Castlefin Celtic row back  from the brink to topple Donegal Town 

Castlefin Celtic completed a remarkable second-half comeback against Donegal Town to book their place in next weekend's Brian McCormick Sports Cup final.

Goals from Stephen Graham and Eoin Slevin had Donegal in a commanding position at the interval.

Jordan McKinney netted the first in the fightback, and Martin Owens brought Castlefin Celtic level midway through the second half.

Extra time beckoned until Corrie Lee Bogan rifled home the winner in stoppage time.

This game started in perfect fashion for Donegal Town, with the deadlock broken inside 120 seconds. Ben Sweeney played the ball over the top of the defence, and Stephen Graham finished the move with a delicate lob over the onrushing Kevin McColgan.

Five minutes later, they almost added a second goal to their tally, but McColgan made an excellent save to deny Declan Duignan from close range.

Emmet White was the architect in the middle of the park for Castlefin Celtic, and with ten minutes gone, his influence almost brought the game back to level terms. His low and precise pass split the defence, and as Ronan Tourish got ready to fire, Fintan James was alert to smother the attempt.

Matthew McKenna attempted to replicate the move that resulted in the opening goal midway through the half, and Declan Duignan was the recipient this time, but his strike fizzed just over the target.

With 35 minutes on the clock, Donegal Town had their second goal. It was Sweeney once again with the assist, as Eoin Slevin benefited from a ball beyond the onrushing McColgan and into an empty net.

Just seconds before the interval, Castlefin Celtic were a whisker away from reducing the deficit.

White's accuracy with a ball over the defence allowed Daithi Gordon to play it across the six-yard box, only for Martin Owens to prod his effort just wide of the post.

Just prior to the hour, the game swung in favour of Castlefin Celtic. Moments after Duignan had sliced an effort narrowly wide, the two-goal lead was cut down to one.

White floated a free kick in from beside the dugouts, and Jordan McKinney's deft header took it beyond James.

Big chances at both ends followed as Barry Tourish floated an effort just over, while Gary Ward was thwarted by the outstretched boot of Daniel Foy.

With 20 minutes to go, Castlefin Celtic were level.

White's delivery into the box was only half-cleared, and that allowed Martin Owens to blast the ball in from the edge of the box.

Sweeney produced a spectacular forward run in the late stages, and his ball into the corridor of uncertainty only needed a touch, but Duignan could only find the side netting from a narrow angle.

With only stoppage time left, an extra 20 minutes looked likely—until an inspired substitution proved key.

Similar to the leveller, Donegal Town only half-cleared their lines after a set-piece, and the ball rolled invitingly for Corrie Lee Bogan to rifle into the back of the net with the aid of a slight deflection.

Donegal Town threw everything forward in a bid to force extra time, and even had James up for a last-minute corner, but Castlefin Celtic held on to book their place in the Brian McCormick Cup Final.

Castlefin Celtic: Kevin McColgan; Daithi Gordon, Stephen Roulston (Corrie Lee Bogan, 87), Michael Dunnion (Ryan O’Hagan, 42), Daniel Foy; Emmet White, Jude Patton, Jordan McKinney, Ronan Tourish (Paul Farrell, 90); Dean Kelly (Barry Tourish, 55), Martin Owens.

Donegal Town: Fintan James; Ben Sweeney, Matthew McKenna, John Paul Byrne, John Doherty (Aidan Walsh, 90+1); Eoin Slevin, Gary Ward (Aaron Gallagher, 73), Stephen Graham (Noel Gavaghan, 90), Declan Duignan; Mark Jordan (Ryan Mahon, 55), Ronan McHugh.

Referee: Vincent McLoughlin