JAY Keenan’s superb second-half lob settled Friday night’s Kennedy Cup final in Kesh as Enniskillen Rangers edged Enniskillen Town United 1-0.
Three months on from their Mulhern Cup final penalty shootout victory, Rangers again got the better of league champions Town, this time with some resolute defending preserving their lead.
Town were without Conall Quinn, Darren Freeman and Dan O’Connor, but started brightly and their high press caused Rangers problems getting out.
Youngster Oisin Morris forced an early error, earning a free when Cathal Beacom was fouled on the right.
Another turnover led to a corner, but Barry Goodwin’s delivery was headed wide by Frank Wallace.
Nervy exchanges
Rangers looked dangerous on the transition. Conor Rippey fed Keenan on the left, his fierce cross finding Jordan Breen, whose front-post header went wide.
Goodwin forced Joel Peden into the first save on 25 minutes, cutting in from the left before seeing his effort comfortably gathered.
Town then broke through the Rangers rear-guard before Morris fired over after the linesman kept his flag down when Wallace was played through.
The best chance came eight minutes later. Goodwin’s excellent corner was met by Beacom, whose header crashed off the underside of the crossbar.
Rangers were inches away at the other end however when Richie Johnston was given time 30 yards out and drilled a low effort against the post.
Nathan Khan’s dangerous free-kick then evaded everyone at the back post as the teams went in level.
Rangers started the second half on the front foot, Rippey crossing for new signing Gerard Duddy, who could not get over his header.
Duddy and Keenan continued to cause problems, while Rippey and White posed more of an attacking threat, sending dangerous balls into the Town box.
White then drove forward from halfway and sent a low effort into Ben Thompson’s hands.
Chances flowing
Town had a bizarre chance when a Peden pass bobbled off Khan and the return ball looped over the Rangers goalkeeper for a corner.
Goodwin’s delivery came off the crossbar and out, before Wallace headed over from the second corner.
Then came the breakthrough. Ryan Hanna replaced Morris and pushed Beacom into a more attacking role, but Rangers immediately found space behind the Town defence.
Johnston launched a long ball forward and Keenan raced through unmarked before lifting a lovely lob from 25 yards over Thompson and into the net.
Suddenly that brought more of an edge to the tie.
Rippey headed away a dangerous corner before a coming-together with James McKenna seemingly went unseen by the referee – though he ultimately booked the Town man.
Tense finish
Hanna was then booked for bringing down Stuart Rainey from behind as Rangers broke.
Joel Byrne’s volley from the resulting free-kick forced Thompson into a low save.
Town pushed late. Hanna found Wallace down the left, but Robinson produced another fine interception, while Town appealed unsuccessfully for handball during the corner scramble.
Then Goodwin’s curling free-kick from the edge of the box forced Peden into an excellent diving save.
That was the last real chance as Rangers held on to lift the Kennedy Cup and carry real momentum into the league campaign this weekend.
