It is three years since Lisburn played an Irish Cup match at Wallace Park so it is hardly a surprise that captain Neil Whitworth is looking forward to Saturday’s first round game against Brigade.

The disappointment of the 2022 final, when they were bowled out for 96 by CIYMS – “it was just one of those days, we were outplayed in all three facets” – is condemned to the mists of time, and focus is firmly on going on another cup run.

Lisburn haven’t actually won an Irish Cup match since the semi-final against Clontarf, losing to Instonians in 2023 and Malahide last year, but Whitworth hopes it will be home sweet home again on Saturday.

“The Irish Cup is a prestigious tournament and hopefully we can go far this year. Brigade are a strong side but we are home again, confident and hopefully we can repeat our victory in the All-Ireland T20 semi-final last year. It was a cracking game which we we won in the last over.”

The confidence comes from their 100 per cent winning start to season and the early pacesetters in the NCU Premier League. Ominously for Brigade and future opponents, they have yet to have the perfect performance.  

“We haven’t fired in certain areas,” admits Whitworth, now in his fourth year as captain, “but we can’t complain after five wins out of five.

The biggest escape was their one wicket win over Civil Service North. “We know we didn’t deserve to win that game, the outstanding performance from Faiz (Fazal, 145 not out) shone through but we have got through a lot of games like that in the past. Last season, I believe, we won seven games in the last over!”

There was also an incredible finale in the game against CIYMS on the opening day when, with just two runs required and five wickets in hand, they lost four wickets for one run before stumbling over the line, again by the minimum margin.

“That was an interesting one,” recalls Whitworth with more than a hint of understatement. “We expected to cruise that but we had a few hiccups with the bat and brain freezes. But sometimes, small targets (104) are the most difficult and it was definitely nice to get over the line.”

Last Saturday, was the most impressive victory so far – and against a top four team from last season in Cliftonville Academy.

“I chose to bat first on what looked to be a difficult pitch (at the Castle Grounds). 275 was well above a par score so we knew we were in a good position and it was up to our bowlers to back that up. The way we started was excellent with two wickets from Ryan Macbeth and then solid through the middle - a really comprehensive win (by 119 runs) that gives us plenty of confidence.

And it was a bowling attack minus Mark Adair and Matthew Humphreys, only underlining the strength at Whitworth’s disposal.

“Our bowling attack is very strong. We set a plan every game, to bowl in the right areas, be patient and the wickets will come and luckily we have been successful in that. It is a matter of just keep hammering away at that throughout the season.

“But we have 14-15, maybe even 16 players we can call on who can do a good job, so it is always a luxury to have for a captain.”

All Whitworth and Lisburn can do at the moment with Adair is monitor his progress and wait for Cricket Ireland to give him the go-ahead to resume playing although Ireland head coach Heinrich Malan has said his strike bowler will play a “couple of club games” before returning to international action in the T20 series against West Indies next month.

Humphreys is one of the international players taken out of Irish Cup action by Cricket Ireland and Lisburn will also be without his in-form opening bowler Ryan Macbeth.

“He is on his own stag do this weekend so he can’t really miss that! The good thing is that it means Brigade will be without his brother, Scott.”

Lisburn will still have Josh Manley, Nigel Jones and Adam Kennedy as their pace attack with support from NCU chief executive Callum Atkinson.

“Summing up the season so far, Whitworth is “very happy at the minute. We always want to improve but absolutely happy with the start”.

The tests, though, are about to get a lot bigger.