Foyle Harps defeat Rosemount to win fourth successive McAlinden Cup

Foyle Harps 3

Rosemount 1

Foyle Harps became the first team in D&D history to win four McAlinden Cups in a row when they saw off Rosemount at Wilton Park earlier today.

Harps went into the game as huge favourites, but were pushed all the way by a stubborn and dangerous Rosemount team who missed two glaring chances late on to take the game to penalties.

Rosemount had beaten Newell 3-2 in the semi-finals, a much closer game than their opponents, who ran out 5-1 winners over Carrowreigh Celtic in their game.

Harps bossed possession early in the game and Sean McCarron even had the ball in the net only to be denied by an offside flag.

Yet as the first half went on, it was Rosemount who started to get the better chances, with Dylan McGavigan heading over from a corner.

Just as Rosemount began to build some confidence, Harps struck the first goal of the game when McCarron’s free kick deflected up onto the air off the wall, and fell kindly for defender Shane Boyle, the only player who took a chance by running into the box, and he guided the ball in from close range.

But if anyone thought this would be a stroll for Harps after that, they were badly mistaken.

Rosemount stunned everyone by levelling right at the start of the second half when they scored top level the game, Dean Curran’s cross finding McGavigan at the back post, who placed the ball between Conor Brown’s legs to make it 1-1.

Harps were under the cosh after that as Rosemount pushed for a second and it seemed a surprise might be on the cards.

But Harps slowly regained control and Boyle went close to his second goal when his looping header was cleared off the line.  

Rosemount were vulnerable from set-plays, and Harps made them pay on 72 minute when Dean Brown met McCarron’s free kick and looped a header back across goal over Lee Wade to make it 2-1.

The final 10 minutes saw Rosemount pile on the pressure in their search for an equaliser and McGavigan went through on goal only to be denied by a brilliant save from Brown. Moments later the Harps defence was found absent again but Ryan Cleere sent a free header wide with just the goalkeeper to beat.

Harps left it very, very late, but they made sure with a counter attack in added time, McCarron breaking away to set up Calvin McCallion, who in turn set up Gareth McFadden who sealed the win from close range.   

Teams

Foyle Harps: Conor Brown, Daley Powell, Gareth McFadden, Shane Boyle, Dee Dee Campbell, Aaron McLaughlin, Dean Brown, Jamie Dunne, Calvin McCallion, Sean McCarron , Gareth Brown. Subs: Niall Fielding, Oddie Scarlett, Darragh McCloskey, Stephen Duffy, Colm Paul Robb, Marcus O’Kane.

Rosemount: Lee Wade, Eoin McKeever, Cathal Devlin, Kevin Deegan, Dean Curran, Davy O’Brien, Ryan Cleere, Bobby Sweeney, Ethan Doherty, Dylan McGavigan, Brian Carlin. Subs: Kiefer McCusker, Decky Burns, Gary Lyndsay, Mo Crossan, Simon Tracey.

Officials: Eamon Harrigan, Gary Boyd and Noel Crossan.