NFC Kesh III 2 Killen Rangers Reserves 5

With NFC Kesh Reserves already in the final there were hopes of an all NFC Kesh Reihill Cup final with the club’s thirds having also reached the semi-final stage of the competition.
However, Killen Rangers Reserves put an end to those hopes as they booked their place in the final with a 5-2 victory over Kesh III’s at Fisher Park on Tuesday night.
Killen got off to a lively start to the game as they took an early lead and by the break they were in control having added another two goals to hold a 3-0 advantage at the interval.
Kesh did battle hard in the second half but they had left themselves too much to do as Killen progressed to the decider.
Kesh manager Rodney Smith admitted his side were slow to get going but was much happier with their second half performance.
“We were poor in the first half, we just didn’t pick it up from were we left off against Rangers in the quarter-final and we were a goal down early.
“In fairness to the boys, they were far better in the second half and they showed great determination which is what we wanted from them,” he said.
Killen, with Andy Crawford and Clive Morrison controlling matters in the middle of the park, settled into the game quickly and with only seven minutes gone they took the lead through Matthew Finlay.
And they soon went on to double their advantage as the experienced Crawford got on the scoresheet, heading home from a Morrison free kick.
It could have been worse for Kesh but goalkeeper Justin Cashel pulled off a couple of sharp stops although there was little he could do as Killen added a third before half time as Finlay netted his second.
After some stern words at half time though Kesh raised their game in the second half and they soon pulled a goal back. Ben Duncan chased down the Killen goalkeeper and claimed possession before tucking it into the net for 3-1.
Killen though responded well and a Morrison free kick restored their three goal advantage.
Kesh kept plugging away though and they were rewarded with a second goal when an Enda Cassidy corner deflected off a Killen player and into the net.
James Cooke then went close to a third Kesh goal but his effort was saved by the goalkeeper and Killen went on to wrap up the win late on as Gareth Mulligan slotted home to leave it 5-2 at the finish.
In the final, Killen will face Kesh Reserves who overcame Mountjoy Reserves in the other semi-final.
Liam Maguire gave Kesh the lad just before half time and Josh Flack wrapped up the win early in the second half when he lobbed the Mountjoy goalkeeper as Kesh ran out 2-0 winners.