Whitehall played host to this contest which saw the FAI New Balance Junior Cup winners, North End United, take on the IFA Junior Cup Champions, Enniskillen Rangers, in a competition endorsed by FAI President Donal Conway and IFA President David Martin.
With FAI CEO John Delaney in attendance, along with officials from the Irish FA, this was another fantastic examples of the two Associations working together. And the action on the pitch didn't disappoint with little between the teams throughout.
North End started brightly by dominating possession and they really should have taken the lead after eight minutes. Both forwards, Adam Beary and Jason Murphy linked up brilliantly from midfield and the latter found himself through on goal with just Jerome Carleton to beat. The Rangers stopper stood big and brave to keep the score at 0-0. Minutes later the deadly duo combined again on the edge of the box with Murphy smashing an effort straight at Carleton again.
“The Gers” of Fermanagh - 17 times champions of the Fermanagh & Western League Division One - responded well with a great chance of their own. The pacey Christopher Curry received a clever slide rule pass on the inside left channel from striker Jason Keenan, and as he arrived to the edge of the box, he drilled a low effort to the far post. Keeper Lee Walker got down sharply to turn the daisy cutter wide with his finger tips as they began to grow into the tie.
North End broke the deadlock just before the half-time break. Striker Jason Murphy’s deflected, 30-yard free-kick rebounded off the post, and quickest to react was commanding centre-back Gary Delaney to tap home.
The Wexford side could have doubled their lead straight after. The lively Beary brilliantly found the overlapping full-back, Robin Dempsey who broke the offside trap and found himself one on one with Carleton. With shouts of “dink him” being roared, he unselfishly, squared to left winger Philip Drohan who, on the stretch, couldn’t convert.
Enniskillen started the second half at rip-roaring pace and deservedly got themselves back on level terms 10 minutes in. Christopher Curry showed brilliant feet to beat Delaney with a step over down the left wing and stood up a brilliant cross to the back post for striker Keenan to volley home.
The game had really caught fire now, and in the 71st minute The Sky Blues of Wexford restored their lead. Kyle Dempseys’ miscontrol from a fizzed pass to feet, caught the Enniskillen back line off guard, and Adam Dreary was quickest to react, showing tremendous composure to round the keeper and make it 2-1.
North End showed excellent composure on the ball to run out time with dominating midfielder Paul Murphy instrumental in keeping possession and organizing his side as his side deservedly lifted the President's Junior Cup.
North End United: Lee Walker; Robin Dempsey (Kieran Carthy 89), Dale Flynn, Gary Delaney, Tony Crosbie, Lee Waddin Byrne (Patsy Malone 80), Philip Drohan (Gary Dempsey 53), Paul Murphy, Jason Murphy (Niall Connolly 71), Adam Beary, Kyle Dempsey (Brandon Sinnott 89).
Enniskillen Rangers: Jerome Carleton; David Crozier, Jamie Robinson (Conor Watson 45), Stephen Chambers (Ciaran Smith 45), Richard Johnston, Neil Coulter, Christopher Curry (Ciaran Brough 82), Michael Simpson, Jason Keenan, James Turley (Christopher Keenan 87), Stuart Rainey (Mark Cutler 45).
Referee: Barry Fitzpatrick.