Only one team turned up for Friday night’s Delta House and Home Cup final at Killen. Enniskillen Town scored one in the first half and two in the second to secure the trophy against Ballinamallard who held the favourites tag.
It was the Mallards who opened brightly keeping possession with some good football, but the Enniskillen side were content to sit back deep in their own half and soak up the pressure. Josh McIlwaine had a good opportunity with a header from Chris Woods’ cross on the right flank and Haydn Love made a tremendous jinking run through three Town defenders before the ball was smacked away to safety.
Town keeper, Danny Wray, also made a smashing save from Michael Simpson as Ballinamallard went in search of the opening goal but the Enniskillen side were resolute in their defence. With Ballinamallard pushing forward again Town broke with a long ball which was gathered by Francis Hynes, who chipped a neat little ball into the path of Niall Shannon whose left footed effort went just past the post.
That chance sparked a Town side, who had dealt well with the Ballinamallard threat, into attacking life. A long ball from the Mallard back saw centre half Joe McGovern intercept on the half way line in front of McIlwaine to start an attack. The defender pushed forward and payed a lovely diagonal ball which was dummied by Ryan Doherty for Niall Shannon to fire low across keeper Karl Fallis into the far corner.
In the second half Ballinamallard did the early pushing to get back on level terms, but Town’s quick closing down and hard tackling prevented the Ferney Park boys from gainiing any momentum. Their back line of McGovern and Beacom dealt with Ballinamallard attack of McIlwaine and Michael Simpson and their midfield got on top. They almost went two up when Leonard broke on the counter-attack before unleashing a stinging drive which looked destined for the top corner. However, keeper Fallis saved brilliantly to tip the effort just over the crossbar.
With the game very much still in the balance disaster struck Ballinamallard. Again Town broke with a long ball with Philip Leonard bursting through only to see his effort come back off the base of the post. Keeper Fallis looked to be gathering safely, but the ball cannoned off the post and then off Fallis to roll over the line.
Ballinamallard brought on Mark Glenn up front and Jamie Kirkpatrick in the middle of the park in an effort to get back into the game. Kirkpatrick did strengthen the middle and Glenn carved out a great opportunity for himself just inside the Town penalty box, but his effort skimmed wide of the far post. Town had their tails up at this stage and added a third just before the final whistle when the ball was driven out to the right to Niall Shannon.
The centre midfielder looked to be closed down but a jinking run past two defenders was follwed by a lovely curled left footed effort into the far corner of the net giving keeper Fallis no chance.
Following the the game Town captain Francis Hynes was presented with the trophy and central defender Joe McGovern was awarded man of the match.
Match Report from the Fermanagh Herald
