Institute defeat Derry City on penalties to win the U17 Foyle Cup

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.