Sweet Hanna strike And Ice Cool Penalty From McNulty Seals Three points for Tummery

Sweet Hanna strike And Ice Cool Penalty From McNulty Seals Three points for Tummery

April 2nd, 2022

Tummery travelled to the Lakeland forum today to take on Enniskillen Town United on a day that produced the four seasons in one day. Sun was shining prior to kickoff then during the warm up we were treated to a hail stone storm and then a chilling wind and then more sun shine an light rain. Tummery were looking to get back to winning ways and a reaction after last weeks defeat to Killen Rangers at home. Ryan named some changes to the starting eleven this week with Kevin McAleer coming back in to the back four and Martin Hughes named amongst the substitutes.

A strong town team also looking to bounce back from last weeks cup exit at the hands of enniskillen rangers would prove to be a stern test for the men in claret an blue with players in both starting elevens having played for both clubs in recent years. Eddie Ferguson was the man in the middle in charge of proceedings. Tummery had a slight wind advantage in the first half attacking the nets at the forum end on a surface that was full of bobbles and divots but is there any pitch that isn’t at this stage of the season.

Eddie Ferguson got the action underway and in less than a minute tummery were dealt a hammer blow when Brendan Lilley found the tummery defence not switched on and delivered a quick corner to the edge of the box to Darren freeman who had time an space to pick his spot in the far right hand corner of the net with 57 seconds on the clock. The early goal unsettled the tummery players and fans as they believed that whistler Ferguson give the corner when the goal kick was probably the correct decision. Tummery weathered the storm and the reaction from every player in claret and blue was immense with Ruairi sludden tormenting the town back line and being a physical presence up top, Ruairi going close himself on three occasions with snap shots from the edge of the box had Doherty scrambling across his goal line. Town nearly had a second in what would have been a somewhat fortuitous goal when Niall McCrory’s clearance came off the in rushing freeman and the ball just cleared the bar. Tummery worked tirelessly throughout the opening half an hour pushing town back and on 31 minutes they had there deserved equaliser when player manager Ryan Hanna found himself in space at the edge of the box from a clearance he first time connected sweetly with the ball on the volley with his left foot and found the corner of Doherty’s net much to the satisfaction of the tummery faithful a great strike from Ryan that our reaction deserved. With referee Ferguson brandishing cards to players in claret and blue it seemed that it was going to be one of them days but that wonder strike from Hanna shifted the balance.

The dangerous freeman and Johnny hoy linked up well up top for town and had a effort just wide before the half time whistle was blown.

Ryan rallied the troops at half time enforcing the message that we need to keep this up for 90 minutes after playing extremely well for 45 minutes last week an left with no points it would take that work rate for 90 minutes to win this. Tummery took a few minutes to get started in the second half with town having a chance from a corner but was well cleared by Ciaran Beacom and Chris Crilly. On 49 minutes tummery had a glorious chance to go ahead for the first time in the game when Aidy McCaffrey set Ruairi sludden through on goal but his touch took him wide of the keeper he recycled the ball and put it across the box an with the net at his mercy Paul McHugh rattled the bar. Tummery completely dominated the second half with crunching tackles from Ryan and Matty setting the tone in midfield and with Ruairi sludden still covering every blade of grass up front on his own the goal we deserved was surely going to come.

Martin Hughes replaced Aaron McNulty for the final quarter of the game in an attacking change for tummery playing up front along side rolo and was holding the ball up well linking with Aidy McCaffrey setting Paul McHugh away down the right hand side who just couldn’t find the ball that was needed in to the box. On 86 minutes tummery were given a glorious chance to go ahead when Declan McNulty was brought down in the box by Gary Stewart with referee Ferguson pointing to the spot which was a stone wall penalty just like the one we weren’t given last week. Declan dusted himself down and put the ball on the spot and with nerves of steel he calmly put the ball in the corner of the net sending Doherty the wrong way to send the tummery fans and players in to euphoria knowing the importance of taking maximum points from this game with a fellow Fermanagh and western juggernaut on there home patch which hasn’t been the most rewarding venue for the claret and blue over the years. With captain Aidy McCaffrey back clearing balls in his own 18 yard box the hunger in these tummery lads never stops till the final whistle.


Blain Campbell was sprung from the bench for the final 6 minutes to shore up the defence and quell any late onslaught from town that was to come in search of an equaliser. Town pushed the mammoth figure of eoin Beacom and brother Cathal up front to provide some height in the box but was well dealt with by the tummery defence with towering headers and safe hands of Niall McCrory. Eddie Ferguson blew the full time whistle on 95 minutes with tummery leaving the forum with another precious three points and the best response possible to last weeks disappointment.


Thanks to enniskillen town for a good hard fought game with an immense amount of quality on display for both sides and wish them all the best for the rest of there season.


Thanks to Eddie Ferguson for overseeing proceedings.



To our travelling fans we thank you for cheering us on and being the 12th man for us today in what was an epic battle that we came out of on the right side.



Our reserves were unfortunately beat 2-1 at home today by maheraveely reserves heads up lads and back out to training this week and put this result right next week.



A special note of congratulations to the CBS grammar school in omagh soccer team winning the (NI) schools youth cup with no less than 8 of our youth players in the squad well done to you all.



I’m late tonight as I was out chasing sun sets on the bike and going to bed a bit happier tonight come on tummery 🇱🇻