Mercer League leaders Tummery Athletic ensured last 16 football in the Junior Cup with a win over Cookstown side Killymoon Rangers.

Gerard Duddy’s early strike was followed by a Gary McGuigan hat-trick as the visitors ran out 4-2 winners on the 3G at the Mid Ulster Sports Arena at the weekend.

Player/manager Ryan Hanna was pleased to see his side continue their chances of picking up every trophy possible this season.

“Very pleased with Saturday’s performance and win,” he said.

“All in all it was an excellent performance and a game which we controlled for the most part.”

Early score

It took Tummery just five minutes to take the lead on Saturday as Hanna beat his man and broke down the right wing before providing a cross for Duddy to steer home into the bottom left corner of the net.

Killymoon were able to get a foothold in the game following the goal and did manage to carve out an opportunity that never really threatened Tummery goalkeeper Niall McCrory who saved low to his right.

It was Athletic who had chances to double their lead before the break as Hanna went close on two occasions but two blocks from defenders close to the goal line prevented a second.

Colm Garrity broke from midfield and fired in a shot that was saved by Rangers’ goalkeeper Jamie Courtney as the sides went into half time at 1-0.

Quick start

It took just two minutes from the restart for the visitors second. A long high ball into the box was brought down by McGuigan and he beat two defenders and beat Courtney with a driven shot that scurried under the Killymoon ‘keeper.

The hosts had a chance to get themselves back in the game when referee Charlie Broughton pointed to the penalty spot but Matthew McMenemy’s effort was saved by McCroy to his right-hand side.

McGuigan added his second and Tummery’s third on the hour mark.

Kevin McAleer, Marty Hughes and Garrity all combined well down the right-hand side of the pitch and a ball into the area was despatched by McGuigan from around the penalty spot.

Completed the hat-trick

Five minutes later, Declan McNulty’s free-kick was chested down to Hughes who rolled the ball across the area for McGuigan to tap in and complete his hat-trick to put his side in firm control of the contest.

Killymoon pulled a goal back from a turnover in midfield which led to McMenemy finding the roof of the net.

Matthew Kelly also bundled home a late second, but Killymoon still crashed out of this year’s Junior Cup as Tummery continued their hunt for silverware on all fronts.