Rosario overcome Magherafelt Sky Blues on penalties to claim U-11 Foyle Cup

Rosario’s nerves were the calmest as they lifted the Under 11 Foyle Cup by defeating Magherafelt Sky Blues on penalties. 

Rosario were able to take the game to penalties after trailing at halftime through Tom McCall’s strike. 

Sky Blue’s will be disappointed to have suffered this loss after taking the lead through a Lucas Bradley header. 

The game started slowly in a nervy affair as both sides analysed each other for weaknesses, with the first chance not coming until the fifth minute when Amari Merchant found himself on the edge of the penalty area one-on-one with the goal at his mercy, and as the ball left his foot sweetly, everybody believed it was destined for the goal only for Lewis Anderson to throw himself across the goal to deny a certain goal. 

This inspired Magherafelt, as in the ninth minute they had the ball in the net, a superb cross from the free kick by Barney Dixon was met by the head of Bradley, the keeper had no chance, and Sky Blues led 1-0. 

Rosario would look for a way to get back in the game, but the Magherafelt defence was resolute, and key to the defence was Joe McGeehan. 

However, McGeehan’s impact was almost felt at the other end as the ball fell to the defender after a half clearance by Rosario, but as he set himself and his effort struck towards the top corner, the keeper tipped it around the post to keep the Belfast side in the game. 

Just before the interval, Rosario’s McCall almost equalised as his effort rifled against the bar, giving the Sky Blues keeper no chance, but Magherafelt survived, going in at the break-leading. 

McCall, spurred on by his narrow miss in the final minute of the first half, was to punish Magherafelt in the first minute of the second half as he equalised with a sublime goal. 

He waltzed past three defenders, narrowing his angle as he did so, but his strike was so venomous that the keeper could do nothing about it, and the score was now 1-1. 

This proved to be the only real chance of the second half, as both sides nullified the attacking qualities of their opponents expertly. 

Neither side gave an inch to the other, so the match had to be settled by penalties. 

In a nervy penalty shoot-out, Rosario would come out on top, with Rory Mills strike proving the decisive spot kick, leading to rapturous celebrations.

Rosario: Ben Heattie; Callum McCabe, Alex Morris, Henry Bagnall, Tom McCall, Fionn McCann, Sonny Anderson, Declan McGarry, Rory Mills, Amari Merchant, Padraig Cunningham, Ethan Logue

Magherafelt Sky Blues: Lewis Anderson; Daire McDaid, Brogan McEldowney, Ronan Farmer, Barney Dixon, Francisco Antoniazzi, Lucas Bradley, Ryan McKeown, Conan Crozier, James Gribben, Iarflaith McCann, Joe McGeehan, Rian Mullen