Strathroy Harps are through to the next round of the IFA Junior Cup, but they were pushed all the way by Enniskillen Athletic who held on to the reigning league champions until five minutes from time. An understrength Harps side had led 2-0 at the interval, but Athletic pegged them back only to concede late on and bow out of the competition.

“Both sides were missing a few players but it was a good performance from our boys,” said Athletic manager Peter Goan. “We started well and at two all it was all in the melting pot. The disappointing thing is that we have now lost three games in the last five minutes.” Harps manager Seamus Fanthorpe was relieved to progress to the next round, after having been forced to field a weakened team.

“We went into the game with six players out including our goalkeeper and our captain so I was happy enough just to get a win,” he admitted. “If we had come away with anything less than a win I probably wouldn’t have been overly surprised given the personnel we had available, but we were still good enough and I think we still deserved the result. We were quite comfortable in the first half bar one that was cleared off the line, but it was probably in the second half Athletic realised we were there for the taking and they had more of a go at us. Their two goals came from a free kick and a mistake from us and I didn’t think they really looked like scoring from play. At 2-2 they had that wee bit of belief but I thought we were still going to be too strong and we could go on and get the winner. For the last few minutes we just played smart and defended and got rid of it, and did enough to get ourselves in the hat for the next round.” Athletic had the better of the early chances with John Joe Strain rounding the keeper but finding the angle too tight to force the ball home and Sean Michael Breen also came close with an effort from 25 yards.

Just after the half hour mark it was Strathroy who took the lead. Athletic defender Aaron Nolan bundled over Gareth McCrory inside the penalty area, and Martin Flanagan made no mistake from the spot. Ten minutes later Strathroy went further ahead when midfielder Patrick Nugent took the ball around the keeper and tapped into the unguarded net. It looked as though the champions would coast home, but Athletic had other ideas and came back strongly in the second half.

Chris Currie curled a free kick over the wall and into the top corner after Patrick Reihill was fouled 20 yards from goal to reduce the deficit, and the division two side were back on level terms when Harps defender Benny Boyle failed to deal with a clearance and Gerald Houston pounced to set up John Joe Strain for a simple finish from close range.

With just five minutes remaining however Athletic’s hopes of a memorable comeback were dashed when substitute Cathal Moore swivelled and shot from six yards to net the winner and ensure Harps progressed to the next round.