Ardmore lifted the fonaCAB Craig Stanfield Junior Cup tonight following a scintillating final at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park.
The North West Junior League leaders and opponents Enniskillen Town United could not be separated after 90-plus minutes and 20 minutes of extra time. Both teams scored in extra time to make it 3-3.
But Ardmore secured the trophy in front of 1070 spectators at the National Stadium by holding their nerve to win the penalty shootout 5-4.
It was a first appearance in the Junior Cup decider for Ardmore, who are currently leading the North West Junior League with a 100 per cent record to date.
In winning the trophy Ardmore ended a 65-year wait for it to go to a team from the NWJL. The last victors from the league were Churchill United in 1960.
Town, who previously won the Junior Cup in 1993-94 and 2006-07 and currently lead Division One of the Fermanagh and Western League, opened the scoring in the first minute of junior football's showpiece occasion.
James Harrigan intercepted a pass from the Ardmore kick-off and fed Darren Freeman down the left flank.
Freeman headed for the bye-line after getting in behind the Ardmore defence and slipped the ball back to captain Cathal Beacom and his low drive from eight yards beat Ardmore keeper Kristian O’Hagan at the near post. It took Beacom just 10 seconds to find the back of the net.
In the third minute Town keeper Ben Thompson dived bravely at the feet of Ardmore striker Jack Coyle as he looked set to pounce on a loose back pass from Haydn Love.
Five minutes later Freeman fizzed a shot just wide of the post before a low drive from Coyle was comfortably clutched by Thompson.
Beacom threatened again with a shot from 10 yards. This time his curling effort was deflected out for a corner by Ardmore’s Kevin Roddy. It was an important block.
The game became a bit scrappy and physical after that, with both defences on top.
Freeman attempted a volley, however all-action Ardmore captain Jack Higgins snuffed out the danger.
On 34 minutes Enniskillen winger Frank Wallace sped past his marker and eventually fed the ball back to Harrigan who scooped the ball over the bar.
Coyle fired a free-kick straight into the Town wall before Freeman found Beacom inside the area, however his flicked header drifted well wide.
On 42 minutes Town’s Harrigan twisted and turned inside the area before unleashing a low shot which struck the base of the post.
Roddy cleverly slipped in Darren Crossan from a free-kick and Crossan’s shot from close range was superbly blocked by Nicholas Collen.
At the start of the second half a long range free-kick from Town’s Freeman was comfortably stopped by O’Hagan.
In the 52nd minute the Fermanagh boys made it 2-0. Brendan Lilley nudged the ball to Harrigan down the left and he cut inside before jinking past a couple of defenders and coolly slotting the ball into the corner of the net from 10 yards. It was a lovely finish.
Ardmore’s Anthony Hargan tested Thompson with a header before Freeman found the side netting down the other end.
In the 61st minute Thompson saved a close range volley from Coyle with his feet.
The boys from the village of Ardmore on the outskirts of Derry-Londonderry pulled one back on 66 minutes. Substitute Ryan Cleere supplied the pinpoint delivery into the six-yard area and Coyle powerfully headed the ball home.
Substitute Tomas Casey headed over the top before Ardmore equalised on 73 minutes. Coyle flicked the ball on to fellow striker Patrick Ward who shielded it and that allowed Cleere to latch on to it and race forward before planting the ball low past Thompson from 16 yards. It was another tidy finish.
Wallace’s deflected shot struck the bar as a shellshocked Town tried to gain the upper hand once again.
But Ardmore had the momentum at that stage. Oran Armstrong produced a fine delivery from a free-kick which was headed inches past the post by Casey, and then Ward headed straight at Thompson.
In added time Armstrong scooped a close range shot into the side netting, Coyle swept a shot wide of the upright and Hargan’s overhead kick sailed over the top.
Roddy handled the ball on the edge of the area after making a fine sliding challenge. Freeman let fly from the resulting free-kick, however O’Hagan got down well to push the ball away and Eoin McKeever cleared the rebound.
Seven minutes into added time Ardmore took the lead. Coyle was upended on the edge of the area. Armstrong stepped up and slammed the resulting free-kick into the corner of the net.
Beacom pulled Town level with a crisp rising shot as the first period of extra time drew to a close.
In the second period of extra time Beacom’s well-struck long range effort hit the base of the post, but that proved to be the last clearcut chance in open play.
In the penalty shootout Beacom, Freeman, Jordan Breen and Thomas Owens scored for the Enniskillen side, however O’Hagan superbly kept out the spot kicks taken by Kane Connor and Lilley.
For Ardmore three players - Ward, Coyle and Armstrong - netted before Thompson made a great save from Casey. Then Danny Doherty scored, while Cleere tucked home the winning penalty.
Ardmore: Kristian O’Hagan, Eoin McKeever, Gerry King, Kevin Roddy, Anthony Hargan, Jack Higgins (captain), Darren Crossan, Brian Rainey, Patrick Ward, Jack Coyle, Oran Armstrong.
Substitutes: (used) Ryan Cleere, Cathan Devlin, Tomas Casey, Danny Doherty; (unused) Paul Simon Tracey.
Enniskillen Town United: Ben Thompson, Conor Watson, Brendan Lilley, Thomas Owens, Haydn Love, Ryan McCluskey, Frank Wallace, Cathal Beacom (captain), Darren Freeman, Nicholas Collen, James Harrigan.
Substitutes: (used) Jordan Breen, Michael Simpson, Kane Connor, Ryan Hanna; (unused) Conor Tummon.
Action from National Stadium
