Enniskillen Rangers 3 Tummery Athletic 1

Enniskillen Rangers will play Cleary Celtic in the final of the Irish Junior Cup after they defeated Tummery Athletic 3-1 at Fisher Park.

Three goals in 17 first-half minutes proved decisive as Rangers raced into a commanding lead after half an hour, and despite a late Tummery revival Rangers secured their place in the showpiece final for the first time since 2020.

The game got off to a frantic start, with both sides having efforts at goal within the first minute.

From the kick-off, Nathan Khan set Mark Cutler away down the right wing. His cross was headed out of danger, but Jason Keenan collected the ball and turned inside the defender only to fire a tame shot straight at Niall McCrory.

From the keeper’s throw out Tummery broke up the pitch and won a corner, but Padraig Dillon blasted over the bar from the cutback.

There was little to choose between the sides until a moment of brilliance from Khan broke the deadlock after 14 minutes. Ciaran Smith’s cross into the Tummery area was headed clear but Khan ran onto the loose ball and from 25 yards drilled a low first-time shot into the corner of the net.

Tummery almost provided an instant response when they broke through the centre of a crowded penalty area, but Colm Garrity’s pass was just behind Gerard Duddy on the edge of the six-yard box.

Rangers took full advantage of their reprieve to double their lead after 19 minutes. Jake Browne exchanged passes with Conor Rippey with Browne racing clear on goal. He looked to have been forced too wide as he rounded McCrory, but he cut the ball back to the near post and Mark Cutler continued his rich vein of goalscoring form to poke the ball home at the near post.

Tummery came back at Rangers again and a deep corner was lofted back into the penalty area by Duddy and Martin Hughes headed goalwards from six yards out, but Joel Peden blocked his effort and then dived on the ball in a goalmouth scramble.

Ciaran Beacom then flashed a shot wide, but Rangers made it three after 31 minutes. Cutler burst through the centre of the pitch and found Byrne on the right wing and his cross come shot drifted over McCrory and into the back of the net.

McNulty fired in a shot that Peden gathered comfortably, and Jamie Robinson headed over from a Rangers corner, as the Enniskillen side reached the break in command.

Tummery started brightly in the second half and Hughes poked a through ball goalwards in the opening minutes, but Peden and the defence scrambled it clear.

Browne set Cutler through on goal for Rangers, but with just the keeper to beat McCrory made the save.

Tummery were looking the more threatening side and Blain Campbell headed McNulty’s free-kick just over the bar before Rangers survived a strong penalty claim as Keenan made contact with Duddy inside the penalty area.

Hughes then headed wide of the post before Dillon pulled a goal back.

Peden punched a corner clear but Dillon picked up possession at the corner of the penalty area and curled a shot into the far top corner to give his side hope.

Hughes had a header tipped over the bar and McNulty had a long-range effort saved as Tummery looked to mount a late fightback, but Rangers held on to seal their place in the final.