Morgan Owen puffs out his cheeks with what feels like a mixture of hope and disbelief when asked what it would mean for Caernarfon Town to win the JD Welsh Cup.
“I’d probably struggle to put it into words to be honest,” the Cofis’ full-back says, as if the possibility would be so incredible yet incomprehensible.
“It’s been such a long season and we’ve put an immense amount of work into it, so get the trophy at the end, along with a European adventure, would be magic.”
Caernarfon will meet Flint Town United in this season’s JD Welsh Cup Final at Rodney Parade in Newport on Sunday (KO 15:15), in what both teams may feel could be their best ever chance to lift the historic trophy.
JD Welsh Cup Final Tickets
The New Saints, winners of four of the last five finals (they were runners-up in the other) were dramatically knocked out by Cardiff Met in Round Three. It is the first final not to feature either the Saints or Connah’s Quay Nomads since 2013.
For Caernarfon, it is their first ever appearance in the final of the competition. Flint have not reached this stage since the only previous time they lifted the cup, in 1954.
“It’s the first time for the club and the first time for quite a lot of players as well, myself included,” Owen says. “It will be a special occasion. For friends and family to come down and watch us in the biggest competition in Wales, the excitement is massive and we all can’t wait.”
It feels like the Cofis have been waiting a while for a cup run like they have had this season. In each of the previous three campaigns, they failed to make it past Round Three.
Admittedly they were knocked out by TNS in 2022/23 and then Connah’s Quay Nomads in 2023/24, but last season they suffered a penalty shootout defeat to third tier Holyhead Hotspur in the second round.
This year has been different. After overcoming JD Cymru North sides Newtown (3-0) and Penrhyncoch (4-0), Caernarfon faced back-to-back away ties against fellow top-flight opposition Cardiff Met and Colwyn Bay but earned 4-2 and 4-1 victories respectively. A place in the Final was secured courtesy of a 2-1 triumph over Rhyl 1879.
“It’s always a good aim to have isn’t it?” Owen smiles, when asked if the team had targeted a cup run. “We’ve had tough games throughout the competition but we’ve just kept it game by game, as we normally do, and seen how far we can get.
“Cardiff Met away was tough, Rhyl in the semi-final was tough, but we edged them and it’s worked out well.”
Caernarfon head into Sunday’s game as narrow favourites by virtue of league position. The Cofis currently sit fifth in the JD Cymru Premier, while Flint are in 10th and are yet to secure survival from relegation.
Richard Davies’ side are also unbeaten against the Silkmen in the last six meetings between the teams, but Owen says that they can take nothing for granted at Rodney Parade.
“It will be a very tough game. There’s no easy game in this league as we all know. We beat them 5-2 away from home in Phase One, but I remember the first half they were probably the better side and then we changed shape at half-time and it worked in our favour. Then we drew 1-1 at home and it was another very tough game.
“It’s anyone’s on the day so we need to make sure that we prepare right and do everything we can.”
One certainty on Sunday is that there will be no lack of support for Caernarfon in Newport.
‘The Cofi Army’ have become famous for their dedication and passion, with Caernarfon’s attendances still ranking among the best in the JD Cymru Premier this season despite them playing their home games at the Go Goodwins Stadium in Llandudno while The Oval is redeveloped.
The JD Welsh Cup Final may be at the opposite end of the country, but over 1,000 Cofis have already purchased tickets as they hope to witness history.
“Their support is massive,” Owen says. “I’ve seen that we’re taking a thousand down, minimum. Fair play to them all for making the four and a half hour journey to come and support us, it means the world to all the boys and the coaching staff.
“When we’re struggling on the pitch, I’m sure we will be at some moments, we’ll be able to look over [at the supporters] and that’s what keeps us going and gives us extra motivation.”
Winning the JD Welsh Cup also brings the rewards of European qualification, which Caernarfon got a first taste of a couple of years ago.
They famously defeated Northern Irish side Crusaders on penalties in Belfast in the UEFA Conference League first qualifying round – a trip the Cofi Army will never forget – before taking on former European Cup semi-finalists Legia Warsaw in a mouthwatering clash.
“It would be unbelievable to get into Europe again,” Owen says. “We did it for the first time two years ago and it was mega, to be honest. We’re all striving for the same goal again.”
