Keadue Rovers’ remarkable season was completed with a penalty shoot-out victory in the U15 SFAI Sketchers Cup final.
Bonagee United 0 Keadue Rovers 0 (after extra time, Keadue win 4-1 on pens)
By Chris McNulty at Dry Arch Park
Goalkeeper Dean Timoney was the hero of the hour for the Central Park side. After a string of saves during the game, Timoney saved one of the Bonagee penalties and, with Cillian Bonner, Oran Fallon, Jamie McCready and, finally, substitute Jordan Saville, converting from 12 yards, Keadue sealed a clean sweep of honours.
A thrilling final went all the way in front of a big crowd at Dry Arch Park and Keadue left with the Dessie Kelly Cup, indebted to Timoney’s heroics.
The ‘keeper kept Bonagee at bay throughout a game that had Bonagee on top for the most part and defeat in this manner was tough justice on Darragh Creevy’s side. But Keadue leave toasting yet more silverware.
Many of these Keadue players had played a Gaelic football match for their school earlier in the day and had also participated in a sleep-out in aid of the homeless last night – but when it came to the crunch they were wide awake!
It took a brilliant save from Timoney to prevent Adam Carr from opening the scoring. From close-range on the left-hand side of the penalty area, Carr looked set to drill home, but a strong hand by Timoney turned it around the post.
From the resulting corner, Niall McCrossan crashed against the goal frame and Daire Ferry riffled wide.
Last weekend was a glorious one for Keadue with the Gulls winning both the Under-14 and Under-16 Champions League titles.
Here, they included no fewer than eight players that began Saturday’s 2-1 win over Erne in the U14 decider with Dean Timoney, Jamie McCready, Cillian Bonner, Ryan Brennan, Oran Fallon, Cian McGee, Jack Ward and Oisin McKelvey all in from the off here.
Fallon went close in the 20th minute, but Bonagee managed to avert the danger just as the live-wire seemed as if he was about to pounce. Jack Ward popped over the top as Keadue began to warm to the task.
Carr drove into the midriff of Timoney on the half-hour and the Keadue net minder was equal to Ferry’s attempt after good approach work from Carr.
Early in the second half, Lorcan Harvey’s shot from the edge of the box rose too late to trouble Timoney and Ferry drilled wide from distance.
Ciaran Dalton, after being fed by Eoghan Quinn midway through part two, shot at Timoney and there was a growing sense that the big crowd was in for an extra instalment at that point.
Three minutes from the end of normal time, Ryan Creevy was caught in two minds when a dropping ball slipped from Timoney’s clutches. The Bonagee midfielder opted to attack with his head, rather than go for a volley, but his shot was off target.
Extra time came and went
Bonagee United: Fintan Doherty, Zak Breen, Eoghan Doherty, Daniel Dalton, Lorcan Harvey, Ryan Creevy, Daire Ferry, Adam Carr, Eoghan Quinn, Ciaran Dalton, Niall McCrossan. Subs used:
Keadue Rovers: Dean Timoney, Jamie McCready, Jack Ward, Cian McGee, Cillian Bonner, Mark Brennan, Oran Fallon, Matthew Comiskey, Oisin McKelvey, Aidan Brennan, Ryan Brennan. Subs used:
Referee: Liam McLaughlin
There are another four SFAI Sketchers Cup finals in Donegal over the weekend.
The proceeds from all five finals are going to Donegal Down Syndrome.
Saturday
U12 – Carndonagh FC v Carrick Rovers at Noon, Aura Centre, Letterkenny
U16 –Letterkenny Rovers v Carrick Rovers at 2.30pm, Leckview Park, Letterkenny
Sunday
U13 –Illistrin FC v Carndonagh FC at 11am, Ballyare, Letterkenny
U14 –Lagan Harps v Cavan Shamrocks at 1.30pm, Ballyare, Letterkenny.
