Dergview Res bidding for All Ireland Presidents Cup glory

DERGVIEW Reserves will be hoping to create more history on Saturday when they lock horns with Newmarket Celtic FC in the final of the All Ireland Presidents’ Cup.

The showpiece decider will be played at Home Farm FC, Dublin and brings together the 2022 Craig Stanfield Junior Cup winners, Dergview Reserves and their southern counterparts from County Clare.

Back in May, Andrew Sproule’s Dergview Reserves created history by becoming the first team from the north Tyrone club to win the Irish Junior Cup by defeating Harryville Homers 4-1 in the final at The National Stadium.

In doing that, the Castlederg side also became the first ever reserve team to capture the prestigious silverware.

Come Saturday afternoon the Darragh Park second string will again be hoping to write another chapter in the history books by becoming the first team from Northern Ireland to lift the All Ireland trophy.

The Presidents Cup was inaugurated back in 2018 when Enniskillen Rangers were defeated 2-1 by North End United. Twelve months later Michael Kerr’s team again suffered defeat when losing 3-0 to Tipperary outfit, St Michael’s.

Following Covid, Belfast side Willowbank were beaten by Limerick side Fairview Rangers on penalties in 2021 and last year Coalisland went down 2-1 to Villa FC, from Waterford.

It’s been something of a mixed bag for Dergview Reserves so far this season but player-manager Sproule said his players were relishing the challenge of competing in yet another major final.

“We are really looking forward to the game, it’s a privilege to be flying the flag for the club, the Fermanagh and Western and Northern Ireland football,” he said.

“Having talked to Michael Kerr (Enniskillen Rangers manager) he tells me it’s a great day out for the club.

“We have the opportunity to be the part of history. For a start, it’s the first time a Dergview team has played in it and we can become the first ever Fermanagh and Western winners, so we have all those ambitions ahead of us.

“We go into the game with no fear. We will prepare the best we can and irrespective what happens we will give a good account of ourselves.”

In last year’s Junior Cup decider, Sproule’s charges ran out convincing with goals by Ivan Sproule (2), Johnny Lafferty and Ethan Nethery.

Newmarket were crowned FAI Junior Cup champions back in April when they defeated St Michael’s 5-4 on penalties after the sides were deadlocked 1-1 after extra-time.