Merchant Bank!

Ballymena begin the long trek for the 'holy grail' of Irish league football, the Gibson cup, with probably the biggest first team panel in their history. Twenty five players will have their name emblazoned on a Sky Blue shirt, the latest recruit being former Wigan player Peter Kennedy. The 34 year-old Kennedy finally put pen to paper on Wednesday night and United manager Roy Walker acclaimed him as the final piece in the jig-saw. We at 'Sport expect the versatile Kennedy to line up in centre midfield alongside Gavin Melaugh tomorrow, while another new boy, Joe McDonnell seems destined to get the wide left berth, as Stuarty King sits out a one game ban. Right midfield appears to be a toss-up between Picking and the on-loan McGinley, with the latter expected to 'get the nod' from manager Walker. The United back four should be four stalwarts from last season, Wray, Watson, Haveron and McClean in front of new keeper Neal Blaney. Top scorer from the last 2 seasons, Kevin Kelbie, must sit out the game due to a one game ban also and in his absence Neal Teggart and Davitt Walsh will be asked to lead the line. Competition for places on the United bench is expected to be fierce with13 players vying for 5 vacancies. If we at 'Sport were selecting we'd go for, Cushley, Mullen, Picking, McNeil and Aiden Watson, manager Walker of course may have a completely different view. Judging by the size of United's squad one could be excused for thinking they had discovered an unexpected supply of cash or been taken over by an investment bank. This of course has nothing to do with our headline, 'Merchant Bank', it in fact is meant to be 'rhyming slang' for 'lamb shank', yes Paul Muir, 'we remember you'! So come on United, let's shag those Lambegians!