Enniskillen Rangers 18 Crieve Rovers 0

Holders Enniskillen Rangers began the defence of the Junior Cup in emphatic style on Saturday as they romped to an 18-0 win over visitors Crieve Rovers at the Ball Range.

Indeed, the win was Rangers biggest ever in the competition, eclipsing their previous best of 18-1.

As the scoreline suggests, Michael Kerr’s outfit bossed things from start to finish on Saturday against a poor opposition with the ‘Gers hitting the back of the net 11 times in the first half before they added a further seven goals after the break to put their name in the hat for the next round of the competition.

“We kept another clean sheet, we’re into the next round and we had no injuries, those are the main things out of it.

“I had no idea what sort of a team they would be so our intention was to get on the front foot right from the first whistle and we knew soon after that what way the game would go.

“Look, they were poor and I don’t think our goalkeeper Jerome touched the ball with his hands, but we can only beat what’s in front of us and it was pleasing for us to get among the goals,” said Kerr.

Striker Ciaran Brough was handed a start by Kerr and he grabbed his opportunity with both hands as he finished with a five goal haul.

“I was delighted for Broughy. He has been patient and has trained well and took his chance.

“Hopefully he can push on from here,” he said.

Kerr was an early casualty for his side as he hobbled off with a hamstring injury after only five minutes.

The goals though soon started to flow with Brough helping himself to four in the first half while there was a hat-trick for Mark Cutler. Christopher Currie also netted twice while Neil Coulter and Richard Johnston were on the scoresheet too as they went in at the break leading 11-0.

And it was more of the same in the second half as Cutler bagged another three while Brough, Conor Watson, Paddy Beresford and a Michael Simpson penalty wrapped up the most comfortable of days for Kerr’s side.

“We know very well that there will be bigger and tougher tests to come in the Junior Cup but we are through to the next round and hopefully we can get another home draw.

“It won’t be easy but one of our aims is to try and retain the Junior Cup,” added the ‘Gers player-manager.

Rangers have no games for the next three weeks with the Junior Cup running again this week while their opponents over the next two weeks have free weekends. Kerr though doesn’t intend to be idle.

“It’s not ideal but we will train hard and he we will look to arrange a friendly or two so that the boys have games,” he added.