FIVE Donegal teams are eyeing up glory tonight in the 2015 Hughes Insurance Foyle Cup.
Finn Harps Under-19s, Kildrum Tigers Under-17s, Donegal Schoolboys Under-15s, Donegal Schoolboys Under-13s and the Inishowen League Under-15s are all in final action tonight.
Joe Boyle’s Harps, who qualified for the semi-finals as best runners-up, take on north-west rivals Derry City in Ardmore after they knocked out Scottish giants Motherwell.
Harps had beaten Willowbank and Old Park Reds before losing to Institute on Wednesday evening.
Motherwell entered the semi final having scored 18 and conceded none in their opening three games, but gallant Harps rocked the Scots.
Paddy Diver (picture above courtesy of Geraldine Diver) fired Harps in front early on, but Motherwell leveled the contest and Harps were under the cosh for a period.
However, the Ballybofey brigade took the win when Diver turned provider to set up BJ Banda (who netted a hat-trick in Tuesday’s win over Old Park Reds) and the former Letterkenny Rovers striker made no mistake with a cool finish.
Harps meet Derry City in what is a repeat of the 2010 final – when an Aaron O’Hagan goal sealed the win for Harps.
Derry City overcame Institute 3-2 in their semi-final with Michael Lynch, Jack Blake and Ronan Curtis among the Donegal representatives on the Candystripes panel.
Kildrum Tigers (picture above courtesy of Tony McNamee) are into their first ever Foyle Cup final after they defeated English team Hollingbury Hawks at the Brandywell Showgrounds in an enthralling semi-final.
Duncan Patterson put the St Johnston side ahead with an early penalty that was cooly despatched.
The Tigers doubled the lead in the 12th minute when, after they worked a neat short corner routine, Tommy Cole found a gap to finish into the top corner.
Hollingbury pulled a goal back soon after and the Sussex boys piled on the pressure.
They found the Kildrum goalkeeper, Jacob Henderson, in top form, though. The Tigers netminder pulled off a string of superb saves, including two he tipped over from beneath his own crossbar.
Thomas Cole might’ve added to the Kildrum tally just before half time but he riffled just over after being teed up by Oran Higgins.
It took a goal-line block from Jamie McKinney to deny Hollingbury in the second half as Kildrum lived dangerously, but Jonny McGinty’s team held on to preserve their advantage.
Kildrum now meet Derry City, who defeated American outfit Rampo Valley 2-0. The final is in Drumahoe at 7pm.
The Derry team includes Stephen Duffy – younger brother of Michael Duffy, the Celtic player – whose father Michael ‘Bamber’ Duffy is a former Kildrum stalwart. Duffy scored in Derry’s semi-final, as did Enda McCormick from Milford.
ELOKA Asokhu is no stranger to big games and the Nigerian’s Donegal Schoolboys Under-15 side (above) meet Inishowen in their final after battling to a win over Maiden City.
James Carolan’s goal, six minutes from the end, saw Donegal through. Carolan fired in Ryan Cunningham’s cross to seal a passage into the final, where they’ll take on Inishowen.
The men from the peninsula overcame Limavady on penalties in their semi-final.
Having fallen behind, Inishowen earned a shoot-out thanks to Adam Duffy’s late goal and they held their nerve to win on penalties, 5-3.
It all means that the title will be resting in Donegal – the final takes place in Killea at 7pm.
KEVIN McHugh and the Donegal Schoolboys Under-13 side (above) take on their old adversaries from Waterford in their final.
Jason McDaid’s goal secured a 1-0 win over Derry Colts in the semi-final and it tees up a repeat of the National Cup final.
Back in May, at Cahir in Tipperary, Finian O’Donnell’s strike gave Donegal a 1-0 win over Waterford in the final. That avenged a penalty shoot-out defeat to the same opponents in the 2014 final while in last year’s Foyle Cup final Donegal defeated the south-east side.
Donegal were deserving winners against the Derry Colts, but they had just one to spare.
After Jack Murphy shot an early free wide of the mark, Donegal took the lead in the 19th minute.
A long drifting free kick from Domhnall Mac Giolla Bhride was met by McDaid, who wrestled away from his defender to glance a header past the Colts goalkeeper, Caoimhin Quigg
Donegal had a late chance to wrap up the game when Conor Black tore past three defenders before squaring the ball across the box to McDaid though this time he was foiled by a fantastic recovery block by Anton Murtagh.
McHugh’s side now face Waterford in Cockhill at 7pm.
IN the ladies competition, Greencastle Ladies defeated Illies Celtic to win the Plate final while Greencastle’s Under-13 girls won the Rosebowl final, overcoming Foyle Belles.
In the senior ladies section, Erin Coll, Caroline Gallagher and Ciana Brogan netted for Lagan in a 3-1 win over Foyle Belles in the Rosebowl final.
RESULTS
Under 9
Cup Semi Final, Oxford United 4 – 0 Kilmac Academy, Bertie Peacock 2 – 6 Roe Valley; Final, Oxford United 0 – 3 Roe Valley; WINNERS: Roe Valley
Plate Semi Final, Illistrin FC 3 – 0 Eglinaton Eagles, Buncrana Hearts 0 – 5 Sion Swifts; Final, Illistrin 0 – 1 Sion Swifts; WINNERS: Sion Swifts
Rosebowl Semi Final, Coleraine FC 1 –  5 Ballinamallard, Eastdon 0 – 0 Hillsborough Boys (Hillsborough Boys won 5 – 4 pens); Final, Ballinamallard 3 – 1 Hillsborough Boys; WINNERS: Ballinamallard
Shield Semi Final, FC Corinthians 2- 1 Strabane Athletic, Bright Stars 0 – 0 Drumkeen United (Bright stars won 3-2 pens); Final, FC Corinthians 0 – 1 Bright Stars; WINNERS: Bright Stars
Vase Semi Final, Culmore 1 – 2 Oxford United Colts, Tristar 4 – 0 Maiden City Academy; Final, Oxford United 0 – 3 Tristar; WINNERS: Tristar
Globe Semi Final, Tristar Colts 1 – 1 Carndonagh (Carndonagh won 5-3 pens), Killea 0 – 1 Trojans; Final, Carndonagh 2 – 3 Trojans; WINNERS: Trojans
Under 10
Ballymoor FC. 3 – 0 Moville Celtic, Kilmac Acad 1 – 0 Oliver Pkt Swifts, Oxford FC 0 – 1 Oliver Pkt FC, Ballinamallard FC 2 – 1 Eglinton Eagles, Ballymoney Utd 1 – 3 Roe Valley FC, Clonmany Sh. 0 – 0 Redcastle Utd (Clonmany Sh. won 3-1 pens), St Patricks Castlederg 1 – 2 Magherafelt Skyblues, Bright Stars FC 2 – 1 Aileach Colts, Oliver Pkt FC 0 – 2 Ballinamallard FC, Oxford FC 3 – 1 Eglinton Eagles, Roe Valley FC 0 – 0  Clonmany Sh.(Roe Valley FC won 2-1 pens), Ballymoney Utd 3 – 1 Redcastle Utd, FS EastDon Colts 2 – 1 Lagan Harps, Trojans FC 3 – 0 Portrush FC, Maiden City Acad 4 – 4 Carniny Y(Carniny Y won 4-2 pens), Letterkenny R 0 – 5 B Peacock YL, Ballyjamesduff FC 1 – 3 Foyle Harps FC, Coleraine FC 0 – 0 Cockhill Celtic (Cockhill Celtic wom 4-3 pens), FS EastDon Colts 1 – 0 Trojans FC, Lagan Harps 2 – 0 Portrush FC, B Peacock YL 3 – 0 Carniny Y, Letterkenny R 1 – 3 Maiden City Acad, Foyle Harps FC 1 – 1 Cockhill Celtic (Cockhill Celtic won 4-1 pens), Ballyjamesduff FC 1 – 4 Coleraine FC, Ballyraine FC 2 – 2 Quigley PS (Ballyraine FC won 4-2 on pens), Carndonagh FC 2 – 3 Dergview FC, Lifford Celtic 2- 3 Tristar FC, Oliver Pkt Colts 1 – 0 Culmore FC, Shankill Y 0 – 0 Don Boscos FC (Shankill Y won 3-2 on pens), Aileach FC 1 – 0 Buncrana Hearts
Under 11
Ballinamallard FC 1 -1 Ballymoney FC ) Ballinamallard won 7-6 on pens), Cappry R 1 – 0 Glentoran Acad A, Clooney Soc Scl 1 -1 Killea FC(Killea FC won 4-3 pens), Strabane Ath 0 – 1 Phoenix FC, Inishowen Y L 2 – 1 Maiden City Acad, Kildrum FC 0 – 2 Oxford FC, Ballinamallard FC 0 – 2 Glentoran Acad A, Ballymoney FC 2 – 2 Cappry R) Ballymoney FC won 4-3 on pens), Ballymena Utd FC 5 – 0 Institute, St Catherines FC 2 – 2 Limavady Utd FC(St Catherines FC won 5-4 on pens), Inishowen Y L 1 – 0 Oxford FC, Maiden City Acad 3 – 1 Kildrum FC, Sth Donegal Sboys 2 – 0 Coleraine FC, Glenavon FC 0 – 0 Magerafelt Sky Bl.) Magerafelt Sky Bl won 5-4 on pens), NArds & Dist 3 – 3 Bt Stars FC) NArds & Dist won 4-3 pens), Strathroy H. 0 – 3 Ardoyne FC, Sion Swifts 0 – 1   Top Of Hill Celtic, Oak Athletic 0 – 0 Ardoyne Whites (Oak Athletic won 3-2 on pens), Sth Donegal Sboys 0 – 2 Magerafelt Sky Bl., Coleraine FC 2 – 1 Glenavon FC, NArds & Dist 3 – 3 Ardoyne FC (NArds & Dist won 4-3 on pens), Bt Stars FC 1 – 0 Strathroy H., Oak Athletic 1- 1 Top Of Hill Celtic (Top Of Hill Celtic won 5-4 on pens), Ardoyne Whites 1 – 2 Sion Swifts, Tristar FC 4 – 1 Carniny Y, CYFC 4 – 1 Lagan Harps FC, Ballymoor FC 1 – 0 Stormont FC, FS Eastdon 1 – 1 Milford Utd (FS Eastdon won 5-3 on pens), Partick Thistle 0 – 1 Shankill Y, Oliver Pkt FC 1 – 1 Collin Valley FC (Oliver Pkt FC won 4-3 on pens)
Under 12
Waterford Sboys 1 – 0 East Donegal Y, Dungannon Swifts 2 – 0 Oliver Plunkett Colts, Maiden City Acad 4 – 3 Oxford FC, Armagh City FC 3 – 0 Rosario, Donegal Sboys 2 – 0 Letterkenny R, Foyle Harps 2 – 4 Coleraine FC, Peamount Utd FC 2 – 0 Inishowen YL, Sligo / Leitrim YL 4 – 0 Ballymoney Utd, B Peacock YL 7 – 0 Letterkenny Utd, Hillsboro Boys FC 1 – 0 Trojans FC
Under 13
Donegal Sboys 1 – 0 Derry Colts, Ballymoney Utd 0 – 2 Arklow Town FC, Waterford Sboys 3 – 0 Carniny Y, Mid Ulster YL 1 – 0 St Mary’s FC, Killen R 4 – 1 Strathroy Harps, Institute FC 3 – 6 Hillsboro Boys, Inishowen YL 0 – 0 Finn Harps (Inishowen YL won 5-4 on pens), Coleraine FC 2 – 4 Carnmoney Y, Lifford Celtic 0 – 1 Carrick R, Oliver Pkt FC 0 – 4 Trojans FC
Under 14
Inishowen YL 2 – 1 Oliver Pkt FC, Celtic FC 7 – 0 B Peacock YL, Foyle Harps FC 6 – 1 Finn Harps FC, Glenavon FC 1 – 1 Maiden City Acad,
Under 11 Girls
Donegal Women L 3 – 3 Foyle Belles, Ballymoney Utd 5 – 1 FS East Don
Under 13 Girls
Donegal Women League A 4 – 1 Gcastle Ladies, Bangor Ladies 9 – 1 Sion Swifts
FIXTURES
Under 11:
11:00 Bishops Field, A CYFC v Ardoyne FC; 11:00 Bishops Field, B Lagan Harps FC vBt Stars FC; 11:00 Vale Centre, B Carniny Y v Strathroy H.; Scoggy Rd 3G 1 Clooney Soc Scl v Strabane Ath, 11:00  Scoggy Rd 3G 2 Institute v Limavady Utd FC; 12:00         Bishops Field, A         Killea FC        Phoenix FC; 12:00 Bishops Field, B    Ballymena Utd FC v St Catherines FC; 12:00 Vale Centre, A Maiden City Acad       v Sion Swifts; 12:00 Vale Centre, B           Kildrum FC v Ardoyne Whites; 12:00 Scoggy Rd 3G 1       Don Boscos FC v Roe Valley FC; 13:00 Bishops Field, A    Ballymoney FC  v Coleraine FC; 13:00 Bishops Field, B    Cappry R Glenv avon FC
Under 10
11:00 Leafair, A Portrush FC v Quigley PS;  11:00   Leafair, B Lagan Harps v Carndonagh FC; 11:00 St Columbs Pk, A Trojans FC v   Ballyraine FC;  11:00 Magee, A St Patricks Castlederg  v Aileach Colts; 11:00 Magee, B Moville Celtic v Oliver Pkt Swifts; Under 10         11:45 Magee, A Magherafelt Skyblues v Bright Stars FC; 11:45     Magee, B        Ballymoor FC.           Kilmac Acad; 12:00    Leafair, A        Ballymoney Utd         Coleraine FC; 12:00           Leafair, B        Redcastle Utd Ballyjamesduff FC;  12:00     St Columbs Pk, A       Don Boscos FC         Buncrana Hearts; 12:00 St Columbs Pk, B Sion Swifts v FS Eastdon, 12:00 Scoggy Rd 3G 2 Annalong Rovers v Foyle Harps FC; 13:00   Leafair, A  Oxford FC v Maiden City Acad, 13:00           Leafair, B Eglinton Eagles v Letterkenny R, 13:00     St Columbs Pk, A       Shankill Y v    Aileach FC