Trojans into 'Burkey Cup' final after dramatic extra time victory over Foyle Harps

Trojans 2

Foyle Harps 1

Trojans booked their place in the final of this year’s Thomas Burke Memorial Cup after a dramatic extra time victory over holders Foyle Harps on Monday night.

Rhys McDermott scored both goals for Trojans, the second of which came at the start of an extra time period which also brought two red cards, one for each side.

The goal the game needed arrived in the second half when Cormac Burke aimed a corner onto the head of Shaun Leppard at the back post and the defender looped a header back across goal allowing McDermott to head it in on the line to make it 1-0.

The finish line was in sight for Trojans when Harps struck out of nothing. Calvin McCallion, a danger all night, brought the ball down in the area and laid it off for Benny McFadden, whose first time shot took the slightest deflection, but it was enough to take it past Quigley and into the net for a late equaliser.

With Trojans tiring quickly, it looked as if Harps would force a winner, but they were almost caught out in the last few minutes. A brilliant counter-attack saw Matt Harkin spread a superb ball 30 yards across the pitch to find Farren, and he curled a brilliant effort over Brown from 20 yards, only for the ball to come back off the crossbar.

A brilliant save from Quigley denied Odhran Scarlett in the first half of extra time, but Harps’ hopes took a real blow with a red card to Connor Brown. The goalkeeper completely misjudged a long ball forward from Leppard, coming out of his area only for the ball to bounce over his head. In his desperation to make up for his mistake, Brown blocked off the attacker, and that was adjudged a foul by referee Mark McGarrigle, and, after consultation with his assistant Eamon Harrigan, he produced the red card.

Gareth McFadden took over in goal, and one of his first tasks was to pick the ball out of the net early in the second period of extra time. Daylan Farren did brilliantly to dig a cross out from the byline, and it found Rhys McDermott at the back post who couldn’t miss as he headed Trojans back onto the lead.

The drama was still far from over as Trojans were then reduced to 10 men. Darren McFadden, on the pitch a matter of minutes, became involved with Niall Fielding off the ball and was dismissed by referee McGarrigle as a result.

It gave Harps a late boost, but they were unable to take advantage with Trojans holding on to make Saturday’s final.  

The next semi-final takesp lace tomorrow night when Creggan Swifts meet Moville at Oakland Park at 7pm.  

Teams

TROJANS: Paddy Quigley, Rhys McDermott, Shaun Leppard, Shay Frazer, Cathal Connolly, Cormac Burke, Colin Gallagher, Orrin McLaughlin, Daylan Farren, Garbhan Friel, Tiernan McKinney.

FOYLE HARPS: Connor Brown, Shane Boyle, Damien Campbell, Marcus O’Kane, Gareth McFadden, Benny McFadden, Gary McFadden, Ryan Doherty, Aaron McLaughlin, Calvin McCallion, Jamie Dunne.

OFFICIALS: Mark McGarrigle, Collie McDaid, Eamon Harrigan and Martin Dunne.