Enniskillen Rangers player manager Michael Kerr was delighted to see his side retain the Mercer League with Monday night’s 2-2 draw with challengers Tummery Athletic.

And the ‘Gers boss feels that it is just reward for the efforts of his players this season.

“I said the to the lads for them to have given what they have given and come back and do it again, it is phenomenal the effort they put in.

“Nobody sees it on a Tuesday or a Thursday, you are talking ten months hard work and this is what it is for. The hunger and desire of the boys is there to push on and that is what we have done and I am over the moon for all of them,” he said.

Kerr had stated that throughout the season that the aim for the season was to win everything that they were in for but he stresses that the league was always the main priority.

“We set our stall out, we wanted to win everything but it was not to be but the league was our number one. The squad is full of quality, look at the bench tonight, those six lads on the bench could have played on every single team in the Fermanagh and Western without a doubt,” he added.

Rangers went into the game knowing that a point would seal the title and he expected a tough test against a good Tummery side.

“First and foremost it was a good hard game between two good teams. We knew that we needed a point and they had to come to us for the win, a reversal of the scenario we faced last year, so we just had to do our own thing.

“Tonight epitomised the league, it was two good teams both unbeaten going head to head and nobody wanted to give an inch. It was a quite good game, it was physical, there was quite a few tackles, it was heated at times and that is what you want in a game of football,” said Kerr.

Rangers had to show plenty of grit and determination in the game as they twice fell behind and Kerr was delighted with the response on each occasion.

“To go behind so early was disappointing but we got a good response, then gave away another bad goal and then another good response.

“Then the last ten minutes it was backs to the wall as they put in some long balls but we defended stoutly, so we got the point that we needed and for us, at the end of the day, we are delighted. Retaining the Mercer Cup is a fantastic achievement.”

And Kerr was also full of praise for top scorer Jason Keenan who was sprung from the bench to grab the home side’s all important second goal of the night which ultimately clinched the title.

“I spoke to Jason Keenan at half time and I said to him you have a big part to play, you will get a chance and you need to come on with the hunger and desire and the belief that you will make a difference.

“That’s what he did, what a finish it was great ball through and a fantastic finish, but that’s Jason, he has 20 plus goals this season and he is sitting on the bench,” said Kerr.