Enniskillen Rangers 3 NFC Kesh 2

 

Enniskillen Rangers ended a 23 year wait for the Mulhern Cup as Jay Keenan's 88th minute goal secured a 3-2 win over a brave NFC Kesh side at Ferney Park tonight.

It all appeared to be going Rangers way as they led 2-0 with just over half an hour played while Kesh had to play 80 minutes with ten men following the dismissal of Justin Palmer.

However, Kesh rallied and Ryan Campbell had then back in it with a goal before half time and the North Fermanagh outift had the better of the second half as they deservedly levelled through a Campbell penalty with just over 20 minutes to play.

But, just when the game looked destined for extra time Keenan popped up with the winner, capitalising on an error by Kesh goalkeeper Stefan McCusker to roll the ball into the unguarded net.

Rangers started the game on the front foot and deservedly took the lead after six minutes although there was a touch of fortune about Stuart Rainey's goal as his cross deceived McCusker and floated into the top corner.

Kesh struggled to settle in the opening stages and it went from bad to worse for Scott Robinson's side as Justin Palmer was red carded after he was adjudged to have been the last man when bringing down Keenan on the edge of the box.

And it looked a long way back for Kesh when Rangers doubled their advantage in the 24th minute as Eoin McManus powerfully headed home a Nathan Khan corner.

However, Kesh were given hope on the stroke of half time when Ryan Beatty's through ball sent Campbell in on goal and he held off Michael Kerr before driving the ball to the corner of the net to leave it 2-1 at half time.

You would not have known that Kesh had a numerical disadvantage in the second half as they threw everything at Rangers and with 69 minutes on the clock they grabbed the equaliser. 'Gers goalkeeper Joel Peden had made a save following a scramble but Mark McCauley was then upended by Matthew Chambers and Campbell stepped up to clinically dispatch the spot kick to make it 2-2.

With the game edging towards extra time Kesh went close to snatching the winner as Mark Jones got on the end of a corner but his header was gathered by Peden who launched the ball down the pitch. Opposite number McCusker came out to meet the clearance but he failed to connect with the ball and Keenan was on hand to tuck the ball home as Rangers secured the victory in dramatic style.

 

See Thursday's Impartial Reporter for report, reaction and pictures.