Kesh maintained their season long unbeaten run to edge past Enniskillen Athletic and seal a place in the semi-final of the Mulhern Cup.

An early goal from Alan Funston was enough to secure victory and continue Kesh’s remarkable run, and their manger is hopeful they can now upset the odds and make it to the final.

“We will be up against a first division team so it will be a good test for us to see where we are,” said Niall Amos. “I’m sure we will be the least favourite out of them all but at the same time no-one will want to play us because we haven’t been beaten all year and we have nothing to lose. We won’t be the favourites but we will just have a good go and see what happens. It’s brilliant to be in the last four. We have already got the league and now in the last four of the Mulhern Cup. What more could you ask for?” Kesh went into the match without striker Mark Jones but despite their main striker’s unavailability they grabbed a goal after ten minutes.

Athletic’s Brian Owens conceded a free kick 35 yards from goal and Funston bent the ball into the top corner after keeper Ryan McNulty seemed to misjudge the flight.

Athletic were edging the possession statistics but struggling to carve out clear cut opportunities although on 20 minutes they did hit the crossbar through debutant John Joe Strain.

At the other end Nicky Noble saw his shot from the edge of the penalty area saved and Grant Ellis struck the crossbar following a corner, but neither side could find another goal before half time.

The second half followed a similar pattern with the play concentrated in the middle of the pitch and both sides failing to find the crucial pass or shot in front of goal.

Strain came close with a close range header which flew narrowly wide.

At the other end Kesh threatened through Ellis but for the second time he struck the frame of the goal, and substitute Stephen Simms twice spurned opportunities to add another goal.

Kesh held on to their slender lead to progress to the semi-final, but Amos acknowledged that Athletic had pushed his side all the way.

“They are a very, very good team and if they play like that every week I don’t know why they haven’t got promoted,” he said. “They played most of the football with the ball but we had most of the chances. They were very good until they got to the last third. That is our ninth clean sheet of the season which is quite impressive and credit to the back line and our keeper.” Athletic manager Peter Goan was disappointed with the performance of his team.

“We were poor and I have no complaints,” he said. “We didn’t really step up to the plate. My lads didn’t show the appetite or hunger that was needed to get through to the semi-final. It was a big opportunity missed. There wasn’t a lot of clear cut chances but in a cup tie it’s about getting the result rather than how you play and too many players did not turn up for us on the day. They wanted it more than us.”