Donegal Junior League 1Limerick District League 2 AET
There was disappointment for the Donegal Junior League side on Sunday, losing 2-1 after extra time against the Limerick District League at Umbro Park in Milebush.
The two teams were deadlocked at 1-1 at the conclusion of normal time and it was Kai Joyce’s 115th minute strike that proved the difference, sending the Limerick outfit through to the final.
Act One of this last four encounter was a finely balanced affair between the two sides, with both teams creating themselves one significant opportunity to hit the front.
The Donegal Junior League began the contest on the front foot and had an opportunity to gain an early advantage after just three minutes of play.
Adrian Delap received the ball down the right wing and delivered an inviting low cross into the box which was met by the oncoming Johnny Robb but Josh McCarthy did well to steer his near post effort out for a corner kick.
Eamonn Sheridan’s outfit continued to compete well but were unable to test McCarthy in the Limerick District League goal.
Midway through the first stanza, it was the Limerick District League’s turn to have a chance to score the contest’s opening goal.
Conor Coughlan darted down the left wing with the ball before cutting inside and firing goalwards from just inside the area but Michael Lynch got down well to save Coughlan’s effort before bravely diving in front of the ball to deny Vinny Ryan at the follow up.
Both outfits continued to try and gain the advantage for the remainder of the first half, with the Donegal Junior League sending a number of balls into the opposition area, but they were unable to and we entered the break scoreless.
The Limerick men began the second stanza with purpose and had two opportunities to hit the front.
Firstly, a free-kick from Vinny Ryan went over the wall but didn’t dip on time to come underneath the crossbar.
Shortly afterwards, the ball bounced out to Kieran O’Connell on the edge of the box but his first time effort went just wide off the mark.
On the hour mark, the Limerick District League were awarded a penalty after Leon Kirrane went to ground following a challenge from Ryan Shields.
Kieran O’Connell stepped up to the spot and tucked the ball into the bottom corner to put his side ahead.
Five minutes later, Eamonn Sheridan’s charges were awarded a penalty of their own after Johnny Robb was fouled in the area.
Captain Gareth Harkin took the subsequent spot-kick and made no mistake, getting his side back on level terms.
Both sides pushed for a goal that could determine the fate of this encounter in the final quarter however, neither team managed to do so and extra-time was required to decide a winner.
Two minutes into extra-time, a cross from Gareth Harkin fell to Johnny Robb in the box but his volleyed attempt was deflected over.
Shortly afterwards, the Limerick outfit were reduced to 10 men when Kieran O’Connell was shown a second yellow card for a challenge on Ryan Cunningham.
Midway through the second period of extra-time, the Limerick District League found a second goal.
Substitute Kai Joyce had the ball at his feet on the edge of the box and let fly, beating Michael Lynch in the Donegal Junior League goal.
Sheridan’s men pushed hard in the closing stages in search of an equaliser but the Limerick outfit kept them at bay to seal their passage to the showpiece.
Teams
Donegal Junior League: Michael Lynch; Seamus Friel, Ryan Shields, Keenan Diver, Brendan McCafferty; Adrian Delap, Gareth Harkin, Patrick Carr, Edward O’Reilly, Johnny Robb, Shane McGinty. Subs: Shane McNamee for Carr (55 mins), Simon McGlynn and Jack Parke for O’Reilly and Delap (68 mins), Ryan Cunningham for McGinty (90 mins), Ronan McHugh for Robb (99 mins).
Limerick District League: Josh McCarthy; Danny O’Neill, Jason Cross, Tommy Frawley, Blake Curran; Leon Kirrane, Shane Walsh, Kieran O’Connell, Oleg Vysochan; Conor Coughlan, Vinny Ryan. Subs: Leon Daly for Walsh (40 mins), Shane O’Brien for O’Neill (77 mins), Kyle Duhig, Kai Joyce and Dylan Murphy for Kirrane, Coughlan and Vysochan (97 mins)
Referee: Eric Eaton
