WHEN the 17 sides who had gained admission to the new IFA Championship were unveiled the first word on the lips of many football fans was “Killy .... who”?
This puzzled reaction was reserved for the inclusion of Killymoon Rangers, a side very few people will have been familiar with outside the confines of the Mid-Ulster Intermediate League where they previously plied their trade.
So just who are Killymoon Rangers?
Based close to Cookstown, Killymoon were formed as recently as 1971 to play in a local street league before joining the Mid-Ulster League structure through which they progressed over the years, finishing runners-up in Intermediate League A as recently as 2006 while last season saw them come in third on goal difference behind Tandragee Rovers.
The club play at the Mid-Ulster Sports Arena, 3 miles from Cookstown on the Tullywiggan Road. To reach the venue make your way to the Dungannon Roundabout at the south end of Cookstown before taking the exit for Stewartstown/Tullyhogue.
Managed by Michael and Mark Wilson, Killymoon feature a number of players with Irish League experience amongst their ranks.
Goalkeeper Gareth Maguire has been on Portadown's books while defender Gareth McFarland spent time earlier in his career at Linfield, Loughgall and Dungannon Swifts. Other players of note include Stephen McElhatton (formerly Dungannon Swifts), Stephen Purvis (Coagh United), David McMullan (Dungannon Swifts), Nigel Purvis (Coagh United), Warren Smith (Moyola Park) and William Montgomery (Portadown).
Over the summer Killymoon have played a number of friendlies in preparation for their big debut in the IFA Championship. Glentoran, regular visitors to the area in recent years, kicked things off with a comprehensive 8-2 victory although this was Rangers' first outing of the season.
Draws with Roy McCreadie's Omagh United and Ardstraw followed while, at the weekend, they reached the final of the Bryansburn Tournament before losing narrowly in the decider to Comber Rec.
But all that will be immaterial on Saturday when Tobermore United visit the Mid-Ulster Sports Arena for the opening league game (kick-off 2:30pm) while, three days later, Ballinamallard United await at Armagh City's Holm Park ground.
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