Daire McDaid’s cracking free-kick completed a dramatic comeback as Letterkenny Institute of Technology booked their place in the CFAI Umbro Colleges Cup semi-finals.
Letterkenny Institute of Technology 2 Coláiste Stiofáin Naofa 1
By Chris McNulty, Donegal Sport Hub
Shane Byrne’s team trailed to Conor Fitzgerald’s fine 73rd minute goal, but they came roaring back in an inspired last seven minutes.
BJ Banda levelled the tie on 83 minutes and the Port Road campus seemed set for extra time until McDaid conjoured up a wonderful winner.
The ever-lively Banda was fouled outside the area and McDaid stepped forth to curl a sumptuous free over the wall and beyond the despairing dive of Aaron Hosford in the Coláiste Stiofáin Naofa goal.
McDaid wheeled away in delight with just four minutes to go and the body language of the Corkmen was that of a beaten side.
The stuffing had been knocked out of them moments earlier when Banda finished superbly after McDaid’s shot was beaten away by Hosford. Substitute Keelin McElwaine created the initital opening when he threaded through for McDaid to have a go.
Banda kept his cool with a composed finish to bring his men onto an even keel.
Following a CUFL quarter-final loss to NUI Galway a week ago, when LyIT conceded three times in the first 20 minutes, the Letterkenny side were much more defensively sound here.
Mark McElhinney saved from Matthew Whelan in a cagey oepning while left-back Ciaran Kearney drove into a packed penalty box, but his effort cannoned to safety.
Banda, who played last night as a substitute for Finn Harps in their pre-season friendly win over Institute, went close on 20 minutes when he fended off the attentions of Matthew Murray before firing just wide of the far post.
Whelan skewed off target from a promising position before Banda flashed over again as LyIT probed in a game of inches.
McDaid riffled over from a Dean Larkin pass and the opening half ended with the stalemate intact.
LyIT were without the likes of Paul McVeigh, Fearghal Harkin, Ciaran Kelly and Simon McGlynn – who injured a hamstring last night playing for Harps – but the performed well in spite of the absentees.
Larkin flicked a header over from a McDaid’s cross before Ryan Connolly drilled over after a neat step inside left the door ajar.
McElhinney had to be on his toes to save from Kearney after a backheel from Whelan opened the LyIT defence.
Coláiste Stiofáin Naofa took the lead when, after a Kearney free was only partially cleared, Fitzgerald had time to take a touch before brilliantly arrowing a shot past McElhinney.
Just when the time seemed to be running out, LyIT stuck gold when, first, Banda and then McDaid hit the bullseye to book a spot in the semis, which take place in two weeks’ time.
Letterkenny Institute of Technology: Mark McElhinney; Adrian Delap, Lee McColgan, Caolan McDaid, Oisin Langan; Dean Larkin, Brian McVeigh, Daire McDaid, Ryan Connolly; BJ Banda, Daniel Martin Doherty. Sub: Keelin McElwaine for Connolly (77).
Coláiste Stiofáin Naofa, Cork: Aaron Hosford; David Grant-O’Sullivan, Troy O’Sullivan, Matthew Murray, Ciaran Kearney; Tomas Carroll, James McCarthy, Niall Kennedy, Gavin Corcoran; Matthew Whelan, Conor Fitzgerald. Subs: Steven McCarthy for Whelan (67), David Cummins for Corcoran (88).
Referee: Marty Quinn.
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