Enniskillen Rangers warmed up for their Junior Cup semi-final against Newry Celtic with a 2-1 win over Beragh Swifts at the Ball Range.

The ‘Gers will be aiming to make it through to their first Junior Cup final since 2000 when they take on the Carnbane League side at Holm Park, Armagh on Monday night, and manager Michael Kerr stresses that he wants his side to just focus on the game.

“It’s going to be a big occasion for the boys, it’s a Junior Cup semi-final and it will be played at a neutral venue but I’ve been telling them not to over think it, we need to concentrate on the match on not the occasion. That’s our mindset going into it, that it’s all about the game and that’s what we will be focusing on,” he commented.

Some of Rangers’ best performances post Christmas have came in the Junior Cup, and the victory over a Rosemount Rec side who have lost the last two Junior Cup finals is one that Kerr is keen for his side to reproduce on Monday night.

“Rosemount had played in the last two finals so they were a good side but the attitude of the boys in that game was brilliant, it was a very good performance, and we will need it to be the same against Newry Celtic. In fairness, the boys have lifted their game for the Junior Cup, they are really relishing it and everybody is fighting hard for their place,” said Kerr.

It has been 17 years since the ‘Gers last graced a Junior Cup decider, losing out on that occasion to Lisnaskea Rovers having won it the year before and Kerr is determined not only to steer them into the final but to ultimately claim the silverware on offer.

“It is a massive opportunity for us to get to Windsor Park, the national stadium, and play in a final. A chance like this might never come around again so you have to grasp it with both hands. Also, you don’t just want to be getting through to a final, you want to go on and win it and it is the last chance for us to win silverware this season. First things first though and we are concentrating solely on Newry Celtic and getting the win,” added Kerr.

Christopher Currie is set to miss out for the ‘Gers on Monday night due to injury but other than that Kerr has a full hand to select from.

Newry Celtic have had wins in the last two rounds over Cookstown Youth and Claudy Rovers and they too will go into the big cup encounter on a positive note after beating Killeavey United 2-0 last Saturday. Kerr says that he has done his homework on his opponents but the main focus will be on getting their own performance right.

“We had them watched last week, they are a good side and we will be working on certain things ahead of the game but in the main we will be looking to go and play our own game. We also have a good side and I feel we have a bit of everything in it so I’m confident that we’ll get a performance. We are looking forward to Monday night,” he added.

And last Saturday’s win over Beragh will have given them a confidence boost ahead of the semi-final. There was little between the sides in the first half with Mark Cutler slicing wide from Rangers best chance while home goalkeeper Jerome Carleton pulled off two good saves to deny Jason Armstrong and Craig Breen.

Ten minutes into the second half the ‘Gers took the lead as Davy Crozier and Willie Burleigh combined for player-manager Kerr to head home.

And soon after Rangers doubled their advantage, Kerr this time turning provider as his corner was headed in by Joe Doogan. The away side were back in it when Breen’s free kick deflected of Rangers defender Mattie Chambers and ended up in the back of the net while at the other end Beragh goalkeeper Jordan Newell made a cracking save as he pushed a Cutler effort on to the bar as the home side claimed a 2-1 win.

“It was a pleasing performance,” said Kerr. “It was good to get a result against Beragh as they have proven a tough side for us over the last couple of seasons and obviously it was good to get a win going into the Junior Cup.