Gary Ferry, 22 Jul
U17 Foyle Cup Final
Derry City 1
Institute 1
Institute won 4-2 on penalties
Institute came through the wind, rain and a penalty shoot-out to be
crowned this year’s U17 Foyle Cup champions.
A huge crowd descended on Oakland Park to take in this final, played at
Oakland Park, between two very evenly matched teams, at the end of an
impressive week for both clubs.
It looked for so long as if ‘Stute were going to win it in normal time
thanks to Shea Healy’s second half penalty, but Callum Doherty levelled
from the spot with just a few minutes to go to take it to a shoot-out.
‘Stute ‘keeper Connor Moran, impressive throughout, then denied Doherty
before Caoimhin McDermott’s effort hit the upright to seal ‘Stute’s
victory.
There was a real blow for Derry City just three minutes into the game
on Friday evening when Fionn Duffy had to be replaced after picking up
an early injury. Caoimhin McDermott replaced the defender who had his
cup final cruelly cut short.
It was difficult for either side to get going in such difficult
circumstances at Oakland, but there was no shortage of effort from
either side and Kevin Muldoon offered the first real shot on goal,
coming in from the right but shooting across the face of goal and wide.
Liam Carlin then came close with a glancing header from Reece
McDermott’s free kick, but ‘Stute goalkeeper Connor Moran remained
untested.
Derry City thought they had the lead right on the half hour mark when
Jack McLaughlin was played in on goal with just the goalkeeper to beat;
McLaughlin did everything right, curling a first-time shot towards the
top corner, but Moran stopped any celebration with a fantastic
fingertip save to direct the ball over the bar.
The goal the game needed came 12 minutes into the second half, and it
was ‘Stute who got it. Liam Derry defender Liam Carlin seemed to lose
his footing as he challenged Tommy McLaughlin, making the tackle look
reckless and referee Finton Coyle pointed to the penalty spot. Shea
Healy demanded the ball and confidently fired it past Conor McDermott
and into the bottom corner of the net to make it 1-0.
The Candystripes were struggling to provide as much threat as they did
in the first half, but a stroke of fortune almost led to an equaliser
with 15 minute to go; Brendan Rae’s shot deflected across goal, right
into the path of Muldoon, who had a free shot at goal, but once again
Moran came to ‘Stute’s rescue with a brilliant block.
There was nothing the ‘Stute goalkeeper could do however as Derry City
finally levelled with just four minutes remaining. This time referee
Coyle judged that Oisin Devlin fouled Michael Rafferty and pointed to
the penalty spot for a second time. Doherty stepped up for City and
sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to make it 1-1.
That took the game to penalties, where ‘Stute kept their cool, scoring
all four penalties to take this year’s title. Max McLaughlin, Luca
Barret, Oisin Devlin and Riley Fitzpatrick all scored for ‘Stute while
Rafferty and Muldoon scored for City.
Teams
DERRY CITY: Conor McDermott, Evan Quigley, Liam Carlin, Adam Bonner,
Caoimhin McDermott, Fionn Duffy, Brendan Rae, Kevin Muldoon, Reece
McDermott, Shay McGinley, Callum Doherty, Michael Rafferty, Conor
McDevitt, Blaine McDaid, Jack McLaughlin, Danny McDaid, David Stewart,
Shane Moran.
INSTITUTE: Connor Moran, She Healy, Evan Dillion, Riley Fitzpatrick,
Callum Ming, Luca Barret, Ruairi Conaghan, Max McLaughlin, James
Campbell, Brandon Crockett, Tommy McLaughlin, Adam Condren, Luke
Pringent, Eoin Canning, Oisin Devlin, Sam Dougherty, Bobby Snodgrass,
Adam McGurk.
OFFICIALS: Finton Coyle, Adam Lawther and Stephen McBride.