John McKeown is backing Glenafton to win East Ayrshire's bragging rights by overcoming Auchinleck Talbot at Rugby Park on Sunday to lift the lucrative Scottish Junior Cup silverware for only the second time in their history.

The Cumnock team boss cannot claim to have won the game’s No.1 trophy prize during his managerial career - unike Super Premier Division counterparts Johnny Millar (Beith), Darren Henderson (Hurlford United) and Tony McInally (Pollok).

Yet he is probably best placed of them all to assess the merits of the two finalists seeing as Cumnock are geographically “the meat in the sandwich" between their near neighbours.

So it's hard not to conclude his observations on their respective playing strengths can be deemed as highly knowledgeable considering his Nock side have previously locked horns with Auchinleck (four occasions) and Glenafton (three times) this season with a mixed bag of outcomes.

One win, two defeats and a draw has been his lot against the Bot while a win, defeat and draw have been derived from encounters with the Glens.

He said: "Hand on heart, I have to say it goes completely against the grain to even think about writing off Talbot in a Scottish Junior Cup Fina.

"However, recent form and the fact Glenafton’s tails will be up after clinching the Super Premier Division title will see them edge things on the day.

“A lot will come down to which team holds their nerve best on the day and I also see the scoring of the first goal as a massive factor not least because Auchinleck as a team have struggled to find the net this season.

“Heads could easily go down if Glenafton were to take the lead yet by the same token Talbot scoring first would provide a massive shot in the arm from knowing their defensive record is the best bar none in the entire West Region.”

The 36-year-old went on to give his take on the playing strengths likely to be on show.

Goalkeepers: “ Andy Leisman is worth 12 points a season and he’s a massive player for Auchinleck in every sense not least of all his exceptional kicking of the ball which can force opposing teams into sitting deeper than they would like.

“And his physical size and agility forces opponents into a change of tack at set pieces because any crosses fired too close to him are automatically [plucked from the air with the minimum of fuss.

“Glens No.1 Brian McGarrity doesn’t tend to make the headlines as much and is more a Steady Eddie type with a very safe pair of hands who does what he has to do and the best plaudit I can say of Brian is that I’ve never seen him make a mistake.”

Defenders: To my mind Martin McGoldrick is the glue that holds Talbot’s backline together and his pace and no-nonsense approach make him one of the best defenders going the rounds which may come across as ironic given he made a rare blunder in our recent West of Scotland Cup game against Auchinleck which led to Scott Anson scoring the only goal of the game.

“Willie Lyle and Gordon Pope dovetail wonderfully at full back with Willie your typical sit at home defensive type while Popeye is a huge asset with his distribution from the back ,firing sixty yard diagonals yet at the same time posing a huge threat when venturing forward or coming into your penalty box at set plays.

“A major factor in Glenafton’s successes this season has been their centre-back partnership of Ryan McChesney and team captain Craig Menzies and I’m an admirer of both players particularly McChesney, who has matured into an outstanding Junior stopper, terrific in the air and aggressive with it .

“Ryan gets better every time I see him play and a huge factor behind his displays is knowing he has an excellent sweeper in ``Zee `(Menzies) reading the game so intelligently and making the covering work look so easy.

“Craig is an ex-Stenhousemuir team mate of mine as a full back but there’s no doubt he has found his ideal position in central defence and what I like best about him is that he never appears to switch off and is forever talking to the guys around him .”

“At right-back is ex-Ayr United star turn Kyle McAusland, a Cumnock boy born and bred, who turned down my signing overtures last summer in favour of joining the Glens where he has come into his own and uses his experience to great effect.”

Midfielders: "There’s a debate going on in and around Auchinleck as to the likely engine room picks of Tommy Sloan but Bryan Young stands out for me as the man who makes Talbot tick so I think he’ll definitely play from the start.

“Butch is a winner and a thinker whose willingness to gamble and make runs forward in anticipation of the ball coming his way has led to him scoring a whole heap of goals in the ten years or so he’s been at Beechwood and I cannot speak highly enough of him.

“Alongside him, I can see Tucker opting for Dwayne Hyslop who is still getting back to his best following a serious knee injury however Pee Wee’s aerial ability supplies a terrific attacking threat which Talbot need badly.

“The tenacious battling qualities of old head Stevie White are every bit as important and his organisational strengths and ability to get in about opposing players to break up their passing movements could prove vital however he will need help and for that reason I reckon the natural athleticism of Stevie Wilson will get him the nod .

Ruggy continued “ David Gray has earned the spotlight as the guy pulling the Glenafton strings as he is the ideal link man who is never happier than when getting on the ball to try and make things happen.

“And his free kick deliveries are very special as my Cumnock players found out to our cost.

” Nobody will be more fired up to make a point than Ally Park as he is a former Talbot signing and has developed into a very good Junior by moving to Glenafton and getting a regular game .

“Dan Orsi ,a very direct runner and good with the ball at feet looks a good bet to play down one flank and I fancy the ex-Vale of Clyde player Conor Lynas will operate down the other not least because his pace will be well suited to the astro-grass surface.

“He has it in his locker to score wonder goals just as he did when the Glens recently beat Talbot and I fancy him to get the nod to start in the hope he can do so again.”

Forwards: Talbot duo Keir Milliken and Graham Wilson have been accused of not firing on all cylinders this season however I reckon they make a top notch pairing and both of them are willing workers so Glenafton’s defenders could be in for a tough shift.

“One of the main reasons for Glenafton finishing as league champions is the competition for striking jerseys and their quartet of Mick McCann, Chris Dallas, John Carter and Joe Andrew could easily hold down a place at any other Super Premier club.

“They may well all have a part to play in the final, but I think Carter’s pace will get him a starting jersey probably alongside Dallas who is playing with a lot of confidence after finishing the season on a high.”

Managers: “ Tommy Sloan simply has to be regarded as the Godfather of Junior football for what he’s achieved in his time as Auchinleck manager and his record in the Scottish is second to none.

“Yet he’s probably the most relaxed and placid guy who has ever patrolled a dugout and I can see him being a real calming influence on his players going into this Final.

“I know both Craig McEwan and his assistant Craig Potter from playing alongside them in the Senior game and their steering Glenafton to this Final is a fitting reward for all the hard work put in behind the scenes.

“Southy’s approach is very professional and he never wastes an opportunity to take in matches across the West Region to cast his eye over potential signings in looking to improve his playing squad . “

McKeown believes Glenafton besting Talbot in home and away league games this season has given them an undoubted edge going into the Final showdown.

He reasoned , “ Auchinleck have a number of players who have been over the course before and a lot of people in the game may see this as an advantage however I believe Glenafton’s hunger to be back atop the Junior tree can just edge things in their favour.

”It will be tight with maybe just one goal in it come the final whistle but if I’m not allowed to sit on the fence then it’s the Glens for me.”

Meanwhile, a change to games taking place tomorrow has Lesmahagow awaiting the visit of Yoker Athletic in a Central League Cup semi-final contest where the prize for the winners is a final date against Petershill on Sundaym June 11 (Somervell Park 2pm).

The Gow had lost 5-4 on penalty kicks to Benburb following a 2-2 conclusion to their Quarter Final clash last Wednesday night but the Govan club’s officials have sportingly opted to scratch from the competition after accidentally breaching the rules by bringing on substitutes after the final whistle who subsequently scored with spot kick attempts.

And it’s been decided that New Tinto Park will host this season’s Evening Times Champions Cup Final between Glasgow Perthshire and Glenafton or Girvan (Saturday June 10, kick-off 1pm ).

PLAYING TONIGHT(Kick Offs 7.30 PM ): McBookie.com Super Premier Play Off Game.Second Leg. Kilwinning Rangers v Kilsyth Rangers .

TOMORROW (Kick Offs 2 PM ): Central League Cup.Semi Final .

Lesmahagow v Yoker Athletic .

SUNDAY 4th JUNE 2017 : Scottish Junior Cup Final. Auchinleck Talbot v Glenafton.(Rugby Park 4.15 PM).