubs will run out against Tullamore in the Energia All-Ireland Men’s Junior Cup, making their first appearance in the national competition.
For many players, it will be their first experience of representing their club against opposition from another province. For the supporters travelling south, it will be an occasion to savour.
And for head coach Damien Campbell, who celebrates his 46th birthday on Saturday, it promises to be a particularly memorable afternoon.
Campbell knows the competition well, having been involved with Rainey when they won the inaugural All-Ireland Junior Cup 20 years ago.
Now, two decades later, he is preparing another club for its first taste of the national stage, having overseen Lurgan's transformation from struggling in Championship 2 to competing among Ulster's strongest junior sides.
“Definitely looking forward to it” Campbell told IrishRugby.ie.
“I would have previously coached at Rainey, actually was part of the very first team that won the All-Ireland Junior Cup back 20 years ago.
But it's just strange that I'm now coaching somewhere else. We were struggling as a Championship 2 team when I picked them up, and now when we went into Championship 1, last season was our second year.
To get a chance to play in this competition this season is outstanding for the group in terms of how far we've come.”
The achievement reflects a journey that has required patience, belief and considerable commitment.
When Campbell arrived, Lurgan were battling near the bottom of Championship 2 in Ulster. Establishing themselves as a competitive side was the immediate priority, but results gradually improved and promotion followed.
Their return to Championship 1 was particularly significant, ending an absence of almost 60 years from that level.
Survival initially represented success. Now, the club is preparing for an occasion that would once have seemed distant.
“There definitely has been a buzz” Campbell said.
“One of our targets starting in Championship 1 was to try and survive within the league, and of course we wouldn't have played in Championship 1 for close to 60 years, so getting up was a big milestone for the club.
I think we've always hit new milestones every year, and we've always kept improving in terms of our number of wins and victories.”
Campbell is particularly conscious that Saturday belongs to more than those selected to play.
Behind every successful junior club are volunteers, sponsors and supporters whose contributions rarely receive the recognition they deserve.
“Everybody in the club's really excited” he explained.
“Some people will only see the 15 players or 18 players on the squad on a Saturday, but they don't see all the sponsors and getting venues and getting the pitch ready and all the work that goes on.
Every club is like that, that sort of gets a chance at these levels, that the club sort of comes together at the right time to help push your flagship team forward.”
That collective spirit will be evident throughout the weekend.
Lurgan have arranged to travel on Friday and stay overnight, with supporters also making the journey to Offaly.
It is an opportunity to turn the club's first national cup appearance into a shared experience, while allowing the players to settle before facing formidable opposition.
“A lot of young people haven't experienced All-Ireland club rugby themselves because they've come through the club only” Campbell said.
“So this will be the first case of an away day against a team from another province. We're staying overnight on the Friday, so to try and make it that sort of community feel within the group.
There's a lot of supporters that are going to be staying down on the Friday and Saturday, and I think that's probably the best fixture we could get as an away fixture.”
For Campbell, travelling together will help reinforce the culture developed within the squad.
“It just brings the occasion together, or feels more real for them as opposed to a home fixture, so that excitement's building with the club.”
The opposition, however, ensures there will be little opportunity to become distracted by the occasion.
Tullamore have previous experience in the Energia All-Ireland League and remain a formidable force following their return to junior rugby.
Campbell expects the home side to begin as favourites, but believes Lurgan have earned the right to approach the contest with confidence.
“Tullamore have AIL experience when they've come back into junior rugby” he said.
“So they will probably be the favourites for the game in terms of how they're doing this season as well. But we're going down with the belief that we can disrupt them in different areas, and that we will put our best foot forward to represent the club in the local area.”
Having encountered Tullamore during his coaching career with Rainey, Campbell understands the physical challenge awaiting his players.
He anticipates a powerful forward pack, an emphasis on territory and a side capable of controlling matches through its set-piece.
“From what I remember they have a very strong pack, like to play territory rugby” he said.
“They're very strong in their set-piece, so from what I believe it's similar to us. They have a younger team than what I would have experienced before, so a lot of young players are coming back to the club and willing to help out more.”
He also recognises similarities between the clubs in their commitment to developing local talent.
“I think that's probably the vision both clubs will have, similar with building with local boys and youth, and trying to establish a different set of culture maybe than what they would have had. But I know Tullamore is definitely a very, very strong club with a lot of experience from when I was at Rainey coaching there.”
The surroundings will provide another challenge.
With changing rooms close to the pitch and supporters surrounding the action, Campbell expects an intense atmosphere.
“It's not an enjoyable place to go to” he admitted.
“You're right in the melting pot, you've got the changing rooms right around the pitch, everything's very close.
“I think the occasion could get to you, especially with a number of our players, but going down on Friday night, I think that'll be good for us to settle and everybody go through their routine.”
Experience could prove decisive if the contest remains close.
“Tullamore will have loads of experience” Campbell said.
“They'll not panic, they'll play for the full 80 minutes and they'll know where they can squeeze us I'm sure.
I think they'll be a more composed team going into this, just going into their experience that they have.”
Nevertheless, Lurgan have already demonstrated their ability to compete against established opposition.
Their Championship 1 campaign last season included encouraging results against Dromore Omagh Academicals and Bangor.
Dromore reached last season's All-Ireland Junior Cup final, having completed an unbeaten league campaign the previous year, while Omagh and Bangor brought considerable senior experience into the division from their time in the All-Ireland League, and they also defeated Belfast Harlequins this season, who dropped out of the All-Ireland League last season.
“Last year we got a draw against Dromore at home, who ended up being second but won the league going 18 from 18 the previous season” Campbell explained.
“Last year also we had Omagh drop into Championship 1 and we picked seven points out of them over the two fixtures. We got a win and a draw with two bonus points in it, so we can compete and we've shown that we compete.”
Those performances have strengthened Lurgan's belief that they can challenge more experienced opponents.
“We prefer possibly that underdog tag” Campbell said.
“We know that we have to be at our best when we're competing against these teams. The players train hard and in terms of implementing a set game plan, it's nice to see that when it comes together. I think this competition will help us focus more.”
The standard of Championship 1 has risen considerably through the arrival of former All-Ireland League clubs, as already mentioned.
Bangor, Omagh and Belfast Harlequins have all competed in the division in recent seasons, providing Lurgan with regular opportunities to test themselves against sides accustomed to senior rugby.
“We've had Bangor dropping into Championship 1, we've had Omagh dropping into Championship 1 and Belfast Harlequins over the last three seasons” Campbell explained.
“We've competed against all of them and beat them on occasions, not regularly but we've still beat them.”
There are also examples throughout Ulster of clubs successfully making the transition from junior rugby to the national league.
Ballyclare, Clogher Valley, Instonians and Enniskillen have all progressed, demonstrating what can be achieved through sustained development.
“Dromore are probably at a different level to where we are currently but we have competed against them as well” Campbell said.
“When you look at the quality that it is in the league, you've had over the years Ballyclare, Clogher Valley, Instonians and now Enniskillen all being promoted and doing very well in All-Ireland League rugby. Every day we go out, we are being challenged and pushed to our best.”
That experience should prove valuable against Tullamore, although Campbell believes consistency will determine whether Lurgan can produce an upset.
“It will be a step up but we have shown that we can step up” he said.
“Being consistent on the day, I think that will come down to can we be consistent in terms of our approach and our warm-up and how we prepare.
But then trying to implement our game plan where we can. I think that's a strong purple patch where we get a couple of scores in there.”
Saturday also arrives at an important moment in Lurgan's season.
Defeats against Ards and Cooke in their last two Championship fixtures have contributed to a difficult opening period.
Campbell hopes the excitement surrounding the cup can provide a fresh sense of purpose.
“I think we've had a slow start this season within the league itself” he admitted.
“I think the whole experience of the day is nearly like a reset for the group to try and move forward and use it as a launching pad.”
The immediate objective is to produce a performance that reflects the progress Lurgan have made.
But Campbell is equally conscious that their league campaign remains the foundation for future success.
“A result in terms of a performance first and foremost will help the group move forward now” he said.
“We recognise that the league is our bread and butter and we need to really push at that to be able to have this experience again next year. But I think this is a good thing for our players.”
Indeed, the anticipation surrounding Saturday has been building since pre-season.
Campbell hopes the experience will give his squad renewed focus when they return to domestic action.
“Players are sort of looking towards this game more than anything, we've been talking about it from pre-season” he said.
“I think we need to get this game over so we can focus back into the league, which is going to be our bread and butter.”
The longer-term significance could be even greater.
Lurgan operate in an area surrounded by established rugby clubs, including City of Armagh, Banbridge and Dungannon, while Dromore and Portadown are also competing in the Junior Cup.
Campbell believes that environment creates opportunities for ambitious clubs willing to improve.
“We're in the melting pot of trying to push into that next level with a lot of big clubs within the area” he said.
“It's good for the local area, we have three clubs that are representing in the Junior Cup this year, so hopefully we can showcase what we can do as well.”
Central to that ambition is the development of local players.
Many members of the Lurgan squad progressed through the club without receiving representative recognition during their youth careers.
But opportunities have emerged as the senior side has improved. Campbell has also been involved with the Ulster Juniors representative setup, with six Lurgan players earning provincial junior honours over recent seasons.
“A majority of our players wouldn't have representative honours going through youth rugby” he explained.
“But within the last three or four seasons I've been involved with Ulster Juniors as well, and we've had six people over the last four or five years that have represented Ulster Juniors.
“They're getting a wee bit of experience of playing with other players, and they'll bring that experience into the game on Saturday.”
For the next generation, watching Lurgan compete nationally could provide powerful inspiration.
Campbell believes the current players may not fully appreciate the significance of what they are achieving until years have passed.
“Something that the younger players will look up and aspire to” he said.
“This group has started something that they won't see the monumental effect now because they're in the middle of it and they're in the eye of the storm, I suppose. Whereas the outward ripple of this will be very big for the club.”
The opportunity could also help Lurgan retain talented players and attract others back from neighbouring clubs.
“Being near the bottom of Championship 2 to getting in our third year, playing in the All-Ireland Cup is a massive stretch for the club” Campbell said.
“I think that keeps pushing forward retaining players and getting players back to our local club who are playing All-Ireland League rugby for other clubs in the local area.”
Much of that progress has been built on the trust between Campbell and his squad.
When he arrived, he presented a vision without any guarantee it would succeed.
The players embraced it, and their commitment has helped transform the club's fortunes.
“When I first landed at Lurgan the players had a buy-in to my vision” he recalled.
“I had no evidence to base it on because they didn't know me prior to teaching in the local area.
“The players that have bought into that vision have been able to show other players that what we're doing in Lurgan is something they want to be a part of.”
Saturday will provide the clearest evidence yet of that progress.
The players will make history simply by taking the field, but Campbell wants the occasion to become another step towards a much bigger ambition.
“Saturday will be that, where you're being a part of the very first team to play All-Ireland Cup” he said.
“And hopefully be a part of a team that can push forward to be a senior team. I don't think there's any reason why we shouldn't have those aspirations either.”
Whatever the result against Tullamore, Lurgan's first Energia All-Ireland Junior Cup appearance will represent an achievement worth celebrating.
It belongs to the players, coaches, volunteers and supporters who have helped turn ambition into progress.
For Campbell, celebrating his birthday while guiding Lurgan into a competition he helped win 20 years ago, the occasion brings his own rugby journey full circle.
But the greatest significance may lie in what comes next.
Lurgan have already shown how much can change when a club believes in its potential.
Now, as they prepare for their historic afternoon in Tullamore, they have another opportunity to demonstrate that their journey is only beginning.
For one of the oldest rugby clubs in Ireland this will be a big occasion, and as their club motto is “Be Just and Fear Not”, they will not fear a trip to Tullamore they will relish a chance to make history.
By Diarmuid Kearney
Lurgan Match Photography By Maynard Collins Photography