Tummery Athletic dumped holders Dergview Reserves out of the Junior Cup as they reached the semi -final of the competition for the first time in six years with a 2-1 win.
Goals from Gerard Duddy and Marty Hughes overturned an early Dergview goal from Alaaeddine Dhouioui as they came from behind to win, but it was the dismissal of Conor Duggan on the stroke of half-time that proved the controversial moment of the contest.
Dergview were clinging on to their one-goal lead under intense pressure from the reigning Fermanagh and Western League champions when they were reduced to 10 men, Duggan receiving a second yellow card for a foul on Tummery player/manager Ryan Hanna.
Dergview players fiercely protested the decision, and Hanna admitted he understood their fury.
“I went to volley the ball and the guy got there before me and I kicked him,” admitted Hanna, “but it happened so quickly that I can see how the referee thought I was fouled. I can understand their frustrations, especially with the magnitude of the game, but I think their reaction wasn’t good. All of us made mistakes on Saturday.”
Hanna felt his side were the better team on the day, and he was confident they could have turned the game around even without their numerical advantage.
“We played really well and I thought we were good for the result,” he said.
“The red card changed the dynamic, but at that time we were well on top. They were very dangerous on set pieces but we had all the ball and controlled the game.
"In the second half I thought we were excellent. There was pressure on us given that they were down to 10 men and we were expected to win the game. They sat in, but I thought we were excellent.
"We didn’t force the ball and kept playing how we wanted to play, and ultimately got two good goals out of it.”
The game took time to settle as both sides struggled to play their best football in the early stages of the match, but Dergview keeper Tiernan McNamee was the busier of the two keepers, saving efforts from Duddy and Declan McNulty.
Tummery fell behind after 16 minutes when a long ball was flicked on into the visitor’s penalty area, and Blain Campbell’s challenge was penalised, with Dhouioui converting from the penalty spot.
The goal lifted Dergview’s confidence and they held the upper hand for a spell with Dhouioui crashing a free kick off the crossbar and Blain Campbell forced into a goal line clearance.
As the half progressed Tummery started to pose an increasing threat and Declan Molloy volleyed over the bar from 12 yards out after Hughes’ lay off, but they could not force a breakthrough before the end of the half.
Tummery started to increase the pressure in the second half as they looked to make the most of their one man advantage, and they were level after 66 minutes when Hanna’s through ball between the centre back and full back was collected by Duddy, with the striker turning inside the defender and drilling a low shot underneath the keeper.
With 10 minutes remaining Tummery took the lead for the first time when McNulty picked up possession from a throw in and whipped in a left footed cross that Hughes headed in at the back post.
Hanna then had a shot saved and Kevin McAleer blasted over from close range, but Dergview could not force their way back into the game as their reign as cup holders came to an end.
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