Enniskillen Rangers’ captain Ciaran Smith is "gunning" for his fourth Junior Cup winner’s medal, as he leads Rangers into Friday’s IFA Junior Cup final against Cleary Celtic. 

He captains a side that has been on a great run of form in recent months.

Rangers’ only defeat in 2024 came in a penalty shoot-out loss to Tummery, but despite a run of 17 wins and three draws in their last 20 outings, Smith knows it will count for nothing if they cannot cap the season with at least one trophy.

“Things have been going pretty well and we haven’t lost many games, which is a good sign,” he acknowledged.

“Any team not to have lost since the start of the year must be pretty good, but it’s no good just winning all those games. You have to have silverware at the end of the season, and we will be gunning for that on Friday night.”

The 27-year-old midfielder played much of his underage football at Ballinamallard before leaving for university.

Rangers’ manager Michael Kerr secured his signature in time for the 2016/17 Junior Cup winning season, and since claiming that first medal Smith has added three more.

Friday’s game will see him play his fifth Junior final in the last seven, as it is that experience that he hopes can be vital in front of what is expected to be a large ground at Stangmore Park.

“Any time you get to a final it is a big occasion, and I am looking forward to it,” he admitted.

“This will be my fifth final since I have been at the club, although it’s a bit different when you are captain. It adds to it a bit more, and I am looking forward to it. I will try to lead by example in my performances and set a high standard for the players.

"For a few of us this will be our fifth final, and we have won it three times, so we know what to expect. It’s about giving advice to the younger lads and to the new lads at the club that haven’t experienced it before.

"A lot of people have put in a lot of time and effort for the club and it would be nice to reward them with a win.”

Smith admits he does not know a lot about Friday’s opposition, but the Newry-based side have only lost one game all season.

They were knocked out of the Junior Cup last season in round five by Kesh, but have proved themselves hard to beat since that defeat and Smith is expecting a tough test.

“The Junior Cup is a bit of a lottery but I see they have some players who have played in the Irish League so they will be experienced,” he said.

“They have lost recently, but prior to that they were unbeaten for nearly a full year and to do that at any level is a big deal. It is a bit of the unknown when you play teams in the Junior Cup but Mickey will have his homework done on them and we will see how it goes.”