Beragh Swifts 2 Tummery Athletic 3

Tummery Athletic netted an injury time winner to claim all three points against Beragh Swifts and maintain the pressure on the league leaders, Dergview Reserves.

Aidy McCaffrey’s deflected free kick from 20 yards snatched the points after they had twice been pegged back by Swifts, but Tummery boss Ryan Hanna admitted they needed a slice of good fortune in the dying seconds of the match.

“Lady Luck was with us when we had a free kick in the dying minutes, and it deflected in,” admitted the Manager.

“Sometimes when you work hard and press hard you get a bit of luck, and we did, but the boys never stopped and we got what we deserved.

“Even in the last five minutes I had a feeling that we could get one more chance, and the free kick was it.”

Tummery have made late drama a feature of their recent games, with their Irish Junior Cup tie going to extra time, and their league clash against Killen requiring another late winning goal.

“It is happening too often to become a coincidence,” admitted Hanna.

“I don’t know if it’s a good habit, because we want to be winning games more comfortably, but we know how tough the league is, and regardless of whether you are home or away against a team in the top half or the bottom half, it’s going to be difficult, and we found that again on Saturday.

“It was a tough game, but I thought it was refereed very well.”

Beragh stated brightly and earned several corners in the opening minutes of the match, but Tummery soon started to dominate possession as Beragh looked to contain the reigning champions.

Marty Hughes fired just wide of the post in an opening half hour where chances were limited, but on 31 minutes Tummery broke the deadlock when Ward, in the Swifts’ goal, fumbled the ball and Kyle McCrory tapped in. Both sides were reduced to ten men moments later when referee Eddie Ferguson showed a red card to McCrory for a high challenge, with Beragh also reduced to ten following their reaction to the challenge.

Fouled

Early in the second half Beragh levelled the match when Luke Henderson was fouled inside the penalty area, and Stephen Browne dispatched the spot kick.

Ruairi Sludden almost repaired the damage immediately when he beat the last defender and raced clear, only for Ward to save his shot, but moments later the visitors were back in front when Marty Hughes set up Ryan Hanna to score into the bottom corner.

Ninety seconds later Beragh were back level when Blain Campbell deflected a Henderson cross past his own keeper.

Campbell almost made amends late on but blasted over the bar, and it looked as though the points would be shared before McCaffrey’s dramatic late winner.