Willowbank right on the spot to clinch Junior Cup crown
After extra-time. WILLOWBANK WIN 4-2 ON PENS ENNISKILLEN RANGERS: Gareth Barbour, Conor Watson (Jake Browne 61), Michael Kerr, Michael Simpson (Nathan Kahn 95), Richard Johnston, Neil Coulter, Mark Cutler (Stuart Rainey 61), Ciaran Smith, Jason Keenan, James Turley (Matthew Chambers 90), Chris Currie (Jamie Robinson 90). WILLOWBANK: Ciaran Kelly, Christopher Heaney, Gary Manson, Eamon Hughes, Nathan O’neill (Declan Gill 79), Ryan Mcareavey (Richard Mcavoy 59), Pearse Devine, Thomas Mccrory (Ryan Mccabe 79), Ciaran Winchester (Liam Prigent 74), Connor Mccullough (Michael Savage 59).
GOALKEEPER Ciaran Kelly was the penalty hero as Willowbank got their hands on the Fonacab Junior Cup for the first time.
The stopper scored his own spot-kick before pulling his gloves back on to save the telling penalty and hand his side a 4-2 penalty success after a 1-1 draw as Enniskillen Rangers were denied an historic fourth Junior Cup crown in a row.
West Belfast side Willowbank had dominated for long spells of normal time and Eamon Hughes’ first-half penalty looked like it would be the goal that sealed their first Junior Cup.
However, Enniskillen weren’t prepared to let their history bid go quite so easily as star striker Jason Keenan added to his semi-final hat-trick with a late leveller.
The penalty that opened the scores looked harsh on Enniskillen as Ciaran Winchester seemed to jump into Kerr but Willowbank would rightly point to a penalty shout nine minutes prior, in which Winchester had been body-checked by Richard Johnston, and, in truth, had every right to feel aggrieved at being denied.
Two questionable refereeing calls but in the end, it was a deserved half-time lead.
Rangers could have no complaints after they had been pinned in their own half for 25 minutes before the break.
In saying that, the biggest chances came beforehand when the game was a bit more end to end. For Enniskillen, Keenan scooped a close-range effort over the bar from a Mark Cutler cross and then, more impressively, cut inside from the right and curled a superb effort inches wide.
At the other end, midfield lynchpin Nathan O’neill’s chipped through-ball played in Pearse Devine but the former Donegal Celtic man could only skew wide. Flying winger Conor Mccullough also went close.
Willowbank continued their dominance into the second half and were inches from making it 2-0 two minutes after the restart but Devine’s well-hit shot smacked off the crossbar.
Rangers were looking dangerous only in brief patches but sprung the Willowbank defence just before the hour mark with James Turley’s cutting throughball sending Keenan clear.
But he could only chip an effort agonisingly off the post.
He saved his own blushes 12 minutes from time but owes a debt of gratitude to left-winger Chris Currie. He dashed past his man and his cross teed up Keenan unmarked at the back post to stretch and volley home.
Willowbank were again given the upper hand with six minutes left as Enniskillen player/manager Michael Kerr was given a straight red for an elbow.
The Belfast side almost made their advantage pay with almost the last kick of normal time but Hughes’ beautifully-struck freekick curled past the top corner.
Extra-time was largely uneventful, although Willowbank’s Devine was given a straight red card with seconds left.
All that was left were penalties with Hughes, Manson, Kelly and Prigent all netting for the victors.