Instonians coach Xander McIlwaine believes his young side have earned the right to enjoy Sunday’s Gallagher Women’s Senior Challenge Cup final and insists they will embrace the challenge of facing Holywood head-on.

The Shaw’s Bridge club will enter the decider as underdogs against a Holywood team sitting proudly at the top of the Premiership, but McIlwaine is confident Instonians possess enough talent and character to make their mark.

Their league campaign has been difficult following promotion from Senior League One, yet the cup has provided a welcome source of momentum and excitement.

“The league campaign has been tough for us,” admitted McIlwaine. “Coming up from Senior League One, we knew it was going to be a big step.

“We’ve competed in games, but it’s about getting that first win and building from there. We haven’t managed that yet, but when you look at our team, we have a strong squad.

“We’re not relying on only a few individuals. We have various players taking wickets and plenty of girls scoring runs.”

McIlwaine has no concerns about Instonians being widely regarded as outsiders.

“I don’t mind us going in as underdogs,” he said. “Holywood are an exceptional outfit and everyone can see the work Steve Kruger, William Belford and the others have put into their women’s section.

“They have fantastic players, but it is a challenge we are looking forward to facing head-on. All the girls are up for it.

“I’ve told them to give it everything. Cricket is a funny sport and you never know what can happen. It’s all about what happens on Sunday.

“Win or lose, I’m proud of the girls. That is all you can ask as a coach — that they give everything for the team.”

Instonians will be captained by Natalie Moore, whose understated influence has impressed McIlwaine throughout the campaign.

“Natalie is probably the most underrated player we have,” he said. “She goes about her business exceptionally well and doesn’t bring too many accolades to herself.

“She has played for the NCU senior women and at Under-19 level, and she leads the rest of the girls brilliantly. She just does everything you want from a captain.”

The bowling attack will be led by Anna Ellerby, who has already represented the NCU senior women and Ireland at Under-19 level.

Ellerby recently celebrated her 17th birthday and has developed into one of the most exciting young seamers in the province.

“Anna is incredible,” said McIlwaine. “She leads from the front with the ball for us.

“She is tall, bowls left-arm and swings the new ball. That makes her a real challenge for any batter. She is also an absolutely brilliant leader for someone who has only just turned 17.”

Matilda McCartney is another player capable of making a decisive contribution. The talented batter has represented the NCU at senior and Under-16 level, as well as Ireland Under-15s.

“Matilda is a fantastic asset,” said McIlwaine. “She is one of our top-order batters and, when she gets going, she is very difficult to stop.

“She hits the ball as cleanly as probably anyone I’ve coached during my years in the game.”

Former Instonians player Ellen Sterritt adds further representative experience, having played for the Knights at several age groups and represented the senior women.

There is also considerable excitement surrounding 14-year-old wicketkeeper Anna Lunny, who will take the gloves in the final.

Lunny recently received specialist coaching from Ireland international Amy Hunter, who emerged through the Instonians youth pathway before establishing herself on the world stage.

“Amy came down just before the West Indies series and did some work with our wicketkeepers,” explained McIlwaine.

“It was fantastic that she gave up her time and shared her knowledge. Wicketkeeping is obviously her speciality, certainly compared with mine.

“Anna has been fantastic behind the stumps this season. She and the other young keepers have always looked up to Amy because of what she achieved from such an early age.

“It shows them where they can get to when they put in the hard work.”

McIlwaine believes Hunter remains an important inspiration to the club’s younger players.

“She is a fantastic role model,” he said. “There is no ego with Amy. She is one of the nicest people you could meet and she is always willing to help.

“I would obviously love to have her available for the final, but representative commitments mean that isn’t possible.”

Erin Mitchell and Ava Willmott have played important roles at the top of the order, producing several valuable opening partnerships during the cup run.

Those stands have provided the platform for players such as Emily Wilson, who has demonstrated the ability to accelerate and change the course of an innings.

“Erin and Ava have put together some fantastic opening partnerships in the cup matches,” said McIlwaine. “They’ve given us a platform and helped us get through to the final.

“Emily is another player to watch. She has played some excellent innings over the past two seasons and has the ability to score very quickly.”

The women’s section at Instonians has now been established for around a decade. McIlwaine became involved as a 17-year-old coach in 2019 and later made rebuilding the section his primary focus following the disruption caused by the pandemic.

Instonians spent several seasons consolidating in Senior League One before the arrival of NCU coach Gareth Thompson helped add fresh impetus in 2024. The following season brought a league and Challenge Plate double, securing their return to the Premiership.

McIlwaine also paid tribute to former captain April Lunny and Amy Kimber for the countless hours they have devoted to growing the section.

“The amount of work that has gone in behind the scenes has been fantastic,” he said.

“Lifting the Challenge Cup would mean so much to the entire club. It would represent years of hard work from so many people and it would be celebrated across Instonians.

“At the start of the season, had you said both our men’s and women’s teams would reach their Challenge Cup finals, everyone at the club would have taken that.

“Whatever happens on Sunday, I know the girls will give 110 per cent. They always have and they always will.”

The action at Stormont gets underway at 11am on Sunday (July 19) and will be a 30 overs apiece match.