Inishowen goes through after nervy draw
FAI U18 Youth Inter League Trophy, Group stage  22.02.08

Inishowen...0 Sligo Leitrim...0 by Simon McGeady in Cockhill for the Inishowen Independent INISHOWEN made it through to the quarter-finals of the youth Inter League trophy after a nervy nil-nil draw with Sligo/Leitrim at an overcast Cockhill last Saturday. The two sides met last month and Inishowen lost that game 2-1, but the result was declared voided after Inishowen protested when the opposition used two more than the regulation three substitutes in the game and a replay ordered.

Inishowen, required a point from this game to progress and Gary Duffy’s men made the better start to this rematch, with Clonmany’s Stephen McLaughlin and Buncrana Hearts hitman Terrence Doherty combining well down the right flank. On 20 minutes Doherty dashed down the right and played a high cross that was met on the back post by McLaughlin but he skied his finish. Two minutes later Jonathan Eccles went on a darting run but just overran the ball and the climax. With the Aileach central defensive pairing of Thomas McMonagle and James Gillespie in tune at the heart of the Inishowen defence nothing was getting through from the men in green and black. The best the visitors could offer in the opening quarter was Ross Gildea’s cheeky chip from 40 yard which was well measured but didn’t fool Rory Kelly in the Inishowen net. Doherty continued to torment the visiting left back and on the half hour his deep cross just eluded the onrushing

Inishowen attackers. On 36 minutes Garbhan Friel tore past the challenges of Mark Rooney and Shane O’Donnell and cut back a fine cross that Doherty just failed to connect with and McLaughlin, steaming in at the back post, hit straight at Ethan McGowan in the Sligh Leitrim net. Inishowen continued to own most of the possession, but they lacked a potent threat up front and McGowan, although by far the busier of the two keepers, was not unduly troubled by shots of the direct variety. Into the second half and signs that Sligo\Leitrim might show as an attacking force. Keaveney’s low ball into the area found Brian Keaney who played in Ross Gildea at the back stick but Gildea couldn’t steer his shot on goal.

The tackles started flying and there was a long stoppage as visiting captain Rooney received treatment. On 61 minutes James Gillespie needed to be sharp to stop a neat Sligo/Leitrim break orchestrated by Ryan McEnroe, and on 75 minutes the visitors should have taken the lead when Keaveney rounded McMonagle and cut in to the right side of the area before flashin a shot across Kelly’s goal from eight yards. That attack was a reminder of just how tightly poised the outcome of the match was and if Inishowen thought they could coast to the point they required, then they were playing a dangerous game. But time was not on the side of Kevin McGarry’s lads, whose attacks grew more desperate as the match ambled towards the final whistle. Inishowen rarely threatened in the second half, although big Garbhan Friel did his utmost to make chances for himself or his teammates. In Injury time the visitors won a series of throws and progressed in increments up the right side, eventually winning a corner which was lofted into a packed Inishowen area by substitute John Sheerin. The ball broke to the Shane

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