Tummery Athletic 4 Killen Rangers 2

Tummery manager Ryan Hanna feels his team are coming into form at just the right time, as they defeated Killen 4-2 to move to within two points of the league leaders.

Goals from Aidy McCaffrey, Blain Campbell, Gerard Duddy and Gary McGuigan were enough to brush Killen aside, with Hanna believing the performance was their best of recent times.

“We were excellent, particularly in the first half,” he said.

“We were as good as I have seen us in some time. We had real good intensity to our play. We had quality in possession and were always threatening.

"We were hungry and aggressive, and we were deservedly 3-1 up at half-time.

"In the second half, it was a bit more cagey and maybe it wasn’t the same tone, but it’s hard to do that across the ninety.

"At 3-2 we showed a bit of character because we knew the next goal was going to be vital. When we got it, it killed the game.”

After suffering two defeats in three games at the turn of the month, Tummery have now put together a run of four straight league victories, and Hanna reckons Saturday’s result is another demonstration that they are peaking just in time for the season finale.

“It’s the end of the season, and you might have tired minds and tired bodies, but the lads looked fresh and we are hungry to attack everything we are remaining in,” he said.

“We had two setbacks. The Junior Cup was massive. Physically and emotionally it was a tough one. Then we didn’t play well against Mountfield and got beaten in the league by Enniskillen Town, so we have had a wee mini dip there.

"Against Beragh we won the game playing poorly, but after that, we have played particularly well.

Irvinestown was a tricky game where we got a clean sheet, and then against Athletic, we were good in the second half and got another clean sheet. On Saturday we lifted it another notch.”

Tummery started the match well and moved ahead with just five minutes on the clock thanks to an inspired strike from McCaffrey, who spotted the goalkeeper off his line and fired high over his head from the halfway line.

The reigning champions could only hold their advantage for 10 minutes before Killen responded.

The away side broke forward in numbers and a through ball to Gareth Milligan left him with just the keeper to beat, and he poked the ball underneath Niall McCrory to restore parity.

Within five minutes Tummery were in control of the match however, scoring two goals in a minute.

First McCaffrey whipped in a cross from the left wing and Blain Campbell flicked it over Alan Buchanan, and seconds later Hanna picked up possession in a wide area and cut inside before delivering a cross for Duddy to head home.

Richard Clarke pulled a goal back for Killen from the penalty spot midway through the second half after Campbell had fouled Milligan, but Tummery sealed the win with five minutes remaining when Martin Hughes crossed from the right for McGuigan to convert from close range.