The fonaCAB Craig Stanfield Junior Cup returned over the past two weekends with a mammoth 110 ties taking place at grounds in all corners of the country.
And there was no shortage of drama, goals and outstanding individual performances, with the undoubted ‘tie of the round’ taking place at St. Michael’s College 4G as holders Enniskillen Town United faced fierce rivals Enniskillen Rangers.
Town have reached the last two finals, but there will be no third successive appearance in the decider after Rangers struck twice in the second half to claim a memorable victory.
The sides went into the interval scoreless before Jason Keenan broke the deadlock five minutes after the restart. He got on the end of a long ball down the left before lifting an accomplished finish over goalkeeper Ben Thompson from the edge of the area.
Rangers then wrapped up the win nine minutes from time when Stuart Rainey escaped his marker, ran onto a ball into the area and finished with aplomb.
Last season’s losing finalists Rosario YC II remain in the hunt following a seven-goal victory over Grove United II.
Thomas Cafolla, Ciaran Sherry (2), Connor Harkin, Joseph Reilly, Cian Davis and Ryan Campbell were all on target as Rosario progressed in style.
Connor and NFC Kesh both fell at the semi-final stage last season, but both have safely negotiated this year’s opening hurdle.
Jamie Archer claimed a hat-trick as Connor swept past Rossowen in Kells, while Kesh hit three without reply against Markethill Swifts Reserves.
As ever, there were some outstanding individual displays to celebrate, none more so than Newhill’s Caolan McAvoy, who incredibly scored eight goals as his side thumped Moneyslane Reserves.
Groomsport’s Jake Wilson was another to enjoy a remarkable afternoon, helping himself to a double hat-trick in their victory over Crebilly.
Four other players also hit five goals apiece, with Ryan Boyd starring for Dervock, Jonathan Burns finding the net five times for Rathfriland, Declan Monaghan doing likewise for Cleary Celtic and Ards Rangers’ Christopher Pierpoint also enjoying a five-goal haul.
With the first round now safely negotiated, attention turns to the next stage, with the Second Round draw taking place on Wednesday 16 September.
Image: Enniskillen Rangers captain, Ciaran Smith, being presented with the Player of the Match trophy after their 2-0 win over Enniskillen Town United by Junior & Youth Cup Committee member Enda Love Jnr.
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