Loreto Community School, Milford…………1
Carndonagh Community School…………… 1
Loreto Milford win 5-4 on penalties
Loreto Milford came through a finely balanced encounter against Carndonagh Community School on Wednesday afternoon at the Aura Leisure Centre in Letterkenny, prevailing 5-4 on penalties.
The sides both scored early on in this contest and it was nip and tuck throughout. They remained level at one-apiece for the remainder of normal time and extra-time before Jake Morgan produced a superb save to deny Tiernan Diver in the spot-kicks to send his side through.
This last four clash got off to a lively start, with Carndonagh Community School taking an early lead.
A corner-kick was delivered into the crowded box by Tiernan Diver and it was met by the rising head of Mark McLaughlin who found the back of the net.
However, Loreto Milford responded well to this early setback and were awarded a penalty three minutes later, with referee Damien McFadden deeming Ciaran Connaghan to have been fouled in the box.
Centre-half Alex Cullen stepped up to the spot and made no mistake in finding the back of the net to draw his side level.
On 17 minutes, an opportunity arrived for the Milford men to hit the front as Daithi McTaggart fired a powerful shot from outside the box goalwards but his attempt went over the bar.
In the closing 10 minutes of Act One, Carndonagh Community School had two chances to regain the advantage, both through headers.
Firstly, a cross from goalscorer Mark McLaughlin was met by Sonny Bonner but his headed attempt went over Jake Morgan’s crossbar.
Five minutes later, Shea Grant delivered an inviting ball into the box which found Patrick Doherty but he also headed over to leave the two sides inseparable at the break.
The Carndonagh outfit started the second stanza on the front foot and could have taken the lead two minutes after the restart.
Olly Coyle played a great ball across the face of goal but the on-rushing Tiernan Diver was unable to make contact with the ball and it was safely dealt with by the Loreto Milford defence.
The Milford men found a gear midway through Act Two and also nearly found a second goal as Fionn Chernick got on the end of a Daithi McTaggart corner kick but his attempt appeared to be cleared off the line.
The Inishowen outfit pushed for a winning goal in the closing stages of this encounter but they were unable to break down the Milford defence and extra-time was required.
Clear cut chances were few and far between in the two ten minute periods of extra-time played by referee Damien McFadden.
The most notable opportunity fell to Loreto Milford as the ball arrived at the feet of substitute Shay Given in the box but he couldn’t keep his effort down.
With the two sides remaining inseparable, penalties were required to decide the team that would progress in Letterkenny.
With the teams level at 3-3 in the shootout, the key moment arrived as Jake Morgan got down low to deny Tiernan Diver from the spot which helped to send his side through on a scoreline of 5-4.
Teams
Loreto Milford: Jake Morgan; Rowan McGroarty, Alex Cullen, Fionn Chernick, Michael Kerr; Adam Hosford, Charlie Gorman, Conor McLaughlin, Shea Cannon; Ciaran Connaghan, Daithi McTaggart. Subs: Sean Baxter for Hosford (57 mins), Shay Given for Gorman (67 mins).
Carndonagh Community School: Sam Coyle; Ronan McLaughlin, Sonny Bonner, Joe Doherty, Mark McLaughlin; Patrick Doherty, Shea Grant, Sheagan Doherty, Donnacha O’Callaghan; Olly Coyle, Shay McDaid.
Referee: Damien McFadden
