Back in 2008 Cathal Beacom became a Mulhern Cup winner for the first time when he helped Enniskillen Town to a 3-2 win over Strathroy Harps at Ferney Park.
Harps had led 2-0 but two converted penalties by current joint manager Rory Judge sent the game to extra time before the other member of the current management, James McKenna, came up with the winner five minutes to go.
Roll on 15 years and Beacom, McKenna and Kane Connor could all feature again for Town in a decider against Strathroy with captain Beacom hoping to land a fourth Mulhern Cup winners medal having picked up two during a successful stint with Tummery Athletic.
“We went two down early on but Rory got us back into it with two penalties and I remember James scoring the winner and getting Man of the Match. My brother, Ciaran, was playing that day too and he could have got Man of the Match as he played very well. It was a great game for the neutral and a great one to win,” said Beacom.
And the Town captain is now hoping to add to his medal haul by winning on Friday night.
“I’ve played in four finals so far and won three. I lost the first one I played in back in 2005 for Town against Tummery but I’ve got a decent record in the Mulhern and it would be brilliant to go on and get another win on Friday night.’
However, Beacom knows that Town will have to be at their best if they are to come out on top against a Strathroy side who have been in fine form recently.
“They are a very good team who have been on a very good run of late.
“They are a dogged team but they also have a lot of quality all over the pitch so we are under no illusions about how tough a game it is going to be. It will be a battle and that is what we will expect.
“It is never, ever easy against Strathroy. It is always a tough game, they are a good cup team and have had a good run in the Junior this year as well. On their day they are a match for any team,” said Beacom.
Town have seen their league title hopes take a hit following the loss to Enniskillen Rangers last week and Beacom admits they are not in the form they wer in earlier in the season but he has full confidence that they will deliver a performance on Friday night.
“We drew with Killen and Strathroy but then we beat Beragh in the league and Rangers in the cup which were two big wins but then we lost to Rangers in the league last week.
“It is maybe not the form we had been hitting earlier in the season but I’m still confident in our squad and in our team that we can go out on Friday night and get the job done.”
And he acknowledges that it is important for Town to try and finish the season with some silverware to their name.
“It is massive for us to go on and get our hands on silverware. Every year you are building and building and we have an unbelievable squad here at the club, as everyone knows.
“It is just a matter of getting over the line and getting some silverware in especially as we have been so close in the league and the cup this season,” he said.
Indeed, Beacom is relishing the prospect of playing in another Fermanagh and Western showpiece final.
“It’s a really big game and everybody wants to be playing in it. There is a great atmosphere under the lights at Ferneuy Park and you relish these occasions. I’m really looking forward to it and hopefully it will be a good night for us and we can get our hands on the cup,” he stated.
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