Mulhern Cup Semi Final Preview
April 27, 2022
This seasons Mulhern Cup Semi Finals take place this week with NFC Kesh taking on Augher Stars on Wednesday night and Magheraveely taking on Enniskillen Rangers on Thursday night. Both games kick off at 730pm at Ferney Park Ballinamallard.
After a two year absent due to Covid, the Fermanagh and Western Football Associations main Cup competition has returned much to the delight of everyone.
In the first semi final, leading Division 1 side NFC Kesh take on the newly crowed Division 3 Champions Augher Stars, who are in their first ever Mulhern Cup semi final. Having already beaten 2 teams in higher divisions on their route to the semi finals, Augher will be hoping for another giant killing act. With the attacking talents of players like Fergal McKenna and Ashley McFarland, Augher can cause any teams problems.
NFC Kesh will come into the semi final as heavy favourites having already accounted for the highly rated Killen Rangers side and Junior Cup semi finalist Strathroy Harps in previous rounds. The north fermanagh men will be hoping to go one better this year having been beaten the final by Tummery Athletic the last time the competition was held in 2019. With ex-Ballinamallard forwards Ryan Campbell and Nathan Cashel in their ranks, they must surely feel they can lift the trophy for the 2nd time in their history after a 20 year wait since they last won it.
Another team which is hoping to lift the trophy again after a 23 year wait is Enniskillen Rangers, who have won the trophy a record number of time (15) . Enniskillen Rangers has dominate Junior football locally over recent years, however the Mulhern Cup was the only trophy to elude Micky Kerr's all conquering side. Now under Neil Coulter management, Rangers will hope this will be their year, although they have had a mixed league campaign by their standards. However, recent league from would suggest that they are beginning to hit top gear just at the right time for this competition. With a talented squad containing Mark Cutler, Jay Keenan, Stuart Rainey and Ciaran Smith, Rangers still have a one of the best sides about.
On Thursday night they face a Magheraveely side which is currently in the middle of a relegation battle at the foot of the Division 1. The Mulhern Cup has been a welcome distraction for the south fermanagh men who's league form since Christmas has been very poor. In the cup it has been the complete opposite, easily dispatching Lisnarick, Orchard Farm and newly crowned Division 2 Champions Mountjoy United in previous rounds. Magheraveely have never beaten Enniskillen Rangers in a competitive game in their 11 year history, but with players like Joe Williamson, David Elliott they leading goal scorer in this year competition and his brother Paul Elliott in their ranks, they are capable of beating anyone on their day, which they showed last weekend when by beating Dergview Reserves.
General Admission to both semi finals is £6, (Concession £5 for OAP, Under 16's, Under 10's free entry)
Semi Finals
NFC Kesh v Augher Stars
Magheraveely v Enniskillen Rangers
Quarter Finals
Augher Starts 4-4 Irvinestown Wanderers (5-4 Pens)
Enniskillen Rangers 4-0 Enniskillen Town United
Magheraveely 3-0 Mountjoy United
NFC Kesh 1-1 Strathroy Harps (4-3 Pens)
Round 2
Augher Stars 3-0 Castlederg United
Killen Rangers 1-3 NFC Kesh
Irvinestown Wanderers 2-1 Beragh Swifts
Enniskillen Rangers 3-0 Ballinamallard United Reserves
Enniskillen Rovers 0-7 Enniskillen Town United
Strathroy Harps 4-2 Lisbellaw United
Orchard Farm 0-9 Magheraveely
Mountjoy United - bye (Tummery Athletic disqualified)
Round 1
Ardstraw Reserves 1-5 NFC Kesh
Ballinamallard United Reserves 5-0 St Patrick's
Castlederg United 4-2 Enniskillen Athletic
Dergview Reserves 2-3 Enniskillen Town United
Drumquin United 0-6 Enniskillen Rangers
Fivemiletown United II 1-6 Beragh Swifts
Irvinestown Wanders 5-1 Enniskillen Galaxy
Lisnaskea Rovers 2-4 Augher Stars
Magheraveely 8-1 Lisnarick
Maguiresbridge 1-5 Mountjoy United
Mountfield 3-5 Strathroy Harps
Omagh Hospitals 0-1 Lisbellaw United
Orchard Farm 3-3 Fintona Swifts (4-3 Pens)
Tummery Athletic 3-2 Derrychara United