Donegal League squeeze out Inishowen counterparts in Oscar Traynor penalty shootout

The Donegal League have advanced in the Oscar Traynor Cup following a dramatic penalty shootout win over their Inishowen League rivals.

Both Jack Doherty and BJ Banda were off cue in the regulation spot kicks and going into sudden death, a second Shane O’Gara save denied Thomas McMonagle as Eamonn Sheridan’s side squeezed through at Ballyare. 

Just like their first leg encounter at Maginn Park, the margins remained wafer-thin throughout this return clash. The visitors led 1-0 at the break thanks to a dubious penalty late in the first-half that Luke Rudden smashed home. 

Keith Cowan equalised for the hosts on 61 minutes while a Gareth Harkin strike on 76 minutes seemed like it was going to seal it for the Donegal League. 

However, Diarmuid O’Brien’s charges pushed hard late on and deservingly got their equaliser as Thomas McMonagle headed home from a corner. 

Indeed, Inishowen’s other centre half, and skipper, Peter Doherty was inches away from a winner when he nodded off the woodwork five minutes out from time. 

The visitors had also started on the front foot as O’Gara denied Rudden on his near post just seconds in. 

But with the Donegal League settling, Eddie O’Reilly’s low delivery towards Lee McMonagle was well cut out by Taylor Clarke. 

Cowan then did well to head behind his own goal after Darren McMonagle had let fly from outside the area. 

Down the other side, Banda should have turned McMonagle’s cross into the net but somehow sent it back out and into play from point black range on Inishowen’s own goalline. 

Then, on 42 minutes, O’Gara got there first to an over the top race but, in the process, also poleaxed Bart Wesolwski. 

The Inishowen forward received lengthy treatment and had to leave the fray but the subsequent spot kick awarded was generous to say the least. 

And Rudden’s dispatch meant that an evenly contested opening period ended with Inishowen taking the upper hand. 

Just after the hour mark the teams were level when Clarke faled to deal with a Harkin freekick and in the subsequent scramble, Cowan popped up to loop a header into the back of the visitors’ net. 

Adrian Delap did so well on 73 minutes stretching to reach another superb O’Reilly delivery but that effort went over the crossbar. But three minutes later Delap turned provider on the same flank as Harkin swept home that cute cutback. 

McMonagle would then force the game into extra-time ten minutes out from the whistle. Still, the Donegal League weren’t to be denied as O’Gara’s penalty heroics helped secure his side’s passage to the next stage of the competition. 

Donegal League: Shane O’Gara; Jack Parke, Keith Cowan, Seami Friel; Adrian Delap (Eoin Logue, E/T), Gareth Harkin, Paddy Carr, Stephen Black, Eddie O’Reilly (Aiden Brennan, E/T); Lee McMonagle (Shane McGinty, 61), BJ Banda. 

Inishowen League: Taylor Clarke; Adam Curran, Peter Doherty, Thomas McMonagle, Lee McLaughlin; Luke Rudden (Shane McCaul, 77), Jack Doherty, Calvin Gallagher, Darren McMonagle (Eoin Murphy, 70); Bart Wesolwski (Jamie McKinney, 44), Corey McBride (Paul Doherty, 85). 

Referee: Packie Coll.