Killen Rangers 0

Tummery Athletic 4

Tummery Athletic began the defence of the Mercer Cup with a comprehensive 4-0 win away to Killen Rangers on Saturday.

Braces from Emmet McNabb and Aidy McCaffrey secured the points for Ryan Hanna’s side with the player manager satisfied with the display from his side.

“I’m happy with the win, it’s a good start for us and you can’t really ask for much more than that in the opening game of the campaign,” he said.

However, Hanna is expecting a much sterner test this Saturday when they host in form Kesh, who fired six goals past Strathroy last Saturday.

“It is going to be a tougher task this week. Kesh have added some quality players and they are showing signs of having improved from last year so we are expecting a big test. They will have the same aspirations as us this season but hopefully home advantage will tell for us,” he added.

The champions were on the front foot from the outset and with 15 minutes gone they broke the deadlock. Player manager Hanna slipped in McNabb and the won a foot race to slot the ball through the goalkeeper’s legs for 1-0.

And it wasn’t much longer before McNabb had his and Tummery’s second of the day. He cut in from the right and beat a defender before planting a shot into the bottom corner of the net to double the advantage.

Indeed, the game was more or less wrapped up by the interval as Tummery claimed their third ten minutes before the break.

Kevin McAleer and Ronan McNabb were both involved with McNabb crossing for McCaffrey to steer a header into the back of the net.

Killen showed more solidity in defence after the interval with Tummery having less in the way of chances but they did go on to round things off with a fourth. Chris Crilly switched the play out to McCaffrey on the right and he produced a lovely curling finish to wrap up a good afternoon for Athletic.