Enniskillen Rangers 2-0 Cockhill Celtic

Enniskillen Rangers made history by becoming the first team from Northern Ireland to win the All-Ireland Presidents’ Cup on Saturday.

Goals from Jake Browne and Joel Byrne sealed a historic win at Ferney Park as manager Mickey Kerr added another piece of prestigious silverware to the Rangers trophy cabinet.

Rangers’ Presidents Cup success came at the third time of asking after a 2-1 to defeat North End United in its inauguration year in 2018 and a year later they suffered a 3-0 loss to St Michael’s from Tipperary.

Rangers, who are still without a number of stars from last year’s Junior Cup final win over Cleary Celtic including captain Ciaran Smith, sat back in the early proceedings in Ballinamallard.

Donegal side Cockhill, who claimed the IFA Junior Cup on penalties earlier in the year against Gorey Rangers, dominated early possession and had the chance to open the scoring but Luke Rudden’s effort was tipped around the post by Rangers goalkeeper Ben Arthurs.

Garbhan Friel also had a shot slashed wide of the Rangers net before Rudden was again in on the action when he shot from 20 yards, but he couldn’t steer the effort on target.

Rangers took the lead just shy of the half-hour mark on their first real attack of the Cockhill goal.

A move started by Nathan Khan saw red shirts stream forward with Byrne picking the ball up on the side of the box and taking on his man before firing across the box for Jordan McClure to take a touch and poke a shot off on the stretch as it was saved by goalkeeper Harry Doherty only for Browne to follow in and smash home from close range for 1-0.

Celtic went close to finding an equaliser as they responded well to the opener but Rudden and Damian Duffy both couldn’t cause Arthurs major concern in goal as the teams went in separated by the one goal.

Friel went close to making it 1-1 early in the second half as he headed just wide from a Duffy free kick.

Rangers were able to get on the ball more in the second half but it took a big double save from Arthurs to keep their lead intact when he pushed away Duffy’s free-kick only to spring up and then stop Lee McGolgan’s rebound.

Rangers sealed the victory with a minute to go as a ball over the top of the Cockhill backline caused hesitation and Byrne flicked the ball around the oncoming Doherty and kept his composure to finish for 2-0.