Gallagher the shoot-out hero as LyIT win Division One final

Goalkeeper Matthew Gallagher saved two penalties as Letterkenny Institute of Technology won the CUFL Division 1 League title.

Letterkenny Institute of Technology 2 Dundalk Institute of Technology 2

(after extra time, LyIT win 4-3 on penalties)

The final went all the way to penalties and Gallagher was the hero of the hour with two big saves in the shoot-out.

Shane Byrne’s LyIT had already sealed promotion to the Premier Division with a 4-2 win over TUS Midwest in the semi-final.

With silverware on the line at Queen’s University in Belfast, LyIT were keen to end their season in style.

Pat Loughrey, who has been in super scoring form of late, fired LyIT in front. Loughrey netted a hat-trick in the semi-final and the Buncrana man was on target again.

Loughrey’s first-half opener looked as if it might clinch the win, but DkIT levelled late in normal time.

Joel Gorman’s header restored LyIT’s advantage, but another equaliser by DkIT forced the shoot-out.

There, Convoy Arsenal stopper Gallagher thwarted DkIT with two penalty saves.