Inishowen Youth & Schoolboys League 1-1 Donegal Underage League
(Donegal won 4-2 on penalties)
BY RYAN FERRY
THERE was penalty shoot-out joy for the Donegal Underage League on Saturday afternoon as they got the better of their Inishowen counterparts to win the Under 15 Foyle Cup at Maginn Park.
It proved to be a tight battle and Inishowen – who were managed by Adam Curran and Kevin Jordan – hit the front when Harry McDaid scored a fine goal.
Micheal Breathnach levelled matters for Donegal and Marshall Laird’s side then came out on top in the spot-kicks after a competitive hour of football.
There was a good crowd in Buncrana for the tussle and it was the home team who had the first chance of note but Owen Kazaca headed wide.
Donegal took their time to settle but they did gradually build their way into the match.
Alex McGeever was a threat down the right side and forced Tjay Orr into a good stop in the ninth minute.
Zach Coll got on the end of the resulting corner but Inishowen skipper James Bradley was back on the line to clear.
Harry McHenry tested out Donegal goalkeeper Kieran Carr from distance and the Inishowen side were clearly up for the contest.
They hit the front in the 20th minute with a well-worked move. Mark Faulkner slipped the ball into Harry McDaid, and he cut inside before unleashing a brilliant left-footed shot into the bottom corner.
Donegal lost their way in the match and they did have one chance late in the half but Tom McElwaine’s shot from the edge of the box was blocked by Stephen Grant.
Laird’s Donegal side were 1-0 down at the break and they knew they had to up the ante in the second half.
It didn’t take them long to do so and they were level after one minute of the second half.
Breathnach lined up a shot on his left foot and it had too much power for Orr to keep out.
McGeever saw a shot saved for Donegal after that while at the other end, Michael Doherty almost got through for Inishowen but slipped at the key moment.
Harry McDaid led the line expertly for Inishowen and he had a chance to score a second goal in the 47th minute but his powerful shot just went over the bar.
Hugo Cooper made a telling difference when he came on up front for Donegal and that started to stretch the Inishowen defence.
There was to be one final chance for Inishowen and it fell to Doherty. He struck the ball well and it looked like it was going to squirm under the body of Kieran Carr but fortunately for the goalkeeper, it went narrowly wide.
It was then left to a penalty shoot-out to decide the outcome of the match.
Jamie McGee, Daimhin Harkin and Hugo Cooper all scored for Donegal while James Bradley and Mark Faulkner did likewise for Inishowen. However, Ronan Ferguson shot wide with the home side’s third spot-kick.
Alex McGeever held his nerve to convert the fourth penalty for Donegal and then goalkeeper Carr pulled off a great save from James Cullen.
That sealed the Under 15 title for the Donegal Underage League side.
Inishowen Youth & Schoolboys League: Tjay Orr; James Cullen, Owen Kazaca, Jack O’Donnell, Mark Faulkner; James Bradley, Stephen Grant, Mark Faulkner; Rhys Nicholas, Harry McDaid, Harry McHenry. Subs: Ronan Ferguson, Michael Bradley, Pauric Doherty, Tony Reddin, Sean McCool, Senan Doyle, Harry McGeough, Jamie Henry, Shane McLaughlin.
Donegal Underage League: Kieran Carr; Dylan Crossan, Jake Monaghan, Zach Coll, Tom Erskine; Alex McGeever, Tom McElwaine, Micheal Breathnach, Jamie McGee; Oliver Tullio; Darragh Edwards. Subs: Hugo Cooper, Daimhin Harkin, Conn Boyle, Cayal Cafferkey, Davyn McGlynn, Oleksandr Omelianchuk, Eli Duffy.
Referee: Ryan Carlin.
Man of the Match: Alex McGeever (Donegal Underage League)
McGeever had a super game down the right side and was always willing to accept the ball under pressure and take on his opponent. Tom Erskine, Micheal Breathnach and Hugo Cooper all impressed. Owen Kazaca, James Bradley and Harry McDaid stood out for Inishowen.
Turning Point: Inishowen battled hard in the first half and had a one-goal lead to show for their efforts. However, Micheal Breathnach’s goal just after the break was pivotal in bringing Donegal back into the equation.
The Whistler: A straight-forward outing for Carlin and his officials and they had no hassle in a good sporting match.
Talking Point: After a long, hard week of action, these neighbouring sides played out a good tight battle and there wasn’t much between them. In the end, Donegal held their nerve from the spot to add the Foyle Cup to the Under 15 Inter-League Bowl that they had won earlier in the campaign.
What’s Next: The season is now over for both of these representative sides.