Penalty drama as Scoil Mhuire Buncrana wins first year Ulster Schoolboys cup

Scoil Mhuire Buncrana won a dramatic penalty shootout to overcome battling Moville Community College in the first-year boys’ Ulster Cup soccer final at Maginn Park on Wednesday. 

Danny Friel hit the opening goal of the contest for Scoil Mhuire, with Oisin O’Hare equalising for Moville CC before half time. 

A tense second half followed, with plenty of noise coming from the supporters at the back of the Maginn Park stand. 

First-year games are 30 minutes each way, and with neither team able to find a winner inside the hour the final went to two ten-minute periods of extra time. 

Play swung from end-to-end with both sides seeing chances go a begging and a penalty shoot was needed to separate them. 

Moville converted their first spot kick with Scoil Mhuire following suit and, as is often the case, the keepers came to the fore as the pressure grew. 

Moville’s Matthew Doherty saved one penalty, but Scoil Mhuire stopper Cianan Wallace was inspired and pulled off two full-length diving saves to put his side into a winning position. And full-back Jack Lynch tucked the winning penalty away to set off wild celebrations.  

Scoil Mhuire, who also won the first-year boys Ulster cup last year, now advances to the national semi-finals where they will play the Leinster champions. 

Scoil Mhuire Buncrana: Cianan Wallace; Jack Lynch, James Cullen, James Bradley, Stefan Hegarty; Michael Bradley, Pauric Doherty, Harry McDaid, Daniel McGonigle; Danny Friel, Dylan Darmontus. Subs: Rhys Nicholas; Cormac Moyne, Shane Tierney. 

Moville Community College: Matthew Doherty; Aaron McElhinney, Jamie Cavanagh, Martin McColgan, Tyler Melly; Harry McHenry, Cian Doherty, Oisin O’Hare, Michael Keogh; Sean McCool, Senan Doyle. Subs: Padraig Barton, Jack Allen, Michael Price, Ronan Doherty, TJ Orr. 

Referee: Liam Porter