Enniskillen Rangers claimed the first silverware of the season on Tuesday night as a James Turley goal sealed a 1-0 victory over Tummery Athletic in the annual season curtain-raiser the Kennedy Cup at the Ball Range.

In a game of few chances, it was the league champions were to edge out last season’s Mulhern Cup winners with Turley swooping after 15 minutes to clinch the victory.

‘Gers boss Michael Kerr was pleased to win more silverware but more importantly to come through the game with no injuries as they get ready for Saturday’s league opener against Lisbellaw United.

“It is always nice to get some silverware but the main thing for us was that it was another good competitive game under our belts and that we picked up no injuries. We’re glad to have come through it unscathed but as I said to the boys, we have a lot of things that we need to work on this week ahead of the Lisbellaw game,” said Kerr.

And Tummery boss Gerry Love was singing off the same hymn sheet as his side prepare for a trip to Beragh on the opening day of the season.

“This was all about getting a good competitive run out and we got that and the bonus for us was that we also picked up no injuries from it.

“It was a game of few chances but it is one that will benefit us greatly.

“A game like this is great preparation for the start of the season and for us that is a game against Beragh although we know that they are going to pose a completely different threat,” said Love.

Rangers had started the game the brighter of the sides and with 15 minutes on the clock they swooped for what would prove to be the only goal of the game.

Mark Cutler was slipped in and he squared the ball for Turley who produced a composed finish across goalkeeper Chris Catterson to the back of the net.

The ‘Gers carried the greater threat in an attacking sense in the first period with Cutler denied by Catterson when through one on one while the same player then could not get his feet sorted out with Turley well placed.

As the half wore on though Tummery came more into things with the game turning into something of a midfield battle.

And it was more of the same in the second half with both sides cancelling each other out although Tummery were at this stage starting to see more of the ball.

They struggled though to carve out much in the way of scoring chances although a good opportunity did fall the way of Aidy McCaffrey but his effort was saved by Jerome Carleton in the Rangers goal.

Cutler then failed to pick out Ciaran Brough for Rangers while the Dromore side had half chances but showed indecision when in the final third.

In the end the one goal was enough as Turley’s strike saw Rangers finish up 1-0 victors.