LETTERKENNY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY lost out to IT Sligo in their first outing of the new College and Universities Football League season at the Port Road campus.
Letterkenny Institute of Technology 1 IT Sligo 2
Although Shane Byrne’s team led at half-time through Paul McVeigh’s early opener, it was Sligo who emerged the victors through second-half strikes from Mark Connaughton and Conor Brennan.
LyIT, who were without some first-choice players, including Finn Harps’ BJ Banda, looked good value for the lead at half-time, only to be hit by a pair of sucker punches in the second half.
[adrotate group=”80″]LyIT, who reached the final last term, losing to Dundalk, will be particularly vexed at the manner of the two goals they leaked.
The equaliser came just four minutes into the second half, Connaughton stooping to head home from close range after a dangerous cross from Brennan.
The winner for Sligo arrived when Mark McElhinney, the LyIT goalkeeper, could only palm away a cross from Ryan Norris. Brennan was following up and converted at the second attempt with the hosts proving to be masters of their own undoing in first allowing Norris to centre and, then, Brennan to finish.
[adrotate group=”85″]IT Sligo contained Donegal men Jason Quinn, Conor Blaney and Chris Flanagan in their starting XI, with Odhran McMacken and Brandon Wilkie entering as substitutes.
It was the home side who opened brightly and McVeigh drilled them in front in the 12th minute. After latching onto a loose ball, McVeigh broke away and shot past Manor native Quinn.
LyIT sub Daniel Martin Doherty glanced a header over the bar after connecting with a teasing Daire McDaid free late in a half that saw them enjoy plenty of possession without having much penetration.
[adrotate group=”38″]That proved costly when IT Sligo drew level through Connaughton, the right-back before Brennan won it for the Yeats County students.
LyIT rallied late, but McDaid saw a free kick deflected over an Quinn denied Brian McVeigh a last-gasp equaliser with a superb save in injury time.
Letterkenny Institute of Technology: Mark McElhinney; Caolan McDaid, Michael Kusigagbe, Daire McDaid, Fearghal Harkin; Adrian Delap, Brian McVeigh, Jordan Toland (Aaron McNamee 84), Ryan Connolly (Simon McGlynn 75); Dean Larkin (Daniel Martin Doherty 32), Paul McVeigh.
IT Sligo: Jason Quinn; Mark Connaughton, Ryan O’Reilly, Shay Doherty, Conor Blaney; Ryan Norris, Chris Flanagan (Odhran McMacken 55), Fola Ayorinde (Aaron Cundelon 68), Jack Tim Murphy (Brandon Wilkie 68); Conor Brennan, Brian Kavanagh.
Referee: Vincent McLoughlin.
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