Enniskillen Rangers became the first team from Northern Ireland to win the all-Ireland Presidents' Cup when they defeated Cockhill Celtic in the final.
A first half strike by Jake Browne and a goal from Joel Byrne in the final minute secured a famous victory for Michael Kerr's men at Ferney Park in Ballinamallard.
The Presidents' Cup brings together the Irish FA Junior Cup winners and their FAI counterparts for the right to be crowned all-Ireland champions.
It was inaugurated in 2018 and on that occasion Rangers were defeated 2-1 by Wexford side North End United. The following year the Co Fermanagh side lost 3-0 to Tipperary outfit St Michael's in the decider.
But on Saturday it was a case of third time lucky as Rangers were crowned the best junior side on the island of Ireland.
That said, there was nothing fortunate about the Enniskillen side’s triumph.
Despite the fact that Kerr is currently without the experienced trio of Ciaran Smith, Eoin McManus and keeper Joel Peden, the Rangers manager got his tactics spot on.
The underdogs allowed their opponents to have the ball in their own half, were disciplined in terms of their defensive shape and struck on the counter attack with maximum effect.
From the off it was Co Donegal side Celtic who called the tune by dominating possession and territory.
Luke Rudden had an early shot diverted for a corner kick before Garbhan Friel volleyed wide after being teed up by Rudden.
Rudden was again in the thick of the action when he fizzed an effort over from 20 yards.
Up to this juncture Rangers had failed to threaten the Celtic goal but that all changed on 26 minutes.
Nathan Khan released Byrne on the right and his inviting low cross picked out Jordan McClure. McClure's toe-poked effort was saved by Harry Doherty but midfielder Browne followed up to hammer the ball into the net.
Cockhill responded with Rudden volleying over on the turn and just before the interval former Dergview player Damian Duffy did likewise.
The Donegal outfit continued to have the better of things in the second half.
A Damian Duffy free-kick from the left was headed inches wide by Friel, however apart from that Celtic rarely threatened Ben Arthurs' goal.
The FAI representatives introduced Jay Bradley and Brendan McLaughlin in their quest for an equaliser but the Rangers defence of Mark White, Justin Palmer, Jamie Robinson and official man of the match Jason Keenan remained rock solid.
Cockhill had a glorious opportunity to score a leveller shortly after the hour mark when Arthurs parried a rasping free-kick from Duffy. The ball broke to Lee McColgan but the Rangers keeper reacted brilliantly to somehow save the follow-up.
Thereafter Celtic's challenge wilted. Gavin Cullen's side piled forward in desperation and in the final minute Rangers grabbed the winner on the counter attack.
Cockhill keeper Doherty and one of his defender's failed to deal with a searching ball upfield and Byrne capitalised amid the confusion to nudge the ball past the keeper and steer it into a gaping net.
That proved the knockout blow and moments later Rangers were celebrating a famous victory after skipper Nathan Khan lifted the silverware.
Enniskillen Rangers
Ben Arthurs, Mark White, Justin Palmer (Ciaran Brough 62’), Jake Browne, Jamie Robinson;, Jason Keenan, Stuart Rainey (Steven Carson 84’), Nathan Khan, Joel Byrne, Kyle Deery, Jordan McClure (Mark Cutler 90+ 7’).
Substitutes not used: Paul Coulter, Neil Coulter, Willie Armstrong, Harry Funston.
Cockhill Celtic
Harry Doherty, Lee McLaughlin, Fionn McClure (Brendan McLaughlin 62’), Peter Doherty, Lee McColgan, Jack Doherty (Conor Graham 84’), Luke Rudden, James Bradley, Garbhan Friel, Damian Duffy (Jack Mullan 79’), Stephen Duffy (Jay Bradley 62’; Corey McBride 79’).
Substitutes not used: Oisin McColgan; Jamie McKinney.
Referee: Matthew Gillan.
Action from Ferney Park
