Enniskillen Rangers 1-0 Tummery Athletic 

There was no Junior Cup hangover for Enniskillen Rangers as they completed the double on Tuesday night in what was a winner takes all final league fixture against Tummery Athletic at the Ball Range.

The teams met for the fourth time this season to decide who would take this year’s Mercer League title, as both sides went into the game level on points, with Tummery hunting four in a row but a Ciaran Beacom own goal with 25 minutes to go would see Rangers crowned winners and lift the trophy in front of a packed crowd to add to Friday night’s win over Cleary Celtic in Dungannon.

Rangers enjoyed more of the possession in the early stages on Tuesday, but it was Tummery who looked more likely to find a goal in the first half.

Centre-back Declan Molloy had the first real sight of goal as he headed an Aidy McCaffrey free into the arms of Rangers goalkeeper Joel Peden after 14 minutes.

Justin Palmer headed over from a free kick in a similar position before Jake Browne found Mark Cutler whose shot was saved by Athletic goalkeeper Niall McCrory only for Ciaran Smith’s rebound to be blocked.

Tummery forward Martin Hughes did have the ball in the net after the 20-minute mark but the offside flag was up.

Hughes also had two efforts wide before halftime as Jason Keenan also had a shot from range saved comfortably. 

McCrory tipped an early Rangers shot onto the post in the second half as the home side began to look more lively on the attack.

A Tummery corner just under the hour mark saw Rangers break swiftly as Cutler ran on to a ball down the right wing but his ball across for Joel Byrne was behind the youngster and the move eventually ended with Palmer skying a shot from 25 yards.

Then a well-weighted pass in behind the Rangers back four by right-back Gary Duffy saw Ryan Hanna take one touch and get his head up but Eoin McManus rushed across to block his shot and just a moment later Rangers made the breakthrough.

Keenan played a one-two with substitute Willie Burleigh in the middle of the pitch and then sprayed a ball out wide to Byrne who whipped a cross into the box and the ball came off the toe of Beacom and crept in at the near post despite McCrory’s efforts.

Tummery were unable to carve out any real clear-cut chance in the final 20 minutes as Declan McNulty had a shot from range and Thomas Mullin had a deep cross caught by Peden as Rangers defence held firm to keep another clean sheet and confirm a first Mercer League title since 2019.