THE INISHOWEN SCHOOLBOYS began their Inter-League campaigns in style yesterday.
Inishowen Under-12s 5 Cavan/Monaghan 0
INISHOWEN Under-12s began their campaign with a convincing and deserving five-nil win over a gallant Cavan Monaghan side who battled to the very end.
The home side started well and on two minutes Sean O’Kane burst into the area and at full stretch fired just wide of under pressure ‘keeper Andrew McCaughey.
Adam Duffy played a superb through ball to release Paul Duffy but the diminutive striker was denied again by McCaughey.
Inishowen broke the deadlock on 14 minutes after Seamus McLaughlin collected the ball in midfield and split the visitors defence with a brilliant pass to release Paul Duffy and this time he slid the ball low to the corner.
Four minutes later they doubled their lead when Adam Duffy fired a stunning effort to the roof of the net from 20 yards.
After a succession of corners Inishowen made it 3-0 when the ball broke to Adam Duffy twelve yards out and his effort deflected past McCaughey.
Duffy then headed McLaughlin’s cross just wide before on the stroke of half time
O’Kane released McLaughlin on the left and he controlled well before firing left footed past McCaughey.
After a sluggish start to the second period Inishowen added their fifth when great work by Paul Duffy inside the area saw his cross deflect off a defender into the net.
Inishowen dropped the tempo of the game afterwards and the visitors were unlucky when a Donncha McNamee effort crashed off the crossbar.
Inishowen emptied the substitutes bench and saw the game out comfortably but failed to add to their tally.
Inishowen Under-15s 5 Cavan/Monaghan 1
THE visitors started the better, but failed to break down the Inishowen defence.
Inishowen came into the game and created the first chance of the game when Lee Mc Laughlin advanced on the right and his cross was met first time by Mikey Friel to see the keeper gather in on the second attempt.
Friel then broke clear and pushed the ball past the keeper only to see the ball come off the post.
Inishowen’s first goal came on 20 minutes when Jack Doherty broke on the
left and squared for Gavin Rowan to slot the ball home.
In the next attack Friel saw another effort hit the crossbar.
Cavan/Monaghan stunned the home side from the restart when they advanced from the kick off and give McNutt no chance in the home goal to level the game.
Inishowen regrouped and regained their lead after Mark McFadden headed home a Keith Elliot cross.
They made it 3-1 when Friel hit a stunning effort into the top corner from 30 yards.
Inishowen were rampant now and made it 4-1 when the ball fell to Aaron McDaid in the box and he placed the ball neatly inyo the bottom corner.
They completed the scoring late on when a James Downey strike could only be parried by the visitor keeper and Sam Bonner was on hand to
slot home.
Inishowen Under-12s 2 Cavan/Monaghan 1
WITH both teams having large squads the leagues agreed to play a development game using the players who failed to start in the opening match.
Inishowen started well with David Grant releasing Marc Doherty who displayed good feet but was denied by a fine save.
They opened the scoring after 11 minutes when Grant’s effort was deflected up in the air and Aaron Porter volleyed home at the back post.
On the stroke of half time they doubled their lead with a fine move when Kyron Cantwell fed Doherty who laid the ball off to Porter who finished superbly.
Inishowen started the second half well and Doherty broke clear of the home defence to slip the ball past the advancing keeper but agonisingly wide before the same player had a powerful effort which just cleared the crossbar.
Darragh Doherty then burst forward from defence before unleashing an effort which flew narrowly wide of the right hand post. In the final minute the visitors got a consolation when Odhran Reilly converted a penalty past Eoin Colhoun.
Overall an excellent introduction to inter league football for the squad and all players displayed excellent ability but tougher tests will lie ahead.
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