Enniskillen Rangers 4 Tummery Athletic 1

A Jason Keenan hat-trick earned Enniskillen Rangers the first silverware of the season as they claimed the Kennedy Cup with a 4-1 victory over Tummery.

Mark Cutler also got on to the score sheet and although Blain Campbell snatched a late consolation goal for Tummery, it was the league holders that triumphed over the Mulhern Cup winners in the traditional Fermanagh and Western season curtain raiser.

Enniskillen Rangers manager Michael Kerr was delighted with the performance of his team, but knows more important challenges lie ahead as they start their league defence on Saturday.

“It was a good result and a good workout, but the main things was to get a good performance,” said Kerr.

“I wouldn’t say the result was irrelevant because it’s always nice to win these games but it was good to get into a rhythm before the real thing kicks off on Saturday.

“Over the 90 minutes I was very pleased with the performance. We could have scored four or five more goals and we gave away a bad goal, but it was pretty good all around.”

The game was effectively over as a contest after a first half that saw Rangers score three times from three corner kicks.

The opener arrived when Christopher Currie’s corner was headed back towards him, he delivered a second cross into the penalty area, and Jason Keenan poked the ball home from close range.

The second goal was almost a carbon copy of the first, with Keenan again getting the final touch to his teammate’s corner.

The hat-trick of assists from Currie was completed when Mark Cutler headed in from close range.

Any hopes a second half Tummery fight back were cut short when Keenan rounded off a good team move, converting Conor Watson’s cross from inside the six yard area.

Blain Campbell blasted an late consolation but it made no difference to the destination of the Kennedy Cup.

Rangers’ manager Kerr was delighted with how quickly his side have adapted to a much changed squad.

“There were a lot of changes but the quality is still there,” he reflected.

“We have had a big transition of players between retirements, a couple of lads in America and some unavailability at the moment. From the last competitive game there was seven changes from the starting 11 so only four started this game that started the Junior Cup final, but the new signings have integrated really well into the squad. It’s a lot younger side but the quality is there and it’s a good start going towards Saturday’s opener.”