NATHAN McEniff’s late goal sealed the Under-16 Foyle Cup title for Derry Colts at the expense of the Inishowen Youth League.
Inishowen Youth League 0 Derry Colts 1
There weren’t many clear openings in the first fifteen minutes for either side as the game was played between the two boxes.
Derry probably had better possession but neither side were penetrating in truth. With twenty minutes gone the game still hadn’t really got going, both defences were on top as attacks broke down and passes were sloppy in the final third. The best chance came to Colts’ and Matty Doherty but his shot from twenty five yards whizzed over the bar.
There was a spark of life in the game just before the half and again it was Derry who created the opportunity. Mark Doherty broke from deep in midfield but his low shot was pushed away by Jason McCallion of Inishowen (their squad is pictured above, courtesy of Lorcan Doherty Photography).
That was the best chance of the opening period with very little goalmouth action at either end apart from that and it remained scoreless at the break.
There was a goal in the opening five minutes for the Colts but it was ruled out for offside.
Ryan Doran got on the end of Ciaran Deery’s long throw but he was ruled to have gone too early and the celebrations were cut short. It wasn’t a classic by any stretch but it was clear that neither team wanted to give anything away because the consequences of a mistake could be very costly.
Derry’s bright spark in the second half was Dylan Devine, the midfielder made a couple of defence-splitting runs but his final product lacked the quality when he needed it most.
As the game went on it felt like one goal would win it and with just ten minutes to go Colts went ahead as McEniff tried his luck from 25 yards out and his low dipping shot nestled in the corner.
Inishowen pushed for an equaliser in the last stages but it was too little too late and Mark Doherty won everything in the air at the back for the Colts.
Derry Colts: Tiernan Hargan; Aodhfin Barbour, Ciaran Deery, Conal Fagan, Matty Doherty; Rhys McGahey, , Emmet Heaney, Dean Sweeney, Nathan McEniff, Dylan Devine; Ryan Doran. Subs: Rhys McDermott, Dean Sweeney, Matthew Williamson, Adam Lamberton.
Inishowen YL: Jason McCallion; James Adair, Shane Dillon, Shaun McLaughlin, Ben Doherty, Darragh Deery, Eunan Mullan, Gareth Foynes Bart Wesoloski, Oisin Hession, Evan Tweed. Subs: Brendan Doherty, Evan Barry, Conor McGeoghaghan Denver Kelly, Dayton Cooke.
