Whitey Anderson’s side welcome Derry City to Ferney Park on Monday
Ballinamallard have no fixture this Saturday, but have a glamour fixture against FAI Cup winners Derry City on Monday evening at Ferney Park.
The Candystripes visit Ferney for the second season in succession with a 7.45 pm kick off.
Ballinamallard are expecting a good crowd to see the Eircom Cup winners on show and manager Whitey Anderson knows it will be good workout for his players.
“This is the kind of opposition you want when you are arranging friendlies. They are just starting into their pre-season and we have a free week.
“Both teams play good football so it should be a real game for the true football fan,” said Anderson.
“It’s a great honour for us to host a game like this,” said Anderson who says it will be a good chance to blood some of the younger players on the fringe of the team.
For the next league game, though, Anderson will be without midfield James McKenna who starts a two game suspension.
“I’m disappointed with that because McKenna has been playing exceptionally well recently. He really has stepped up the mark this season and deserves a lot of credit for his performances in the Premier League.”
Anderson knows McKenna will be a big loss for the Donegal Celtic and Cliftonville games, but says his team has adapted in the past, particularly when David Kee was suspended recently.