Weber hat-trick Erne’s Wanderers a Voodoo Venue area final spot

Centre-forward Damian Weber was the star of the show as Erne Wanderers breezed their way into the Voodoo Venue Cup area final at The Lakeside on Saturday.

Drumbar United had the best early chance with Vincent Breslin testing Karl O’Brien in the Erne goal but the pattern of play for most of the half saw Erne on the front foot thanks to the work of Philip Patton and Declan Roper in the middle of the field.

John Roper and Adam McGlone had chances and McGlone had an effort saved at the expense of a corner.

The opening goal came on 21 minutes and it was a cracker with Damian Weber firing home from 30 yards.

Two minutes later it was 2-0 after a good move involving Weber, McGlone and John Roper which was put out for a corner. From the corner from John Roper, Dylan Gallagher headed towards goal and Weber got his head on it just before the ‘keeper to find the net.

The third arrived on 40 minutes, this time from a  Philip Patton free with Dylan Gallagher heading home.

Drumbar United pictured before the game at the Lakeside

It didn’t get any better for the visitors as within 10 minutes of the resumption Erne Wanderers had added two more with Weber finding the bottom corner, again from long range while John Roper got in behind the Drumbar defence to add the fifth.

In the sultry heat the pace of the game went down a few gears from there with just one more goal, that coming from substitute Corey Simms, who beat three players in the final five minutes.

Erne Wanderers will now meet Copany Rovers in the area final after  Copany defeated Fintown Harps 3-0 in the other semi-final.

Erne Wanderers: Karl O’Brien, Martin McGarrigle, JC McGarrigle, Aaron Cullen, Ryan O’Brien, Declan Roper, John Roper, Dylan Gallagher, Damian Weber, Philip Patton, Adam McGlone.

Subs: Joshua Simms Wilson and Ryan McKenna for Patton and Cullen (55); Rian Treanor for D Patton (65); Corey Simms for Weber (77).

Drumbar United: Oisin Burke, Joseph Gillespie, Odhran Meehan, Kevin Martin, Nathan Carr, Daniel Bennett, Conor Browne, Paul Lagan, Vincent Breslin, Dylan McHugh, Andrew Monaghan.

Subs: Josh McCrea and Eoghan Gallagher for Lagan and Browne (both ht); Jacques McLeod and Jack Byrne for Breslin and Monaghan (both 65); Sean Slater for McHugh (70).

Referee: John McGlanaghy