Irish League manager feels 'the occasion got to us' as side 'didn't lay a glove' on Irish Cup champions

The Welders were one of three Championship teams to progress to the last-eight but couldn’t cause an upset against the defending champions as Steven Scott, Cahal McGinty and Kobei Moore struck for the hosts.

Kee’s men have enjoyed another impressive league campaign, currently sitting third in the race for Premiership promotion and have scored 72 goals – a Championship-high – but the Welders chief was left disappointed with their showing at Stangmore Park.

"We didn't lay a glove on them,” he said. “I'm more disappointed by us.

"Don't get me wrong, I thought Dungannon were very good, but we didn't get anywhere near the levels that we should.

"Granted, it is playing a team with good confidence and good momentum and they play with good rhythm as well, but I was disappointed we didn't take that responsibility.

"We were a wee bit lacklustre and lethargic, I've never seen that, really, to be honest. I think the occasion got to us.

"I think people were fearful, which is really disappointing, but I'm kind of glad now it's out of the way. Hopefully, they can learn a lesson from it.

"We are a young squad, bar one or two, and they have to wake up and smell the coffee very quickly because this is a real run-in now that we have to try and get in this top-two. We have to be perfect.”

There was eligibility controversy in Co Tyrone after striker Eno Nto was named in the Welders starting line-up.

Stated amongst the rules for the Irish Cup on the Irish FA’s website around player eligibility, it says “no player who is registered by his club after 2 February shall be eligible to participate in that same season”.

Former Derby County forward Nto was announced as a new Welders player on February 20 – but played 90 minutes against Dungannon.

It’s not the first time a situation like this has happened – Glentoran were thrown out of the Irish Cup in 2022 due to Joe Crowe not serving an adequate suspension.

All player registrations and team selections are submitted on the Irish FA’s Comet system and Kee insists it shouldn’t be possible for an ineligible player to be picked for a match.

"No, I wasn't aware of that,” said Kee when asked about Nto’s involvement. “He was on the Comet system so if a player isn’t highlighted as suspended or ineligible...that's an IFA registration, then he shouldn't be on the Comet system.

"Like if a player's suspended or ineligible, he's put in red.

"I know they're (IFA) going to say it's at the discretion of the club...I honestly wasn't aware of that, we’ll check that out.

"That (losing the game) maybe softens it a wee bit, but the Irish FA hold the registration system, it’s Comet, so surely if he's coming into the country, that should be flagged against the Irish Cup and the club should be made aware of it.”

When approached for comment by the News Letter, an Irish FA spokesperson said: “It is the responsibility of clubs to ensure that all players selected for fixtures played under the jurisdiction of the association, are eligible to participate in those matches.”