Kesh 0 Coalisland Athletic 3

For the second year in a row Kesh bowed out of the Irish Junior Cup at the hands of Coalisland.

The Fermanagh side had hoped to avenge last year’s 3-0 defeat, but they were unable to avoid a repeat of the 2022 scoreline on home soil, as the reigning champions advanced to the semi-finals.

The visitors were two goals ahead at half time and saw out the victory in accomplished style, but Kesh manager Ryan Campbell admitted his team did not produce their finest performance.

“We weren’t at our best,” he said. “We had a good second half, but in the first half were only at about 80 per cent and we gave them too much room.

“I thought if we got back in at half time at 1-0 we would still be in it, but five minutes before half time they got a corner, and they had a free header inside the six yard box and scored.

“He got up well, but when they are scoring from a set play inside your own six yard box you have to ask questions.

“In the second half we thought if we got a goal back we would be well in it, but in fairness to them they defended well and were well organised. We were trying to push too much and that left us open at the back and they scored to kill the game off.”

Campbell went into the match with an incredible scoring record in the competition this season, having found the net ten times in five games, but he struggled to break through the Coalisland defence in the early stages.

When the breakthrough did arrive, it was the away side that scored first when Daryl Magee fired in a long range free kick after 35 minutes. On the stroke of half time, they added a second when Daniel McNulty headed in from a corner.

Campbell did test the Coalisland keeper midway through the half, but his effort was saved and substitute Stephen Doherty failed to connect properly with the rebound.

Ciaran Magee’s goal from a corner in the second half sealed the win for the visitors, leaving Kesh with only the Mulhern Cup to target this season.

“Two goals from two corners was disappointing but all in all I think if we were at our very best on the day it would have taken a very good performance to beat them, because they were a well organised team,” said Campbell.

“You can see why they won it last year. They are strong all over and didn’t give us much all day. They knew how to see out the game.”

Saturday pits them against Strathroy Harps in the next round of the Mulhern, and Campbell sees it as the ideal opportunity to put Saturday’s disappointment behind them.

“It is a good chance for the boys to bounce back. They were all disappointed with the result on Saturday and deep down they knew they didn’t do enough to win the game, and we can have no complaints.”