Cup holds a special meaning for Keenan

Enniskillen Santos manager Joe Keenan described getting his hands on the Enda Love Cup as ‘a wee bit special’ after they secured the Division Two title with an extra time play-off win over Irvinestown Wanderers at Ferney Park last Wednesday night.

Keenan is a good friend of the Love family and he says that to have won the cup named after the late Enda Love carried a great significance for him.

“It was a wee bit special for me because of the cup it was. I was reared with the Loves, we went on holidays together and would be great friends so to get that cup was very pleasing,” he said.

Santos and Irvinestown were the front-runners throughout the season in Division Two and Keenan is delighted to have finished the campaign as champions.

“We’re just delighted to go up as champions and to finish the way we did, with a game at Ferney Park in front of a good crowd, that was great,” added Joe.

It was Irvinestown who had drawn first blood in the game as Ronan Ormsby scored on the stroke of half time and Keenan admits it was a difficult changing room at half time.

“It was hard to lift them. The goal coming right on half time was a big blow and it really lifted Irvinestown but I have to say that the boys responded brilliantly right from the start of the second half,” he commented.

A Conor Tummon goal for Santos was enough to take the game to extra time and Santos were to push on for the win as they scored another three goals to claim the victory, although Keenan felt the 4-1 scoreline was harsh on Irvinestown.

“The score flattered us a bit and we got a couple of late goals when they were pushing on. I thought it was a good game although neither goalkeeper really had a lot to do.” And Keenan praised the Irvinestown management team of Paul Cassidy and Dermot McCann who addressed the Santos players after the game.

“That was a really nice touch from Paul and Dermot. They came into our changing room after the game and congratulated us and we appreciate that,” he said.

Irvinestown joint manager McCann had no qualms about the outcome, accepting that the better team won on the night.

“We would have no complaints at all,” he said. “They were the better team and deserved the win. I didn’t think we deserved to lose 4-1 but we didn’t do enough to win it.” Overall, it has been a successful year for the Wanderers with promotion secured back to the top flight.

“We have achieved promotion which probably wasn’t even in our thinking at the start of the season but when you get to a final you want to win it. We maybe missed our chance that day at the Bawnacre but it wasn’t to be,” he said.