Buncrana Hearts trump Cockhill Celtic on penalties to advance in Ulster Junior Cup

Buncrana Hearts sealed their progression to the Ulster Junior Cup Final with a 4-2 victory on penalties after the contest finished in stalemate after extra-time at the Charlie O’Donnell Sportsgrounds on Sunday. 

Clear-cut chances fell few and far between in this close and well-contested affair between these two neighbouring sides, with both outfits knowing a huge prize at stake. 

Spot-kicks were required in order to determine a winner of this cup semi-final and Buncrana Hearts substitute goalkeeper Eoghan O’Doherty was the hero as he made two saves in the shootout to aid his side to victory. 

There was little to report on in the opening stanza with regards to goal scoring opportunities, with both sides staying firm at the back in such an important clash. 

The half’s best opportunity fell to Cockhill on 12 minutes, as the ball fell to left-back Brendan McLaughlin on the edge of the box and he caught it sweetly on the volley but Taylor Clarke did brilliantly to tip the ball around the post. 

The hosts enjoyed most of the ball in the first half and won themselves a high quantity of corner’s, nine in total, but couldn’t take advantage on any occasion with Buncrana Hearts defending superbly, leaving nothing separating the sides at the break. 

Gavin Cullen’s side came close to breaking the deadlock on 57 minutes. Luke Rudden did well to header a cross back across the box into the direction of striker Garbhan Friel who’s headed effort went just wide of the post to leave the contest remaining level with thirty to go. 

The following 25 minutes were finely poised between the two outfits with both searching hard for a precious goal. 

On 86 minutes, Cockhill thought they found a potential match-winner. Luke Rudden played the ball into the path of substitute Jay Bradley. Bradley took the ball around the on-rushing Taylor Clarke before seeing his effort from range go inches wide of the post. 

Soon afterwards, Gavin Cullen’s and his side felt they should have been awarded a spot kick as Corey McBride went down in the penalty area under the challenge of Taylor Clarke however, the appeals were turned down by Warren Harvey who soon called an end to proceedings with extra time required to try to separate the sides. 

Extra time followed a similar pattern with the 90 minutes that came before it, with neither team finding the necessary winning goal and therefore spot-kicks were required to determine who would progress to the Ulster Junior Cup Final. 

Buncrana Hearts made the decision to opt for their substitute goalkeeper Eoghan O’Doherty for the penalties and it would be a choice by Gary Duffy and his management that would prove decisive. 

Two penalty saves from O’Doherty as well as four successful attempts from 12-yards from Eoin Murphy, Shaunie Bradley, James Adair and Calvin Gallagher sealed the victory for Buncrana Hearts and set up an Ulster Junior Cup final with Letterkenny Rovers.

Cockhill Celtic: Harry Doherty; Lee McLaughlin, Oisin McColgan, Jason Breslin (Lee McColgan, 78), Brendan McLaughlin, Corey McBride, Jack Doherty, James Bradley, Luke Rudden, Garbhan Friel (Adam Duffy, 89), Adam McLaughlin (Jay Bradley, 64). 

Buncrana Hearts: Taylor Clarke (Eoghan O’Doherty, 110); Adam Curran (James Adair, 100), Zach McFadden, Kevin O’Loughlin (Micheal Bernard McLaughlin, 31), Conor Doherty, Jamie McDaid, Calvin Gallagher, Eoin Murphy, Matty Brown, Shaunie Bradley, Aaron McDaid. 

Referee: Warren Harvey.