Marlin Coast Rangers vs Mackay Lions in the final regional matchup of Football Queensland’s Kappa Cup

Marlin Coast Rangers have prevailed over Mackay Lions in the regional final of the Kappa Queensland Cup. Find out how.

Marlin Coast Rangers prevailed over Mackay Lions in the Kappa Queensland Cup regional final. Picture: Sharon Woodward

Marlin Coast Rangers will be progressing to the final hurdle before their dream of an Australia Cup finals bid is achieved, defeating Mackay Lions 5-2 at Townsville’s Paradise Park on Saturday.

The Rangers opened the scoring early through Josh Pin in the ninth minute, before the Lions quickly responded via Tim Heller to equalise before the 20 minute mark.

From there it was an arm wrestle for the ensuing 40 minutes of action, before Rangers player-coach Crios O’Hare stepped to the fore to put his side in the drivers seat.

Regional final of the Kappa Queensland Cup. Marlin Coast Rangers against Mackay Lions at Paradise Park. Lions Joshua Pin celebrates goal. Picture: Evan Morgan

O’Hare scored twice in the span of four minutes to help his side to a 3-1 lead, before Cooper Kennedy stepped up to put the result beyond doubt as the Rangers went up 4-1 with just over 10 minutes to play.

A late consolation goal gave Heller his double for the Lions, before the Rangers’ Henri Mackenzie put the finishing touches on the scoreline in stoppage time.

Marlin Coast are now within reach of an Australia Cup final bid, as if they win their upcoming clash against a side from South-East Queensland they’ll progress to the round of 32 of the country’s most prestigious football tournament, while also making it to the final four of the Kappa Cup.

Preview story

A spot in the Australia Cup finals series is tantalisingly close for two regional football clubs in North Queensland, but after Saturday’s clash only one dream will remain alive.

Cairns club Marlin Coast Rangers FC will play Mackay Lions FC in the regional final of Football Queensland’s Kappa Cup, after both clubs progressed through five gruelling fixtures so far this season to get to this stage of the tournament.

Whichever side prevails in Saturday’s clash will progress to the final eight teams in the tournament, with just one further hurdle remaining between them and entry into the final 32 of the Australia Cup.

Rangers player-coach Crios O’Hare said his side will come into this clash full of confidence, fresh off wins in both the Kappa Cup along with the other competitions they’ve been playing in.

Marlin Coast coach Crios O'Hare, assistant coach Gavin Broomhead and captain Charlie Beverley after claiming the Crad Evans Trophy. Picture: Supplied

“The confidence is pretty high, but we know it’s not going to be easy and we’re going to have to play well to get the win,” O’Hare said.

“We’ve got a little bit of intel on the Lions, they’re a club not many of us have much experience playing against, so it will be a bit of the unknown.

“We just have to emphasise what we bring to the table more than anything else.”

Despite the strong results coming in, O’Hare maintained that there were a few key areas for improvement from their game against Mareeba that would need to be fixed to give them the best possible chance.

“Probably for the first time this season, we just weren’t as clinical in attack as we should’ve been, we were wasteful with some of our chances and that kept Mareeba in the game,” he said.

“We want to be taking those chances early in the game and putting ourselves on the front foot. The plan is always to take the lead early and stay there.”

As for the venue being in Townsville? O’Hare said it wouldn’t make a difference where they played.

“We’re fine with going wherever, it doesn’t make a difference to us, Townsville’s a bit closer to home and it’s a nice surface, but at the end of the day we have to play our best to get the win.”

The Kappa Cup regional final will get underway at 5.30pm on Paradise Park Field 1.

Originally published as Marlin Coast Rangers vs Mackay Lions in the final regional matchup of Football Queensland’s Kappa Cup