Enniskillen Town’s Conor Tummon celebrates scoring a goal with his teammates
CONOR Tummon said family loyalty will have to be set aside for 90 minutes at least when Enniskillen Town lock horns with Tummery Athletic in this evening’s Mulhern Cup final.
The four-time cup winner will be playing for Town while in the opposite claret and blue corner will be his first cousins Cathal and Ciaran Beacom.
Much of the build-up to this year’s showpiece occasion has understandably focused on the fact that three ex-Town players – the Beacom brothers and Ryan Hanna – will be turning out for the Dromore men.
Tummon agreed that will add spice to the occasion, but he certainly didn’t see it as a negative.
“I think it’ll make it better. It’s alright for me because the two Beacoms are my first cousins, we grew up playing together,” said the gifted left-sided player.
“Discipline-wise we’ll give the three of them the respect they deserve. We know what they will bring, every one of them is quality.
“We’ll just focus on the football from the start and hopefully get the right result.”
Tummon is looking forward to the final more than most, given that in recent weeks he has had to sit out a few league games owing to a shoulder injury.
However he is fighting fit just in time for the eagerly anticipated showdown with Benny McElholm’s Athletic team who reached the decider by accounting for Lisbellaw in the second of the semi-finals at Ferney Park.
He also admits that Town have put an extra emphasis on the Mulhern Cup this season owing to an indifferent league campaign.
“I had shoulder injury and missed a few league games,” said Tummon.
“I was on the bench for the semi-final against Mountjoy United and came on for the final 30 minutes or so. I’ll be good for final.
“It’s been mixed oul bag for us this season, we haven’t performed as I know we can. The Mulhern Cup is the only grab that can make it a successful season.
“We have kinda put everything into it from first round on. You know yourself in this league you can’t afford to lose too many games, two games and you’re out of the running.
“We never really got going in the league, after Lisbellaw beat us first time we knew it was gone from there really.
“The win over [Enniskillen] Rangers in the cup was probably our best performance of the season, made all the sweeter because it was a derby game and how well they are going.
“We were really pushing that day because we knew it was our only chance of silverware, so we had to go out and give it our all. We’ll need the same mentality on Friday evening.”
Enniskillen Town have a real pedigree in the Fermanagh & Western FA’s premier cup competition.
They have appeared in 12 finals, winning nine of them and last won the prestigious silverware in 2014 when they defeated Beragh Swifts 2-1 after extra-time.
Under current boss Rory Judge, Town defeated Friday night’s opponents in the 2012 and 2013 deciders although back in 2005 it was the Dromore men who came out on top 3-1.
In comparison to the Town teams which have contested five of the last 10 finals, this one is considerably less experienced.
Tummon believes that isn’t necessarily a disadvantage but accepts that the onus is on the likes of himself, Mark Little, Frank Wallace and others to help the younger players deal with the added pressure that comes with playing in a showpiece occasion.
“Quite a few of our squad have never played in the final so its a big stage for them,” he added.
“We’ll be looking for the experienced players to give the younger boys the support to see them through.
“It’s a big occasion and we need to all rise to it. We have beaten Tummery in two previous finals fairly recently and hopefully the experience of winning those finals can help bring us through this time as well.
“I think its going to be a close call with a one goal difference in the end.”