Buncrana Hearts overcome Letterkenny Rovers to win Ulster Junior Cup again

Buncrana Hearts made it three Ulster Junior Cup triumphs in-a-row courtesy of a penalty shootout victory over Letterkenny Rovers at Diamond Park on Saturday.  

The sides were inseparable the whole way and therefore spot-kicks were required to determine the winner.  

Substitute goalkeeper Eoghan O’Doherty came on for Buncrana Hearts for the penalties and proved to be the hero saving three, and his side ran out 7-6 shoutout winners to lift the Ulster Junior Cup.  

Letterkenny Rovers got off to a dream start in this encounter, breaking the deadlock after eight minutes.  

Alister Gourley pointed to the spot after he deemed Lee McMonagle to have been fouled inside the box. McMonagle took the corresponding penalty, dispatching it into the bottom corner of the net.  

Bunrcrana Hearts came close to leveling terms 10 minutes later. Aaron McDaid headed a long throw into the path of Shaunie Bradley who forced Blake Forkan into making a fantastic save.  

The Letterkenny men came close to doubling the advantage on 30 minutes. Goalscorer Lee McMonagle shot from distance, however, his effort went just wide off the post.  

The Buncrana outfit piled pressure on the Letterkenny Rovers box towards the end of the opening stanza.  

On 45 minutes, right-back Matthew Browne thought he had found the back of the net, curling a beautiful effort from 20-yards goalwards but Forkan saved superbly to deny him.  

On the stroke of half-time however, Gary Duffy’s men found the equaliser. Matthew Browne was involved again as he whipped an inviting ball into the box. His delivery was met with the foot off Jamie McDaid who slotted it low past Blake Forkan to leave the sides level at the interval.  

The opening spell of the second period was finely poised but with few opportunities to report, with both sides battling hard for the silverware on offer.  

On 75 minutes, Buncrana Hearts hit the front. A corner was swung in by Kieran McDaid to a crowded front post and the ball looked to have gone into the net via the corner with the Buncrana players running toward McDaid in delight.  

Their lead was short lived though, with Stephen McConnell’s men drawing level 10 minutes later.  

Joel Gorman delivered an inviting free-kick into the penalty area. This ball was met by the head Lee McMonagle who glanced it past Taylor Clarke for his second of the evening.  

Alister Gourley soon called an end to proceedings and both teams prepared for extra time.  

There was little to report on in extra time, with both sides keeping it relatively compact due to the huge prize on offer. Both teams were reduced to 10 men, however. Calvin Gallagher to a second yellow offence and Joel Gorman to a straight red for a challenge on Kieran McDaid.  

Penalties were required to decide this showdown. It was a dramatic shootout, full of twists and turns. Nine penalties each were required to determine the winner, but it was the Buncrana men who came out on top, with substitute goalkeeper Eoghan O’Doherty saving three spot-kicks leaving his side 7-6 victors and Ulster Junior Cup champions.  

Letterkenny Rovers: Blake Forkan; Ryan Lonergan (David O’Donnell, 77), Chris Malseed, Dean McCarry, Caolan McConnell, Adrian Delap, Joel Gorman, Christy Connaghan (Henry Welles, 108), Nathan Plumb, Lee McMonagle, Gareth Doherty (Adam Murphy, 77). 

Buncrana Hearts: Taylor Clarke (Eoghan O’Doherty, 110); Matthew Browne, Kevin O’Loughlin, Zack McFadden, Conor Doherty, Kieran McDaid, Calvin Gallagher, Eoin Murphy, Jamie McDaid (Nathan McEneff, 100), Shaunie Bradley (Bart Weloloski, 75), Aaron McDaid (James Adair, 81).  

Referee: Alister Gourley