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Inishowen clinch Kennedy
Trophy
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Team bounce back from
group defeats to win trophy Reports: Inishowen Independent THE Inishowen Kennedy Cup squad under Stephen Cutliffe, Anthony Doherty and John L Coyle displayed tremendous character and spirit to bounce back from three group defeats to clinch the Kennedy Trophy in a nerve-wracking penalty shootout at the University of Limerick last week. After a heavy defeat to the competition winners the DDSL on Monday night, the boys faced Mayo on Tuesday morning and in a bright opening half Mark Timlin’s goalbound shot was cleared off the line by the legs of the Mayo keeper before captain Ryan McLaughlin saw his 20 yards free kick well saved and Darren McMonagle fired just over before the break. At the other end Robbie Fullerton was in excellent form to avert danger on two separate occasions. Inishowen continued to press and when Greg Breslin released Jamie Coyle he was denied by a last ditch covering tackle before at the other end Conor O’Donnell, who was superb all week, made a brilliant save low to his left. The concession of two goals in a four minute game spell late in the game saw Inishowen punished for missing earlier chances. |
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| The final group game against Wicklow saw Inishowen get off to a dreadful start when Wicklow scored a penalty past the despairing dive of Seamus Houton. Inishowen went on the offensive with Ryan McLaughlin finding Jamie Coyle who flicked on to Greg Breslin but he lost control at the vital stage. Breslin then found Coyle who fired over from the edge of the area before Andrew McGinley’s free was headed wide by Coyle. On 48 minutes Greg Breslin crossed for strike partner Coyle but again he headed over before the final chance came on 55 minutes when Breslin turned well and fired a cross shot |
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just wide of the far post.
The boys were downhearted at this failure to take points from the group stage but the management impressed on them the need to regroup for another competition on Wednesday with the quarter finals of the Kennedy Trophy. Kennedy Trophy Quarter Final (Wednesday) Inishowen...1 Carlow...0 Inishowen started well and on six minutes were awarded a penalty but unfortunately Jamie Coyle dragged his spot kick wide of the post. This spurred Carlow on and Conor O’Donnell produced two superb saves in quick succession before Inishowen struck for the all important goal on 18 minutes. In a pre-rehearsed corner kick Ryan McLaughlin’s ball in was flicked on by McGonagle for Paul Doherty to slam the ball home. Inishowen upped the pace on the restart with McLaughlin’s corner falling to Dean Kelly whose volley was headed off the line before substitute Kevin Toner and Coyle played a neat one-two but Coyle’s effort was well saved. Toner and Coyle combined again on the right for Coyle to cross to substitute Kevin O’Loughlin but his powerful shot was parried by the keeper. Again Inishowen almost paid the price in the last minute when they conceded a free kick on the edge of the area but O’Donnell saved superbly. Kennedy Trophy Semi Final (Thursday) Inishowen...1 East Cork/West Waterford...0 In the opening half Paul Doherty’s corner found Andrew McGinley but he fired over from 15 yards. Before the break Robbie Fullerton found Greg Breslin who released Jamie Coyle and he burst into the area but hit the side netting from a tight angle. On the restart Mark Timlin skipped past a defender and crossed for Paul Doherty who chested the ball down and fired in a left footed shot that the keeper saved well. Inishowen took the lead on 38 minutes when Greg Breslin broke from defending a corner and played a ball over the top towards Coyle who put the defender under sever pressure forcing him to slice his clearance over his own keeper to the net. The last chance fell to Inishowen on 51 minutes when substitute Kevin Toner fed Timlin but he shot narrowly wide. Kennedy Trophy Final (Friday) Inishowen...0 Cavan...0 (Inishowen win 4-2 on pens) Inishowen had an early scare when a Cavan free kick on the edge of the area crashed off the wall. On 13 minutes Greg Breslin laid the ball off to Ryan McLaughlin but he fired over from the edge of the area. The first clear opening of the game came on 50 minutes when Cavan got clear on the left but Conor O’Donnell advanced to spread himself and block superbly. Inishowen conceded a penalty in the final minute but O’Donnell saved not only the spot kick but also the follow up to force extra time. Inishowen had the only real chance in extra time when Mark Timlin and Kevin O’Loughlin combined to release Jamie Coyle but he hit the side netting. An so it was the shootout with O’Donnell saving one and Cavan missing another to see successive strikes by O’Loughlin, McGinley, Timlin and Toner give Inishowen their first ever piece of silverware from the Kennedy Cup tournament. The management would like to compliment the players on their excellent behaviour all week. They prepared superbly for every game and deserve great credit for bouncing back after three defeats in the group. They were a credit to themselves, their parents, their clubs and the league. They now have four weeks to prepare now for the Foyle Cup and it is hoped they can learn from mistakes made and keep up the good work. Training resumes this Saturday morning in Maginn Park at the usual For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the Inishowen Independent. |
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