When Danske Bank took over sponsorship of the Northern Irish Premier League in soccer this season they could hardly have imagined that the least likely team in the line up would put them in headlines far from home.
Ballinamallard United went top of the division last weekend and have already secured wins over giants Linfield and Cliftonville.  They give hope to every village team that ever dreamt of playing at as high a standard as they could and are drawing fans and support from across the sporting spectrum.
Ballinamallard is a small town in County Fermanagh, with a population of less than 2,000, one school, one methodist church, and through its soccer club, a thriving love of sport at a higher level than would have ever been thought possible.
The club was founded in 1975 and once had former Man United goalkeeper Roy Carroll playing for one of the boys sides.  It rose through the local Fermanagh leagues and when promotion to the Championship or second tier of the game was achieved in 2008, a major upgrading of Ferney Park was undertaken.
Local engineering firm Fishers have been involved in projects such as the Waterfront and Odyssey Arena in Belfast so there was local knowledge could go into the upgrade and crowds of over 1,000 turned up on the clubs return in 2009 to see them play better and better before achieving promotion last spring and taking their place alongside the best that Northern Ireland has to offer.
The club is semi professional and has attracted a number of players with links to Sligo Rovers just across the border.  Their early season success mirrors that of Sligo who captured their third Airtricity Premier League title in October.
It is run as any local club with enthusiasm making up for serious financial investment and the supporters website welcomes contributions from across the range og fans.  They operate Mallard TV which gather together clips of goals captured on video cameras and phones in the ground.  This is some way from the heady world of media rights negotiation but it sets a standard for what can be achieved at a small club.
At the start of this season Ballinamallard were heavy favourites to go straight back down.  Instead ten games in they sit on top of the League.  It may not last but it will not be for the lack of pride and enthusiasm that have got them this far.
Ballinamallard is a predominantly protestant town but the club draws support from fans whose natural affinity would be to gaelic football, rugby and other sports.  The code is less important than the fact that this is a Fermanagh team playing against giants.
The government are investing significantly in Northern Irish sport at present.  Major projects are underway at Casement Park, Windsor Park and Ravenhill.  The performance of the national soccer team in drawing with Portugal this week has also lifted national pride and will draw in more support and greater levels of sponsorship.
It was estimated at the time of the sponsorship announcement that Danske Bank (formerly Northern Bank) have invested around E100,000 in the Premier League.
If Ballinamallard can keep their run going they will have media from around the world taking an interest in their league and the plucky outsiders who are riding high in it.
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