Dergview Reserves 1 Enniskillen Athletic 1

(Enniskillen Athletic win 5-3 on penalties)

Enniskillen Athletic advanced through to the Mulhern Cup quarter-finals after a nail-biting afternoon of football at Darragh Park on Saturday.

It took 110 minutes, including extra time and a penalty shoot-out, for the sides to be separated after Glenn Treacy cancelled out Dylan Aiken’s goal in the opening half of the game.

Athletic manager Darren Rodgers was pleased to see his side come out on top after going behind in what was, at times, an end-to-end game.

“I’m delighted with the result and to be in the hat for the next round.

“We played really well on the day, and it was a very good game. There was little between the two teams.

“The boys battled very well and played some lovely football at times,” said Rodgers.

It was the home side who struck first as Aiken converted the game’s first big chance when he was played through inside the box and finished across the goal with his right foot for a 1-0 lead with just under 15 minutes played.

Athletic responded almost immediately as only three minutes later Conor Love’s 30-yard free kick dipped and bounced in front of goalkeeper Ryan Brolly, and he couldn’t hold onto it as Glen Treacy was on hand to poke the ball into the bottom right corner on the follow-up.

Athletic almost found a second 15 minutes after half time when Love played a clever short free-kick around the wall to Aaron Nolan, just inside the box, and he drilled an effort low to the left that was well saved by goalkeeper Brolly, who then reacted well to kick the ball off an oncoming Athletic attacker and watch it ricochet over the crossbar.

Substitute Ivan Sproule had a golden opportunity to put Dergview in front with just over ten minutes remaining of normal time when he latched onto a through ball, and went around Athletic goalkeeper James Maguire, but dragged his shot across goal and wide.

After a tense period of extra time with limited chances, Conor McAloon converted the first penalty of the shoot-out for Athletic, which was followed by a Dergview miss.

Jamie McFarlane, Phillip Leonard, and Conor Love also converted for the away side while Andrew Sproule, Stuart Mortland and Dylan Aiken were all on target for Dergview before Gavin Greene found the top corner to seal Athletic’s place in the next round.

Both sides return to league action this weekend with Dergview facing Derrychara United at home, while Athletic play Strathroy Harps, with manager Rodgers adding: “It will be another tough game, as it always is.

“But hopefully, we can keep this run going.”

 

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