Cruel way to go out of Oscar Traynor Cup but that’s football - Diarmuid O’Brien

Diarmuid O’Brien admitted that Oscar Traynor Cup elimination at the hands of the Donegal League is a tough pill for the Inishowen League to swallow. 

Little to nothing split both outfits over the course of 200 or so minutes of football with matters locked at four apiece after a pair of 2-2 draws. 

However, with their shootout duel going to ‘sudden death’ it was Shane O’Gara’s denial of Thomas McMonagle that ultimately decided this one in Eamonn Sheridan’s team’s favour. 

“That’s football, sometimes it goes for you sometimes it doesn’t,” said O’Brien after. “It was so tight again today, the margins are so thin between the teams.  

“When 180 or so minutes plus extra-time can’t split the sides it needed penalty kicks. But the lads did everything they possibly could and that wee bit of luck was just with Donegal there at the end”. 

The visitors to Ballyare on Sunday had taken an early lead through a Luke Rudden penalty however Keith Cowan would level it after the hour mark. 

Another former Finn Harps star, Gareth Harkin then put the hosts in front before McMonagle squared it late on. Indeed, the visitors almost won it when Peter Doherty cracked another header off the Donegal League woodwork. 

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“We started really well. I thought we were excellent for the first hour or so. Donegal then really got on top and got the equaliser. Their second goal was also really well worked. 

“We showed real character to get back level through Thomas and even there near the end Peter Doherty hits the upright with another header from a corner that would have won it.

“When it comes down to a shootout, there’s no real examination of it. It could also have gone either way but, like I said, it went the Donegal league’s way today so good luck to them in the rest of the competition”.