IT WAS HEART-STOPPING and outstanding all at once as the Donegal Schoolboys Under-13s booked their place in the SFAI Inter-League final.
Donegal Schoolboys Under-13s 1 Athlone District Schoolboys Under-13s 0
After extra time
Replacement goalkeeper Paddy McGarvey and striker Blake McGarvey were the heroes of the hour right the end of a dramatic contest at The Finn Valley Centre.
Blake McGarvey headed the winner in added-on time at the end of extra time, just after Paddy McGarvey beat away a penalty from Dylan Gavin.
[adrotate group=”62″]With penalties looming, manager Gerry Crossan summonsed Paddy McGarvey from his bench, in a move not unlike that made by then Holland manager Louis van Gaal in a World Cup quarter-final in 2014.
Famously, van Gaal replaced Jasper Cillessen with Tim Krul, who became the penalty shoot-out hero as the Dutch defeated Costa Rica.
Crossan’s Donegal left nothing to chance in the lead-up to this semi-final and practiced penalties, just in case.
Even if there was no need for a shoot-out, Paddy McGarvey still became a penalty star here.
When Conor McDaid was deemed to have fouled Gavin in the area, referee Marty McGarrigle pointed to the spot.
Gavin took the kick, but McGarvey dived out to the left and turned what was a well-struck penalty around for a corner.
Just two minutes later, and with time seemingly up, Donegal struck a dramatic winner.
McDaid atoned for the concession of the penalty when he helped on a corner and Blake McGarvey lofted a header over the Athlone goalkeeper, Adam Ryan.
It was the cue for jubilant scenes as Donegal march into the final.
It was a game of little incident up to that action-packed conclusion.
[adrotate group=”55″]Neil Kenny on the right flank was causing Donegal the bulk of the trouble that went their way and it was from his cross in the opening minute that Gavin headed at Donegal ‘keeper Kyle Burns.
Adam Murphy did well to set up Daniel Gildea, but he shot into Adam Ryan’s arms.
It took a fine intervention from Conor O’Reilly to deny McGarvey after he weaved his way into the box. Just at the vital moment, O’Reilly stepped in to avert the danger.
[adrotate group=”46″]Murphy stretched to shoot, but was off-target and Gildea – who bagged one of the goals in the 2-0 away win over Inishowen in the quarter-final – fashioned a shot that wasn’t too far away.
The visitors had their moments, too, with Gavin failing to keep a shot down before the Midlanders should have hit the front in first half stoppage time.
Kenny was the provider for Oisin Kenny at the far post but, with the goal yawning before him, he struck the post when it seemed easier to score.
Donegal turned the screw a little at the outset of part two with the lively Adam Yisea seeing a good effort deflected out for a corner and Joshua Bradley’s low shot crept to the wrong side of the target.
[adrotate group=”12″]Fionnan Coyle tested Ryan with a powerful cross that was only gathered at the second attempt by the goalkeeper.
Athlone were always eager and willing down the right channel, where they found most of their joy and there was another let off for Donegal when, from yet another teasing Kenny cross, Gavin’s flicked header was gathered by the grateful Burns.
In the final minute of normal time, Donegal might have snatched the win but Rory Pyper, after taking the unselfish option, fed wide for Gildea, whose fired wide.
[adrotate group=”47″]Neither side created much of note before a previously tepid affair burst into flames in those intense, exciting moments of theatre at the conclusion.
Donegal Schoolboys Under-13s: Kyle Burns; Fionnan Coyle, Conor McDaid, Ultan O’Grady, Shane Black; Leon Doherty, Jamie Murray, Joel Gorman, Adam Murphy; Daniel Gildea, Blake McGarvey. Subs used: Adam Yisea, Joshua Bradley, Rory Pyper, Josh McCullagh, Paddy McGarvey.
Athlone Schoolboys Under-13s: Adam Ryan; Tom Kelleher, Conor O’Reilly, Tom Cloonan, Brian Nestor; Oisin Canny, Eoghan Curran, John Shine; Neil Kenny, Dylan Gavin, Conor Hand. Subs used: Kyle Lennon, Senan Baker, Ryan O’Connor, Carlin Keogh, Kieran Dunning.
Referee: Marty McGarrigle.
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