Enniskillen Rangers 1 North End United 2

Back to back Irish Junior Cup winners Enniskillen Rangers fell just short in their bid to add the inaugural Presidents’ Cup to their recent trophy haul.

This well organised encounter between the Junior Cup champions of the Irish Football Association and Football Association of Ireland was undoubtedly a major success for both organisations and, importantly, the two sides produced an encounter to match.

A 71st minute winner from Adam Dreary settled the match after Rangers had responded well in the second half to falling behind just before the break.

Jason Keenan got them back on level terms in the 55th minute and, indeed, the Ball Range based side enjoyed their best spell of the game thereafter but the concession of a poor goal 20 minutes from time was to prove fatal to their chances and despite some late pressure.

This was a quality match from the start played on a perfect surface at the Home Farm venue.

North End started the brighter controlling possession in midfield via the impressive Paul Murphy and they fashioned two decent chances in the opening quarter.

Murphy and Adam Breary broke well from midfield with the latter crossing superbly from the right for Jason Murphy but he dragged his shot wide of the out-rushing Jerome Carleton and the post.

Jason Murphy then hit a shot straight at Carleton after the ‘Gers coughed up possession too easily in the centre of the park.

Rangers finally started to get into the game. Keenan found Chris Currie and he broke through the heart of the North End defence only to see his well hit low shot tipped around the post by keeper Lee Walker.

Buoyed by this, Rangers then created their best chance of the opening period when James Turley did well in a tight spot to deliver a fine cross which Michael Simpson headed just over from eight yards.

There was little between the teams at this stage but North End broke the deadlock four minutes before the half.

There was a degree of good fortune about it as a well struck 30 yard free kick was deflected onto the post and rebounded straight to Gary Delaney who slotted home from eight yards for 1-0 at half time.

Rangers manager Michael Kerr rang the changes at the break bringing on Mark Cutler, Ciaran Smith and Conor Watson for Stuart Rainey, Stephen Chambers and Jamie Robinson.

It seemed to have the desired affect on Rangers although they did give away the first opportunity of the half as Carleton produced an excellent save to deny Breary. That save proved all the more important as Rangers went down the other end and levelled the game.

Smith dinked a nice ball over the top for the breaking Currie who produced his trademark trickery to create the space and cross to the back post for Keenan who finished superbly on the volley for 1-1.

Rangers were now on top and the excellent Richard Johnston pinged a super diagonal ball to Currie on the left to cross but his cross just failed to reach Keenan.

The third goal was always going to be decisive and it was North End who got it. Kyle Dempsey’s through ball was deflected into the path of Breary who pounced on some uncertainty in the Rangers rearguard to take a tough around Carleton and slot home from a narrow angle to make it 2-1 with just under 20 minutes to go.

From there to the end, Rangers pressed for an equaliser that would have brought the game to penalties and while they created some late pressure, they could not fashion a chance to test the opposing keeper.

At the final whistle, it was Wexford’s North End United who won the inaugural Cup, a game that reflected well on the junior game on both sides of the Border.

North End United: Lee Walker; Robin Dempsey (Kieran Carthy 89), Dale Flynn, Gary Delaney, Tony Crosbie, Lee Waddin Byrne (Patsy Malone 80), Philip Drohan (Gary Dempsey 53), Paul Murphy, Jason Murphy (Niall Connolly 71), Adam Beary, Kyle Dempsey (Brandon Sinnott 89).

Enniskillen Rangers: Jerome Carleton; David Crozier, Jamie Robinson (Conor Watson 45), Stephen Chambers (Ciaran Smith 45), Richard Johnston, Neil Coulter, Christopher Currie (Ciaran Brough 82), Michael Simpson, Jason Keenan, James Turley (Christopher Keenan 87), Stuart Rainey (Mark Cutler 45).

Referee: Barry Fitzpatrick.