Kildrum Tigers hit four to win Voodoo Cup final against Erne Wanderers

Kildrum Tigers were worthy winners in the final of the Voodoo Venue Cup against Erne Wanderers in Ballyare on Saturday.

Michael Lynch’s header after two minutes set the tone and he added another just before the hour mark as Kildrum took control.

Joshua Martin got their third as Daniel McNulty got a third assist, while Jonathan Robb rounded off the scoring in added time.

The St Johnston men had the perfect start as they won a corner inside two minutes and Daniel McNulty’s inswinging cross was met by the head of Michael Lynch at the back post, finding the top corner.

With chances at a premium in the game, that would be a crucial start for Kildrum, who had a Jonathan Robb shot saved soon after.

Set-pieces were where the Tigers were most threatening, as another McNulty free was flicked on by Kyron Coyle but Karl O’Brien held the effort, while a Matthew Crossan free from inside his own half found CJ Clarke but the midfielder didn’t connect with his effort after beating the offside trap.

Erne had half chances through Declan Roper who dragged his shot from range well wide, while Damian Weber’s low cross was met by John Roper but his shot towards the near post was held by Aaron Hepburn.

Kildrum again kept threatening from crosses, Stuart Carlin’s ball in finding Joshua Martin at the back post who won a corner which he delivered and found McNulty but the attacker headed wide just before half-time.

The Ballyshannon side began the second half well with Damian Weber winning an early free that Philip Patton fired over, while Weber again did well down the right to win a corner that came to nothing.

Kildrum sub Michael Ayton blasted over following a Robb flick on before they got their second.

It came as McNulty played a ball over the Erne defence to Lynch who first timed it into the bottom corner from twelve yards.

John Roper had a chance similar to the first half as his effort towards the near post was held by Hepburn, while McNulty should have scored when getting on the end of Robb’s cut back but he sliced the shot.

And as Ayton found Robb down the right again, he beat his man and cut the ball back to McNulty, again he sliced his shot but Joshua Martin was at the back post to tap in to the empty net on 67 minutes.

Erne kept battling and Weber had two shots held by Hepburm before the ‘keeper’s kick out fell to Martin McGarrigle and he tried to chip the Kildrum number one from 35 yards, but his effort clipped the crossbar.

Gearoid Gallagher and McGarrigle both had effort go just wide as the Ballyshannon side tried to get on the score sheet, but Hepburn and the Kildrum defence held on to the clean sheet.

And they finished on a high as Shane McNulty played the ball through to Robb who raced forward and dinked the ball over O’Brien and in off the post.

It got even worse for Erne as Gearoid Gallagher received a straight red card for taking down Lynch on the counter as the game ended in a 4-0 victory for the Station Road men.

Erne Wanderers: Karl O’Brien; Joshua Ritchie (Martin McGarrigle, 74), Darren Russell, Aaron Cullen (Gearoid Gallagher, 65), Ryan McKenna; John Roper, Declan Roper (David Dolan, 74), Philip Patton, Adam McGlone (John Conor McGarrigle, 86); Damian Weber, Dylan Gallagher.

Kildrum Tigers: Aaron Hepburn; Paul McNulty, Kyron Coyle, Matthew Crossan, Stuart Carlin (Daniel Coyle, 86); Joshua Martin (Ciaran Tinney, 83), Michael Lynch, CJ Clarke (Shane McNulty, 77), Aaron O’Donnell (Michael Ayton, half-time); Daniel McNulty (Dominic Keys, 77), Jonathan Robb.