Donegal League storms to victory over Leinster League in Oscar Traynor Cup clash

Donegal League 4-2 Leinster League
With all expectations pitted against them, the Donegal League side, managed by John Francis Doogan, found their pathway to the next round of the Oscar Traynor Cup far easier than expected as they breezed past the Leinster League side this afternoon in Ballyare. 

The home team deserved full credit for their result against a team made up entirely of Crumlin United players, having slotted home three goals in 21 minutes of the second half to break free from the shackles of the opposition who didn’t make life easy for them. 

And despite conceding two penalties, one in each half, as well as being caught defensively now and again, Doogan’s side never took their foot off the gas and so easily could’ve had more goals in the dying minutes of the game when they kept on the attack and looked to kill off any Leinster hope once and for all. 

Despite an overall team performance, the Donegal League side, who already upset the odds a number of weeks ago with a win over the Inishowen League, had heroes all over the park. Adrian Delap was superb, Eddie O’Reilly was a constant threat while veteran Michael Funston bossed all over the field for over an hour until he was substituted. 

On a cold and bleak day in north Donegal, the home team enjoyed superior opportunities throughout the match, and nobody could argue they deserved the result.  

Even from the start of the match Donegal took control, Delap narrowly missed a shot from the edge of the box when Ben Carroll made the fundamental mistake of swinging a pass across his goal which allowed Delap to intercept but drove the ball to the left of the post.  

Shortly after, Funston, after winning the ball in midfield, played an exquisite pass in through the defence to set up O’Reilly, only for Scott Kavanagh to deny him with an outstanding save in the 12th minute. 

The visitors almost took the lead two minutes later, capitalising on some miscommunication in the Donegalk defence and some lax defending to give Lee Fallam an opportunity to shoot for goal but his effort lacked power and goalkeeper Blake Forkan was on hand to save low with his foot, much to the home team's relief. 

Despite the game now being played out on an even playing field and with nothing separating the teams, the visitors had a chance to take the lead when they were awarded a penalty after Joel Gorman was deemed to have fouled Dean Sutcliff inside the box.  

However, Reece Kavanagh's spot-kick was well saved by ‘keeper Blake Forkan. Despite further attempts by O’Reilly, who was again denied by Kavanagh, Donegal eventually seized the lead.  

Poorly defended, Gorman's free-kick which was headed out by the Leinster defence, fell to Matthew Crossan, whose lobbed shot caught Kavanagh off guard, though he did reach high and get his hand to the ball, the resulting effort secured a 1-0 lead for the Donegal League at half-time. 

At the start of the second half, O Reilly almost extended Donegal's lead, when he spotted Kavanagh off his line, but the keeper managed to deflect his shot for a corner and spare his blushes.  

Five minutes later, it was 2-0, as Delap fed Funston, who outmuscled Kyle Murphy to deliver a low cross for O’Reilly to tap in easily at the far post as the Fanad United player ran off celebrating. 

The visitors responded swiftly, earning another penalty when Forkan made contact with substitute Luke Dunne.  

Scott Cleary converted the penalty down the middle, reigniting the contest and just four minutes after that, Leinster drew level, with Forkan denying substitute Synott Lawlor wide on the right of the goal with a low save, only for Dean Sutcliff to pounce on the rebound, making it 2-2. 

Donegal regained control, with Paul ‘Yank’ Boyle scoring a superb header out of nowhere from a lovely Gorman corner in the 65th minute, following excellent work by O’Reilly. It was made all the sweeter considering this was the stage that the Donegal side began to tire while the Leinster League hit a purple patch. 

By the 72nd minute it looked like it was going to be the day for the home side when Donegal League made it 4-2 when Gorman's free-kick from near half-way caught everyone off guard, finding the roof of the net. 

Both teams made several substitutions and had chances with Kyle Murphy trying to narrow the gap only for his effort to creep over the crossbar, while Delap went for the killing fifth goal in the dying minutes, but couldn’t convert despite beating two defenders, as Donegal held on for a well-deserved victory. 

Donegal League: Blake Forkan; Jamie Doherty, Brendan McCafferty, (Kevin O Donnell 70), Paul Boyle, Matthew Crossan; Joel Gorman, Adrian Delap, Mark Forker (Christy Conaghan 77), Michael Funston (Zach Gorman 65); Eddie O’Reilly (Nathan Plumb 82), Shane McNamee (Lee McMonagle 89) 

Leinster Senior League: Scott Kavanagh; Gerard Heffernan (Lewis Burdock 73), Kyle Murphy, Calvin Rogers, Ben Carroll; Conor Mooney, Jono Donoghue (Synott Lawlor 53), Scott Cleary (Daniel Cully 80), Lee Fullam (Luke Dunne HT); Reece Kavanagh, Dean Sutcliff (Ben Coughlan 78).  

Referee: Barry Maxwell