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Glengad through on penalties 24.02.09
Ulster Junior Cup

Glengad complete all Inishowen semi-final line up

Glengad...1
John McDermott 68

Ballybofey United...1
James Lynch 28

Glengad won 5-4 on penalties

by Michael Stamp, Inishowen Independent, at Glengad

SUNDAY was a pretty lousy day for Ballybofey soccer. There were two Ballybofey versus Inishowen ties in the quarter finals of the Ulster Junior Cup and our local teams prevailed in both. Ballybofey United made Glengad toil for this victory but their neighbours Cappry Rovers were trounced 6-0 by Clonmany.
The semi final line up now consists of Glengad, Moville, Redcastle and Clonmany but it would take a brave man to put money on Glengad. Although they are a decent side they will have to improve to compete with the likes of Moville, Redcastle and Clonmany.
Despite their progression it wasn’t a vintage performance from the home side. With their FAI Junior Cup tie against Sligo representatives City United being called off on three occasions, a lack of match sharpness was evident. However they still had enough in the tank to put away a resilient Ballybofey who dealt with everything Glengad threw at them and might even have won had it not been for a moment of madness from their keeper Dean Doherty.
Ballybofey started well with Shane Barclay sending in a dangerous free kick and James Lynch having a shot blocked by Anthony Toland. Soon afterwards Christopher McDaid managed to knock a ball onto Conor Doherty after poor Glengad defending but he could only strike over. Glengad hit back with Patrick McDermott heading over from a John McDermott corner and the same player shot wide moments later.
At this point Glengad were in the ascendancy and Terry Doherty and McDermott both had narrow misses. It came as something of a sucker punch when Ballybofey took the lead midway through the half. Against the run of play Christopher McDaid embarked on a run down the right side and crossed to Conor Doherty whose chip was pushed onto the bar by Michael McLaughlin but the ball fell to James Lynch who couldn’t miss from two yards out and buried the ball into the roof of the net.
Glengad were further hampered when Ruairí Doherty had to limp off with an ankle injury.
The combined loss of being a man and goal down galvanized the home side and Terry Doherty was unlucky to strike wide after good interplay with John McDermott, Doherty came even closer moments later when a brilliant feint lost two Ballybofey defenders but his shot went over. McDermott came even closer when Dean Doherty touched his free kick onto the bar. Stephen McLaughlin whipped in a good cross from the right but it evaded Paul McGonagle at the far post.
Glengad also started the second half strongly with Anthony Toland skimming a free kick just wide. The away side responded with Alan Patten jinking his way through the defence but sending an easy shot into the hands of Michael McLaughlin. Christopher McDaid and Alan Patten both had efforts that failed, this was as good as it got for the away side in the second half however as Glengad were attacking en masse.
A Terry Doherty cross was headed just over by Patrick McDermott and Doherty himself flashed a shot just wide soon afterwards. Ballybofey came back with a free kick from Paul Finn landing on the roof of the net. Ballybofey were defending heroically but they couldn’t keep the floodgates closed forever and Glengad equalised midway through the half. Glengad were indebted to Ballybofey’s keeper Dean Doherty who suffered a rush of blood to the head coming for a ball outside his area – the ball was knocked forward and John McDermott couldn’t miss.
Glengad had efforts through Jason Doherty, Patrick McDermott and Patrick Doherty but couldn’t settle the tie in normal time. The home side’s lack of recent playing time showed as fatigue became a major factor. The away team were also affected and with no subs to bring on, their 11 men had a long day.
In the added period both teams tried hard but little came off for them. Ballybofey’s Christopher McDaid headed into Michael McLaughlin’s hands from a Paul Finn free kick. Glengad came even closer when a Patrick McDermott shot from close range was brilliantly tipped onto the bar by Dean Doherty.
So it was on to the lottery of penalties where all of Glengad’s hard work over the previous 110 minutes could have turned to sand. Patrick McDermott gave them the best possible start burying his kick into the bottom right corner. Ballybofey’s Paul Finn was up next but his shot was brilliantly saved by Michael McLaughlin who stretched to his right to keep the spot kick out. All of the other penalties were converted and it fell to Lee Kelly to put Glengad through. The fullback stayed composed and buried his effort to ensure an all-Inishowen final four. Despite their progress Glengad will know improvement is needed if they are to progress.

Glengad: Michael McLaughlin, Ruairí Doherty (Darren Doherty), Lee Kelly, Patrick Doherty, Shane Doherty, Anthony Toland, Stephen McLaughlin (John McLaughlin), Patrick McDermott, Terrence Doherty, John McDermott, Paul McGonagle (Jason Doherty).

Ballybofey United: Dean Doherty, Joe Dunnion, Darren Sweeney, Paul Finn, Daniel Gallen, Paddy Hannigan, Shane Barclay, Conor Doherty, James Lynch, Christopher McDaid, Alan Patten.

For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the Inishowen Independent.
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