Scoil Mhuire Buncrana lands U-19 Ulster Cup after penalty shootout

Scoil Mhuire Buncrana 1-1 Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair (Buncrana won 4-2 AET)
In a gripping display of skill and determination, Scoil Mhuire Buncrana emerged victorious over Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair in a highly anticipated Ulster U-19 final at the Letterkenny Community Centre.  

Over 120 minutes of football couldn’t separate the sides with both teams forced to endure a nail-biting penalty shootout with Scoil Mhuire landing all four spot kicks with centre-back Conor McDaid firing home the final penalty to capture the Dr Tony O’Neill Cup.  

Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair entered the game as serious underdogs having played in the Ulster B competition last season at U-17 level. And with 10 of the starting 11 underage again next season, the Gaeltacht school gave a superb account of themselves to get this far in the U-19 A final. 

From the outset, both teams showcased their prowess, engaging in a fiercely competitive first half that yielded no goals despite numerous attempts on target.  

Scoil Mhuire's defence, led by their stalwart centre-back pairing of McDaid and Seán McLaughlin, remained resolute against Pobalscoil's relentless attacks, thwarting every advance with tactical precision. 

Scoil Mhuire were much more composed in possession stringing together a number of fierce attacks, and despite hitting the post on two occasions, they couldn’t land that all important goal with both Jay Bradley and Shane McLaughlin teaming well together up top to find gaps in the Pobalscoil defence. 

Despite only a few half chances in the opening quarter, Pobalscoil remained tight in the backline and looked dangerous going forward after the 20th minute but could never find that break to threaten goalkeeper Stephen McNulty despite a number of worrying balls fired long into the box which the keeper was able to handle. 

However, with 10 minutes left to the end of the half McNulty’s radar in stopping shots was really to the fore having to work extremely hard in preventing two shots in the space of five minutes from going behind him into the net with Colm Ó Dochartaigh and Martin Mac Giolla Choill blasting for glory. 

Despite no goals in the first period, as the second half commenced, the intensity only intensified, with neither side willing to concede an inch and throwing all they had at the attack when in possession.  

However, it was Scoil Mhuire who broke the deadlock in the 70th minute, courtesy of a perfectly executed penalty kick from Conor Graham after Darragh Coyle was brought down in the box when he cut back inside the defence and was clipped on the ankle. 

As bodies began to tire, especially Ghaoth Dobhair’s who had six players involved with the Donegal county minor team in Cavan last night, it looked like 1-0 would seal the victory for the better team. But Pobalscoil refused to surrender, mounting a spirited comeback in the dying moments of the match.  

With just 10 minutes remaining on the clock, their persistence paid off as a thunderous corner from Colm Ó Dochartaigh found the head of Cronan Mac Phaidin who nailed the back of Scoil Mhuire's net, sending the game into extra time amidst a frenzy of celebrations from the underdogs. 

Extra time brought no further breakthroughs, despite Pobalscoil nearly sneaking it when Cronan Mac Phaidin broke through one-on-one only for McNulty to stand tall and pull off a superb save, as both teams battled fatigue and nerves in their quest for glory.  

With neither side able to seize the decisive moment, the fate of the match was left to be decided by the cruel lottery of penalties. 

In the tense shootout that followed, Scoil Mhuire's players displayed nerves of steel, calmly slotting home their four spot-kicks with clinical precision.  

McNulty saved Pobalscoil‘s second spot kick when Martin Mac Giolla Choill struck low to the left. But when goalkeeper Padraig Mac Giolla Bhríde blasted over the cross bar it was all left for McDaid who sealed the win clinching the Ulster cup with a final score of 4-2 in the shootout. 

Scoil Mhuire Buncrana: Stephen McNulty; Mason McDaid, Conor McDaid, Sean McLaughlin (Adam McColean 70), Oisin McIntyre; Darragh Coyle, Daniel McMenamin, Conor Graham, Brendan Roe; Jay Bradley, Shane McLaughlin.  

Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair: Padraig Mac Giolla Bhríde; Cathal Mac Aoidh (James Gallagher 100), Alan Ó Dochartaigh, Oisin Ó Duibhir (Odhran Kavanagh 25), Cathal Ó Gallchoir; Caolan Laux, Darragh Mac Aoidh (Tadgh Ó Baoill 93), Martin Mac Giolla Choill, Cronan Mac Phaidin; Brian Mac Phaidin, Colm Ó Dochartaigh.