Fermanagh Mallards romped to the NIWFA Division Three Cup last Thursday night at Halm Park as they thumped Craigavon City 6-1 following a superb performance.

Gareth McGuckin’s side took control of the contest after only four minutes when Eimear Keenan fired home and from this point there was only ever going to be one winner.

By the break the Mallards led 4-0 and it was a composed second half display as they struck twice more to finish a successful season with a piece of silverware.

“We got off to the perfect start with a goal after only four minutes and that really settled us down, especially the younger girls in the squad,” said McGuckin. “We dominated after that and could have scored two or three times before we did add to our lead with three quick fire goals before half time. Criagavon changed their formation about in the second half but I thought the girls were very good and they comfortably saw it through. The performance was one of our better performances this season and to have done it in a final is very pleasing. The girls have worked really hard and I’m absolutely delighted for them.” The Fermanagh side got off to the best possible start as they took the lead with only four minutes gone as Keenan slotted the ball under Craigavon goalkeeper Mairead Connolly for 1-0.

Keenan was a lively presence early on and had another effort that was narrowly wide while Naomi Cathcart was denied by a brilliant last ditch tackle from covering defender Sacha Malone.

The pressure though eventually told as the the Mallards grabbed their second, Louise Noble beat Connolly with a dipping shot, and it was soon 3-0 as Noble burst through the defence before tucking the ball past Connolly.

And it was to get even better for the Fermanagh Mallards before the break as Cathcart was taken down in the box and Keenan stepped up to fire home from the spot.

Craigavin did get a foothold in the game early in the second half and were awarded a penalty in the 53rd minute. Kirsty Treanor took the spot kick and although Mallards goalkeeper Cleona Bogue made a wonderful save, the rebound came back out to Treanor who made no mistake at the second attempt.

The Mallards though lifted their game after this and Nobles re-asserted the four goal advantage as she competed her hat-trick while substitute Alice Hurst bagged a fine solo goal to make it 6-1.

And injury to Ellie Rix knocked the spark out of the contest with the Mallards player needing an ambulance but Fermanagh Mallards saw out the remainder of the encounter to ensure they finished the season on a winning note.

Having secured promotion already, McGuckin is already aiming for back-to-back promotions next season.

“I have already agreed with the committee to stay on next year and our aim will be to try and push on and get promotion again next year,” he commented.